PEABODY — Olio co-owner Sarah Narcus is putting her money where her mouth is. When the pandemic hit in 2020, Narcus and her mother, co-owner Ellen Basch, were forced to shut the doors to their wedding and event venue less than a year after opening in May 2019.
At the time, Narcus made a promise to the public — and is keeping it.
“I promised everyone that, when it was safe to do so, I would throw a re-launch party and invite everyone,” Narcus said. “I want to re-introduce Olio to the public and show them that we are fighting hard every day for our business and our downtown. We want to celebrate the beautiful building we created and the support of our clients, the city, our vendors and friends. It’s a thank you to everyone who helped us make it through.”
After Party: Olio’s Official Relaunch will be held Aug. 11 from 8 -11 p.m. Tickets are $10 per person and must be purchased in advance. Attendees must be 21 or older. All of the proceeds will be donated to Haven from Hunger.
Tickets include access to the dance floor with music from DJ Max Baun of C-Zone Entertainment and an open bar, light refreshments, coffee, and dessert.
Event sponsors include La Bonne Maison Catering, Capers Catering, Cypress Catering, C-Zone Entertainment, Espresso Dave, Forklift Catering, The Flower Mill, Gordon’s Fine Wine and Liquor, Gourmet Delights Catering, Kataram Studios, PEAK Event Services, Photo Nook, Premier Bar Service & Catering, Retonica Event Lighting, Saltbox Catering and XO Custom Cookies.
Narcus said every sponsor is working on a cost basis.
“They just want to go back in front of a live audience,” Narcus said.
Narcus is expecting a crowd of 200-plus people. Originally she planned to host the party in April 2021, but postponed it when “cases started to rise.”
“Finally, it’s time to celebrate,” Narcus said. “We want to open our doors to the people who believed in us and put down deposits with so much uncertainty, and we want everyone to know that we are alive and well. This business is tricky, as most events are planned one to two years out. For the 15 months we were closed we were in survival mode as because we were a new business, we didn’t have the track record to qualify for state and federal funds.”
Narcus and Basch bought the 100-plus-year-old building in 2018 for $550,000. The building had a rich history as the site of the original Strand Theater, which was built in 1912. In recent years, the property had fallen into disrepair, but the mother-daughter team had a vision to create an events venue unlike any other in downtown Peabody. From October 2018 to April 2019, they spent $1 million transforming the space into a unique modern/industrial event space ideally suited to host weddings, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, concerts, corporate meetings and parties, fundraisers and galas, photo shoots, trade shows and expos, classes, workshops, and retreats.
Narcus said Olio is fitted with every modern amenity to be the ideal space to host functions of all kinds.
“We provide a non-traditional venue so that our clients have a blank slate to start from and can make the space their own,” she said, describing the space as having soaring ceilings and cement walls that feel “industrial chic.”
“Clients can also transform the space with glitz and glam, rustic touches, romantic lighting, modern lines, whimsical details, and vintage furniture. If you can dream it, it can be done at Olio,” Narcus said, adding that it will take some time for Olio to get back to 100 percent operation, but she is confident the business will soon be at full capacity again.
“Our plan has been to work our way to being fully booked again,” she said. “Right now, we just hope everyone can come and celebrate with us. We are delighted to have made it out the other side and want to celebrate life “after” COVID. We want to show the public that we are so grateful for their support during such a difficult time.”
For more information about Olio or the After Party, go to Olio’s website at https://www.oliopeabody.com/. Olio is located at 43 Main St.
Anne Marie Tobin can be reached at atobin@itemlive.
