The venue was rarely used for upscale events because it didn’t have a clean look and smelled of smoke, according to Gary Gill, who owns the center along with his brother, Sunny Singh. The pair purchased the building in August 2016 and initially worked to update it by renovating some areas, including updating floors, walls and ceilings.
MORE: Middletown event to raise funds for police sergeant battling breast cancer
Next month, they’ll start a second round of renovations, first working to modernize the center’s restrooms. Then the center’s interior and exterior, including its roof, will be painted, and new lighting including chandeliers will be installed. They also plan to revamp the kitchen and bride-and-groom rooms and add parking.
Gill said the effort likely would amount to as much as a $30,000 investment.
“When someone walks in for an event … it has to be clean, it has to be up to date with modern technology,” Gill said.
The Middletown facility has the capacity to seat up to 600 people and includes a sound and visual system with eight flatscreen televisions. Instead having to provide their own catering, guests now may opt for the center’s preferred catering options, Gill said.
MORE: 5 things Land of Illusion is expanding to become a year-round attraction in Middletown
Gill said he moved to Middletown in 2002 from India to be close to his parents, and he and his wife raised their family there. He said he wants to work with area groups who support area community non-profit groups by providing Crown Palaza for a reasonable fee and give area residents a more affordable option than large entertainment facilities.
“We’ve been here for 17 years and the community has given us so much,” he said. “We appreciate it on a daily basis since being a business owner (at the Marathon gas station) next door. While I have this opportunity where I can help the community and pay back something, I am always willing to do that.”
The Middletown Area Federation of Women’s Clubs scheduled its 100th annual Charity Ball on Dec. 5 at Crown Palaza instead of Miami University Middletown, which offered the venue for the past five years, because the event is expected to draw more than 300 people, according to event coordinator Frances Sack.
“Once the Manchester Inn closed, there were very few options in Middletown to hold this annual event,” Sack said. “We’ve held it at Pendleton Art Center and then Miami University Middletown, but we felt we needed a larger location and wanted to keep it in Middletown,” Sack said. “Gary has been wonderful to work with, he has a wonderful facility and this upgraded location will be a beautiful one for the 100th annual Charity Ball.”
MORE: Despite worker and space challenges, home construction still rising in Butler County
About the Author
