Entourage Events Group opened The 1893 at the Historic Grain Belt Office in late March, an elegant, venerable event venue across the street from the original Grain Belt Brewery in Northeast Minneapolis. Built 130 years ago, the brewery’s one-time business office closed in 2002—and Grain Belt is now brewed in New Ulm. Sensing a golden opportunity, Entourage stripped out the three-level business office’s drywall to expose the brick underneath, uncovered the hardwood floors, and spruced up the building’s three vaults—the latter being particularly memorable features of the venue.
“We tried to preserve and bring back to life the wood and the trim, and the original stained glass,” says Steve Hark, CEO and owner of Entourage Events Group. “I think this is one of the coolest buildings in our city.”
The main-level ballroom has capacity for 800 standing and 450 seated guests, under a rectangular stained-glass dome that runs the length of the room—which previously served as Grain Belt’s beer-tasting area.
