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The exterior of the SunnyBrook Ballroom and Restaurant
in Pottstown. (Contributed photo)
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The
owners of Berks County’s Stokesay Castle are taking the experience they’ve had
restoring that long-popular venue and using it to restore a nearby Montgomery
County ballroom and restaurant to its glory days.
Charles
Gulati, whose family owns Stokesay near Reading, said they have signed an
agreement to take over operations and management of the historic SunnyBrook
Ballroom in Pottstown.
Gulati
described the agreement as a “lease-to-own” arrangement and the Gulati family
will be investing about $3 million of its own to restore the facility, which
opened in 1931.
The
ballroom has been run by the SunnyBrook Foundation since 2008, when a group of
businessmen bought the property, which had been closed for several years.
The
foundation hosts concerts, weddings and other events at the facility, as well
as running the restaurant and bar there.
Will
Hallman, president of the SunnyBrook Foundation, said he is thrilled that the
Gulatis are taking over management.
“I
think they will be a good partner,” Hallman said. “We put a lot of work and
time into SunnyBrook, but we feel we’re at a plateau and we needed to bring
someone else in to manage the restaurant and bar facilities.”
He
said what the Gulati family learned from restoring and operating Stokesay will
be invaluable in its work at SunnyBrook, which he described as a very similar
operation.
“For
us, it’s kind of a plug and play operation,” Charles Gulati said. “We have a
system in place which should succeed.”
Gulati
said they intend to keep the original look of SunnyBrook while conducting the
restoration work. They also will replace a building that had to be demolished
during the original reopening of SunnyBrook because it had become dilapidated
while the venue was closed.
He
said replacing that building will give the property a smaller venue option. The
main ballroom can accommodate up to 1,000 people
Hallman
said the foundation had grant money available for that project, but needed
matching private investment to move forward. The Gulati investment will allow
that project to go forward.
As
for management, Gulati said, Luis Pereira, general manager of Stokesay Castle
and the Knight’s Pub, will immediately become general manager at SunnyBrook –
in addition to his existing responsibilities. Stokesay’s executive chef, Willie
Brockington, will bring his culinary expertise to SunnyBrook.
The
SunnyBrook Foundation will maintain an active role in the ballroom’s operations
and will continue to sponsor events, including a concert this weekend by oldies
singer Bobby Rydell and, later, an Easter brunch.
The
venue, one of the last remaining pre-war dance halls, also is popular for
weddings and proms.
“They’ve
done a good job,” Gulati said. “I think we share the same goal of restoring
SunnyBrook to its glory.”
Gulati
said the facility will have to be closed for a few months to accommodate
construction, but scheduled events will be maintained. Restoration work should
begin in about a month.
The
Gulati family also owns the Reading Royals professional ice hockey team and
Fidelity Technologies Corp. in Reading.
Source:
LVB.com
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