Foundation: Venue Services will manage rebranded ‘Historic Salisbury Station’
Published 12:13 pm Thursday, December 14, 2017
- The 1908 'Historic Salisbury Station' at night.
Photo by Jason Williams
Staff report
SALISBURY — Historic Salisbury Foundation said Thursday it has reached an agreement with Venue Services to manage the events center at the 1908 Salisbury Station, also known as the Salisbury Depot.
The agreement took effect Dec. 1.
Along with new management, the events center will be renamed and rebranded as the Historic Salisbury Station.
Venue Services, a Rowan County firm, brings with it state-of-the-art marketing and management expertise in the events rental business, the foundation said in a news release.
“We are delighted with our agreement with Venue Services as it will allow the foundation to focus on its core mission without the distractions of managing outside events,” said Karen Hobson, the foundation’s executive director.
“We recognize the importance of the Historic Salisbury Station in the community as a valuable historic landmark as well as a popular location for special events.”
Venue Services is a party rentals company founded in 2014 by Errin Brown.
While the station, its grand concourse and private park work well for most events, the 25-year-old renovations need continued updating, the foundation said.
“We are currently identifying changes that will enhance the experience of our clients and their guests at Historic Salisbury Station events,” said Brown of Venue Services. “We want their experience to be extraordinary.”
The first improvement will be the replacement of the sound system in the Grand Waiting Room.
The public can expect more changes and gradual improvements as Venue Services and Historic Salisbury Foundation collaborate to bring a new look and energy to events at the station, the news release said.
The 1908 Spanish Mission-styled station, originally the Salisbury Railway Passenger Station, is one of Salisbury’s more treasured landmarks, thanks to the preservation efforts of the foundation.
The station, which had become rundown, closed to passenger service in 1979 and stood as a vacant eyesore until the historic foundation acquired the landmark in 1984. An extensive renovation completed in 1993 returned the building to active use.
The restored Grand Waiting Room, parlors, ticket office and concourse have been rented to the public since then. More than 15,000 people attend parties, weddings, meetings and other functions at the Historic Salisbury Station each year.
The foundation is able to maintain and keep the station open largely because of the revenue generated by events rentals.
Salisbury Station remains the only privately owned railroad station in North Carolina with Amtrak service.
For more information on renting Historic Salisbury Station for a wedding or other gathering, contact 704-633-0070 or info@historicsalisburystation.com.
A venue website launch will soon be announced at www.historicsalisburystation.com.
