Brooklyn, NY – The owners of a popular Borough Park simcha hall that will be closing its doors after 25 years have announced that the location will continue to serve the community when it reopens as a child care facility.
With a seating capacity of up to 400, the Renaissance Ballroom at 5902 14th Avenue has been the site of countless events over the last quarter century, providing an upscale venue in the heart of Borough Park. Owner Pinny Freed announced the end of an era for the catering hall last week on Facebook, noting that the Renaissance would host its final event on April 1, 2017.
“The decision was based on a lot of thought,” Mrs. Sara Freed of the Renaissance Ballroom told VIN News. “It was a business decision that made sense to us.”
While the Renaissance may no longer be hosting affairs, its chefs will continue to prepare their most popular dishes for local caterers.
Mrs. Freed noted that there were many parties who were interested in buying the building but the couple wanted the location to continue serving the Borough Park community.
Project Social Care Head Start, a non-profit agency which has been providing child care services in the area for the last five years from its facilities on the second floor of the Renaissance building, will be taking over the entire property, with multiple federally funded early education classes running in the space now occupied by the catering hall.
“Baruch Hashem, the building will still be serving the community,” said Mrs. Freed. “Whatever we do, we still want to serve the community.”
Among the many warm responses the Freeds have received since they announced the Renaissance closure have been inquiries about their 12 year long tradition of hosting 40 to 60 Shabbos guests every week at the hall.
“All the Shabbos guests that we have been hosting over the years, we will still be hosting,” said Mrs. Freed. “We have a plan to initially host them in our home. We intend to continue.”