Luncheon on McMenamins Elks Lodge Project

We don’t normally pay too much attention to real estate luncheons (okay, some, but only a little), but this one seemed worth mentioning. On Tuesday, May 14 the Commercial and Real Estate Women Seattle and Sound will host a South Sound luncheon at the Hotel Murano on the McMenamins Elks project.

Oregon-based McMenamins continues to build on its unique business model of restoring historic Northwest buildings and converting them to restaurants, breweries and hospitality centers with the purchase of the nearly 100-year-old Elks Hall in Tacoma. Construction is expected to begin later this year.

According to the McMenamins web site, the property will include approximately 45 guestrooms, space for live music, a ballroom, three restaurants, and a brewery. You can learn many more of the exciting details of this dramatic renovation by attending the May 14th CREW luncheon.

The luncheon presentation will be moderated by Heather Burgess, an attorney with the real estate and land use firm Phillips Wesch Burgess PLLC. Panelists include Bob Levin, Economic Development Services Division Manager for the City of Tacoma’s Community and Economic Development Department; Grace Pleasants, Director – of the Heritage Collection; and George Signori, Senior Associate with Ankrom Moisan Architects.

There will be a slide show presenting a brief history of McMenamins and the Tacoma Elks Hall, along with drawings showing the proposed repurposing. Time is allotted for questions.

We’re probably not the only ones eager to hear more on the McMenamins development of the Elks building. The McMenamins website has a page for the Elks project, which still says it will be opening late 2013. It seems like they’ve got a lot of work to do if that’s going to happen, but maybe luncheon attendees will get the inside scoop.