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Barnett on Washington, a unique new St. Louis event venue, recently opened its doors after undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation. The building, located at 3207 Washington Avenue, has a long and storied history, but was only recently renovated and restored to its original luster and elegance. September 12th marked the grand opening of the venue. Barnett on Washington looks to play host to a bevy of engagements in the area including corporate events, local weddings, receptions, business luncheons, and other area occurrences in search of a rich and vibrant experience.
Constructed in 1921, Barnett on Washington was originally built to be the home of Central States Life Insurance Company, and was designed by preeminent local architect, Tom P. Barnett. The project of renovating the building was undertaken by local business owners Drew Acree and Jeffery Kelley. “We were in love with the architecture of the building, and saw an opportunity to do something special with it”, said Kelley. The elegant design of the building features 45 foot tall ceilings, a spacious square balcony, and a double stair case that wraps around the front entrance. “We’d like to establish Barnett on Washington as the premier event space for corporate and private events”, spoke Acree. The event space currently accommodates approximately 200 seated individuals, and can host up to 455 standing attendees in a cocktail-style event.
The new venue is more than just a reinvigorated and redesigned new space. “Currently, our primary business, Chameleon Integrated Services, resides on the 2nd floor. We saw an opportunity to start a new business leveraging the breathtaking event space, and the rest is history”, said Acree. Kelley adds,“It was never about trying to make money, it was about doing something the right way”. “Having no experience in the event management business, we established a partnership with Copia Restaurant, a fine dining establishment, who helps us run the event business operations”, said Acree. Barnett on Washington adds to this rich setting by including a lineup of other refined qualities including; valet parking, wi-fi, a state-of-art sound system, and The Barnett Room, a fine cigar smoking lounge.
Barnett on Washington is currently available to any organizations or private parties interested in securing the venue for their upcoming events, but if you’re interested in checking out the building for yourself there is another option. “Originally, the only way to experience Barnett was to host or attend a private or corporate event here. But, we wanted to find a way to open it to the public. That way, people could come in have a drink and enjoy the environment. So, we decided to do something different we created Chameleon Club”, stated Kelley. Chameleon Club is a weekly club created for networking, meetings, relaxation, or the simple enjoyment of a cocktail or fine cigar. The club is currently accepting new members, and is open Thursday evenings from 5:00PM to 12:00AM.
Barnett on Washington is still available for new bookings for the remainder of 2013 and is reserving openings for events scheduled in 2014. For more information about Barnett on Washington contact Marketing and Communications Director, Tyler Bishop.
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barnettonwashington[.]gmail.com 
