Hartford attorney Jose L. Del Castillo is hoping to meet the demand for more affordable banquet space in the downtown area when he restores the former Ados Israel Synagogue into an elegant events venue.Del Castillo bought the long-vacant, 3,750-square-foot property at 215 Pearl St. in 2019 for $196,000, with plans to open a rental events […]
Hartford attorney Jose L. Del Castillo is hoping to meet the demand for more affordable banquet space in the downtown area when he restores the former Ados Israel Synagogue into an elegant events venue.
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Del Castillo bought the long-vacant, 3,750-square-foot property at 215 Pearl St. in 2019 for $196,000, with plans to open a rental events venue.
He sees a need for this type of facility in Hartford after noticing local residents, especially young couples, struggle with a dilemma of hosting an elaborate wedding or saving for a house down payment.
His yet-to-be-named facility will allow guests to bring in catered food, more pot-luck-style events or food trucks, for a fraction of the cost of traditional party venues, he said.
“We want to do something different where you can have a party of 200 people and only spend $20 a head,” as opposed to more formal venues that can charge upwards of $100 to $150 per person, he said.
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An early rendering of the planned events venue on Pearl Street.
Del Castillo’s plans have been in the works for several years, but have faced a number of challenges.
He said he hopes to be up and running by year-end, after having worked out a deal with the city of Hartford on back taxes owed by the previous owner.
Now he is getting together the funds to start renovation work on the former synagogue, including electrical, HVAC and roof upgrades, and adding a commercial kitchen, office, landscaping, accessibility requirements and more bathrooms.
It took about three years to resolve the 12-year back tax issue, he said, and in that time, roofing estimates alone have jumped from around $36,000 pre-pandemic to $60,000 now.
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With costs fluctuating wildly, he puts his total investment cost at more than $650,000.
His original estimate to rent the facility is also increasing, from $1,000 to $2,000 per event, roughly five to six hours, to $1,750 for the first floor and $3,500 for the second.
He hopes his facility will open in October, and have a Latin flair — perhaps hosting Latin American Independence Day celebrations, as well as a number of different events, from weddings to concerts, fundraisers, birthday parties and other celebrations.
“There really isn’t a place for that, and if it keeps costs low, people can have this for a fixed cost, they can bring their own food and drinks. … Whatever you want to have, you bring it in,” Del Castillo said.
