Then and Now: 10 Years of The Court Above Main
In 1998, when I relocated The Wedding Tree from 112 S. 4th Street (currently the home of Deaf Ear Records, previous to the eighties when it was Desmonds Formal Wear) to 418 Main Street, my vision of transforming the new space into a beautiful, fully-operational building dedicated to love was merely an aspiration. I would walk up the seventy (70) stairs and look down from the balcony. I could see past the chicken wire on the windows, ignoring the hundreds and thousands in damage that comes from a building victim to neglect and the other elements - including past water damage, birds, and layers and layers of dust. At this point, I was still in my late twenties, trying to save a bankrupt business and navigating the newfound peaks and valleys of entrepreneurship.
Years later, I faced a pivotal decision: allow the building to succumb to neglect or invest not only in the structure but also in the surrounding community. I chose the latter. Not only did I commit to maintaining the last remaining bridal shop in downtown La Crosse, but I also aimed to establish the only bridal shop with an event venue on the top floor in the United States, and perhaps even further afield.
Maintaining the historical integrity of the building, built in 1894, was not an easy task. The top floor was built as a gym floor for the original YWCA, which occupied the space twice, leaving the final time in 1929. The second and third floors were vacant for almost ninety (90) years before the renovation of 2014 began. As we questioned what to name the space - since we were keeping the original gym court floor, lines and all, and due to the location, why not call it The Court Above Main?
Reflecting on the early days of 2014, the moments spent sketching designs, planning, and researching other venues seem rather hazy. However, the magic of our inaugural event in 2015 stands out vividly in my memory. During those first few gatherings, I remained quiet in my office, ensuring that I did not interrupt the festivities while being on standby for any forgotten details. As it turned out, the first wedding required an unexpected trip to Festival Foods for salt and pepper. While we had the shakers, they were unfortunately empty.
And so, our journey continues. A decade later, we are still successfully anticipating the needs of the customers. Managing expectations is the key to ensuring a flawless event. Kelli and her team consistently receive ten out of five stars from our couple reviews time and time again. One of our mottos is back to the basics. Customer service is key, and we do everything so you do not have to. If you have not been to an event at The Court Above Main, you are missing out.
We hope to see you soon!
- Debra Stangel, Owner of The Court Above Main
