A grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony was held for a new business in downtown Jefferson on Saturday.

Greg Hacker and Shirley Snyder own the Courtyard Wedding and Events Center that is located across the alley from the Sierra Community Theater. Snyder said the final product of what they created did not start as the original idea. She explained that they started with the idea of just doing “pop-up” shops and a storage area for Hacker’s landscaping company. 

However, Snyder noted that their plans were altered when they removed the ceiling and uncovered the barrel-style, along with her niece, who is a hairstylist in Des Moines, telling her that people are finding it difficult to have different events because there are not enough spaces to have them.

“That’s another thing we thought of is by doing this it brings people in from out of town so they can see what Jefferson has to offer, because Jefferson has a lot to offer, and they have a lot of unique things that people can enjoy. And why not bring that to the people that come to enjoy this space.”    

Hacker talked about his favorite parts of the project.

“Working with all the contractors, seeing the finished product, seeing the improvements to the building after each part of it, and then getting to see the completed end of it.” 

The Courtyard offers rental space for all kinds of occasions including weddings and receptions, graduation and birthday parties, reunions, conventions, among other events. Hacker added that they plan on having live musical entertainment, bourbon and wine nights, as well as comedians, with an upcoming show this Saturday. Click here to find out more.