The Durham Mess Hall looks out over Sudbury's downtown, the second story view perfect for scoping out other businesses and pedestrians passing by. Light flows in easily through the windows found on the room's south and west walls, unobstructed by neighbouring buildings.
Rob Gregorini introduced the hall last November as part of the reopening of the popular restaurant, Respect is Burning. He also added a bar next door, called the Red Fang Tavern. Together, the businesses are known as the Durham Social. The hall sits above the restaurant and acts as the business and events side of the business. He hopes the updated space's central location will draw groups working in the downtown core, and introduce businesses from other neighborhoods, and other cities, to the downtown.
“The whole principal goal was to bring people back downtown, business people, locals,” said Gregorini. “We're raising that rallying cry to return to our historic centre.”
Respect is Burning and its upstairs event space opened its doors in 2001, but after a fire in March 2014, the business shut down for more than a year. Before the fire, the upstairs space hosted corporate events ranging from educational seminars to retirement parties. At that time, the capacity for a cocktail party was 120, and 90 for a seated dinner. With the redesign, they can now accommodate up to 210 for cocktails and 120 seated.
The upper-storey hall runs independently of the downstairs, and guests have access to a fully stocked private bar. An exclusive events menu is produced out of the upstairs kitchen.
“Generally people at events want simple, really great food,” said the chef and entrepreneur. The menu, which features rustic and regional Italian cuisine aligns with Gregorini's continuing philosophy, “entertaining large and small groups of people in an easy, entirely different style.”
This concept extends to the hall's corporate offerings. The updated space is aesthetically unique, featuring salvaged wood from bowling alleys and lumber yards, a red and black checked floor, black walls, mismatched wood furniture and nostalgic light fixtures of all sorts.
“The design is very contemporary. It’s not your average hotel board room,” said Gregorini. However, he emphasized that it is still equipped like the average board room.
A small room connected to the dining area is being finished up that will be perfect for breakout sessions or one-on-one meetings during events. The soundproofed level is equipped with a presentation screen, a projector, microphones, speakers and all the necessary hookups. “Whatever you can imagine, we've run the gamut,” said Gregorini.
After an onsite event or a long workweek, Gregorini hopes to see people and groups stop in the restaurant. The new space is perfect for an office group who want to enjoy a late menu, served until 1 a.m., and unwind with a signature drink before retiring.
