The Urban Event

It is a total shame that Chris and Nic own this building. The only reason they get 2 stars instead of 1 is because the event space, the building and the view are all incredible but the ownership is sleezy and horrible. I had my wedding there 6÷12÷15. From the starting line when I booked them things started going wrong. It just seemed like little mishaps and it was no big deal but more and more kept happening.
1. They were supposed to keep my deposit check for 30 days so I could change my mind on booking them, they deposited it approximately 4 days later.
2. I called to make an appointment to go up to the venue (at that time I lived about 40 minutes away) and see some of the things they offered for center pieces. When I spoke to Chris on the phone she said I didn’t need an appointment and I could go up there anytime during normal business hours and see what they had. Well I got there and her husband Nic said that he wished he would have known that I was coming because we would have gotten the key to the room we needed to get in to. So that was a wasted trip due to a lack of communication.
3. When we were deciding on a Wedding venue we chose this one because there were a lot of perks. Wedding coordinator, and day of coordination and a lot of other promises that were not kept. Not once did we see a coordinator. We had a good friend step in and be our day of coordinator.
4. A week or so before the wedding we had a final meeting to discuss how our tables were going to be laid out and how we wanted linens to be, we got there for the rehearsal and nothing was right. We had to redo everything ourselves.
5. We got there the morning of the wedding and go into the bridal suite and it was so HOT. We were all sweating trying to get ready. Nic comes in and says «I wish I would have known you were coming. I would have turned on the air conditioner». Well everytime I was there we talked about using the bridal suite and wouldn’t the owner just assume that a bride getting married there would use the bridal suite.
6. They told us that we could use the freight elevator to get things up to the 8^th floor where our wedding was. When we tried to use it, it was full of construction equipment. Nic tried to get our groomsmen to clean it out before we could use it. Seriously? We are not cleaning up your stuff so we could use the elevator like you said we could.
7. My husband and the groomsmen were trying to get to the roof for pictures before the wedding and they were coming from the 3^rd floor going to the roof (which would be the 9^th floor) Nic did not want them to take the elevator because all of our wedding guests were arriving. He told them to climb 6 flights of stairs in suits because the elevator was full. That is absolutely ridiculous. My dad ended up getting in on it and saying that the groom was more important than the guests and he gets priority. As a wedding vendor, I don’t know how you can think the guests are more important.
8. One last thing, we were told multiple times that there was a back elevator. My plan from the beginning was the make my grand entrance coming down the stairs from the roof into the wedding space. Well about 2 hours before the wedding they said that was not true and the only way to get up there was from the stairs that I was planning on walking down. Well once our guests arrived that was not going to work. So because they continually lied and were horrible with communication I stood on the roof for over an hour so I could make my grand entrance.
Once again, our wedding was AMAZING because of all the hard work my family and friends and I put in. It was because of NOTHING they did. They lied so many times and changed their story so many times. They did not communicate at all. Thankfully I had everything together to make it a perfect day.

This place has potential but only if it were run by different people. Nicolas is the most deplorable person in the world. I’m not even going to talk about the months leading up to the event. I’ll talk about my actual wedding. Right before our 3^rd floor ceremony started the elevator broke. Our 86 year old grandma had to be escorted up the stairs. Her brother never saw the ceremony because he wasn’t physically capable.
Then the reception, on the 8^th floor, he told our guests to take the stairs. 5 flights!!! A lot of our friends are in good shape but 5 flights?!? In heels??? The elevator was fixed at this point but he was reserving it for elderly people. As if a now fully working elevator couldn’t transport everyone.
Then he told some of our guests we were supposed to be out by 10:30. We had a contract saying we had the space till 1A. We were planning on going until 11:30−12 and just as the party was really picking up, he shut it down.
The icing on this cake was when he had the audacity to say to me «do you know how embarrassing it is to have a wedding and the elevator breaks down?» To which I responded, «yes, thanks to you I do!» And then I, the bride took the stairs down.
This elevator thing by the way was an issue in April and the city had to come, shut him down, and only re-​open once the elevator was fixed and up to code. So someone didn’t do their job right.
So much potential. Such a lovely place with lovely aesthetics and views but the owner will make you so embarrassed to have had your event there!

We had my daughter’s wedding at the Urban Event (aka The Firestone Building) on Saturday night. It was on the 8^th floor and everything went off without a hitch. The space was exactly the look my daughter wanted and the view of the city at night was fabulous. The negatives were the parking but we had forewarned our guests and everyone staying at hotels used either shuttles or cabs. Most downtown event spaces are going to have this issue though. The elevator is old and slow, but it worked. I admit to being a tad nervous with the recent bad press, but Chris and her staff couldn’t have been more gracious and helpful. I dealt with Chris only via email and phone prior to the day of the event and truly wish she had been my main contact the whole time. She was delightful. No place is going to be perfect and this space offers a lot of positives for the cost. The chairs, tables, China, glassware, flatware and all linens are included and they provide staff to clear tables. This is a huge savings on the catering costs. You can bring in your own liquor (with a licensed bartender) and choose your own caterer. (Moxie Catering is FABULOUS!). I would schedule an event there again, but I would ask for Chris to be my only contact.

Brides, if you’re looking to trust your wedding in the hands of a venue to help get things in order, this is not the place. I am getting married in two months and we had to change venue due to the unprofessional and unreliable owner Nicholas. It was a struggle to work with Nicholas from the very start and we should have taken this as a sign that it wasn’t going to work out but I had hoped it would. When we first looked at the venue, we had a some concerns and questions so we asked about these following requirements: we asked about parking, he said we can park in the parking lot adjacent to the building, the service elevator works and we can use it for catering, and the caterer can cook outside in the back of the building because we wanted to make sure the food was fresh for our guests. After we signed the contract, come to find out we are not allowed to park in the parking lot because they do not own it. We decided to stay with them just because thought it could work out. After a few months there was another wedding that cooked their food outside mid October 2014. Soon after, Nicholas tells us during another walk through that we aren’t allowed to cook outside because” the food stinks” and” we can go find another venue and get our deposit back” Given, I was very livid and it was 7 months till my wedding. I even went to search for a new venue and most venues are booked a year in advance. The emotional stress that I went through should have never happened but Nicholas is a hard man to work and is irrational and will not listen to anyone but his own voice. I felt like Nicholas is a dishonest man, he lured us in saying how great everything is and lied to us saying we could do what we asked or what he told us we can do and then changed his mind telling us we can’t every time my wedding planner speaks to him. The last straw was when we had a few of our vender’s meet us there to finalize some details and they even saw how unprofessional and rude he is. He told us the service elevator doesn’t work and we can’t use it. That was not going to work because they only have one elevator and that was supposed to be used by guests. It would have not worked out due to their elevator being small and prior to our meeting; they were also forced by the City to have their main elevator be fixed because it kept breaking down constantly. Trust me when I say, you don’t want it breaking down the day of your wedding if it’s on the 8^th floor. We have walked up the flights of stairs to the 8^th floor and it would not be easy for the elders or if someone was handicapped. And the photo booth was provided by Urban Event and it was sitting on the 1^st floor, so if the service elevator was broken then how were they going to bring it up to the 8^th floor? Tell us last min we can’t use it? There was too many unknowns and we are not comfortable to trust their management with our wedding. After my wedding planner explained everything to Chris who handles their accounts, she sympathizes with us but we still didn’t get our deposit back after all the stressed they caused us. Why would we choose to leave a venue 60 days before our wedding? We felt that Nicholas wasn’t willing to work with us and the emotional stress that he caused for me and my fiancé was not worth it. BRIDES DO NOT BOOK YOUR WEDDING AT THEIR VENUE. Please read other reviews as other Brides and Groom faced the same problem on their wedding day. I wish I followed my intuition and went with another venue a year ago.
Check out this news station that did an investigation on them due to their lack of professionalism:

I was considering having my wedding reception at the Urban Event, but after meeting with the owners/​coordinators, I knew I couldn’t leave my big day in their hands.
I was drawn to this space because of its charm and awesome view of downtown. I mean, it’s absolutely beautiful. There’s also a pretty sweet groom’s suite for the guys (but nothing substantial for the ladies).
When we met with the owners to view the space, they were both super frantic. Also, I’m almost certain they triple booked our appointment. There were couples everywhere and they were just standing around staring at us. It was so incredibly awkward. I asked them if we should come back another time. They said no, and the man kept saying, «I promise I’m not a rude man.». I don’t believe that he is rude, but I do believe that he and his wife are highly disorganized.
When we finally got to speak with the wife, she kept complaining that she hadn’t eaten all day, and she felt sick. Because I felt so uncomfortable, I ended up asking her if there was anything I could do for her. Consumers should never feel this uncomfortable! I really hope this duo can get their stuff together, because this space has a lot of potential!
In addition to this, it was really dirty. We noticed an embarrassing amount of dust in the vents, and you could tell they just don’t take cleanliness seriously.
I was really disappointed with the lack of attention to detail and the service we received, and I hope the husband-​wife duo get their act together for the sake of this beautiful historic space!

As event coordinators ourselves, my husband and I were looking for specific qualities in a wedding and reception venue, as well as the staff that came with it. We could not have found a more perfect fit than the Historic Firestone Building, owner Chris, and her entire staff. Chris went above and beyond for us, as we were planning our KC wedding from out of state. She was extremely attentive and such a joy to meet with when in town. The day of the wedding, I truly did not have to think about one single thing. Every single detail was effortlessly taken care of behind-​scenes and I was able to enjoy 100% of the day!
Beyond that, the venue is just hands-​down beautiful! Urban loft environment, 360 degree window view of the city, untouched raw walls, chandeliers… Gorgeous. I wish I could throw parties here every weekend. Thank you, Chris & staff, for making my dream wedding come true!