FORT WAYNE – The local bridal industry is buzzing with stories of brides and grooms jilted by their reception hall.
The worst part is, the stories are true.
An unknown number of couples were left in the lurch Wednesday when they learned Landmark Conference & Reception Centre is out of business.
Three white signs taped inside the building’s front three double doors all state the same stark message: “The Landmark Is Permanently Closed.”
Joe Ceruti fielded about a dozen calls from distressed women just from noon to 4 p.m.
“We’re staying open late tonight, … until the phone stops ringing, to try to accommodate the brides,” he said Wednesday.
Roger and Jane Speicher invested about $2.5 million to build Landmark in 2005. The couple operated the North Star Civic Center in Huntington when they decided to expand into the Fort Wayne market, saying the area needed more meeting space easily accessible to Fort Wayne International Airport and the southwest Allen County business community.
They couldn’t be reached for comment Wednesday.
The 20,000-square-foot venue at 6222 Ellison Road has been the site of numerous weddings, banquets, conferences and meetings since its opening, including the 2008 Athena Award luncheon presented by the Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce. Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman, the main speaker, was able to fit the event into her tight schedule because the conference center is adjacent to Interstate 69.
Also in 2008, Landmark expanded its potential customer base by opening its doors to funeral visitations.
Now, customers who’ve reserved rooms at Landmark are suddenly in the market for new meeting and reception sites.
A sign in the window Wednesday directed WaterFurnace sales employees to an alternate training site.
Ceruti, who owns Ceruti’s Catering Services, said he’ll offer discounts to couples if Landmark doesn’t refund their deposits. Two of the ceremonies were scheduled for this weekend.
“We feel for them,” he said.
Ceruti has started searching on behalf of the caller for available venues, including those where he doesn’t cater.
Sara Keltsch, who owns The Monogram Shoppe in Covington Plaza, has offered to give brides discounts on reprinted wedding invitations – to ensure guests arrive at the right place.
“There’s a whole host of issues when these things happen,” Ceruti said.
Despite the turmoil, Landmark’s building was quiet late Wednesday with no cars in the parking lot and no outward signs of trouble.
Neighbors Tom and Robin Mohr were surprised to learn the business has closed.
Looking across their horse pasture to the columned building, they recalled the times they’ve spent admiring the brides’ gowns and military officers’ uniforms from afar as guests have entered and exited the building. Robin Mohr has even pulled out binoculars to see some fashions, which were on display almost every weekend.
“I thought they were doing pretty good,” Tom Mohr said. “They were packed all last year.”
After talking about the closing for about 10 minutes, Robin Mohr was still having trouble accepting the news.
“That’s pretty shocking,” she said, shaking her head.
