Masonic Lodge transformed into event center

One of Whitefish’s landmark brick buildings has a new lease on life, this time as an event center.

Rob Pero, who owns the 1915 Masonic Lodge building at the corner of Second Street and Lupfer Avenue, recently refurbished the main floor and opened Brix Elegant Events.

The center offers an expansive space for weddings and other special events for up to 150 people, plus a smaller party suite that can accommodate up to 30 people.

Pero, a well-known Whitefish developer who has built more than 100 moderately priced homes in the Whitefish area, purchased the Masonic Lodge eight years ago after it had been used as a hostel for a time.

LouLa’s restaurant has operated in the basement of the building for many years. The main floor was an antique store for several years, while the smaller room was used most recently for an interior design business.

Faced with figuring out how to make use of the space as the local economy continues to emerge from the recession, Pero decided to steer away from retail uses.

“Retail is kind of tough right now,” he said. “And it’s a little off the beaten path for retail.”

Pero said he “just happened into” turning the place into an event center after friends were planning an outdoor wedding and needed a backup facility in case of rain. He told them about Masonic Lodge space “and that was the start of it,” he said.

He hired an interior designer to help with color schemes and amenities and consulted caterers about what kind of kitchen facility would be needed for big events.

The big difference between Brix Elegant Events and most other facilities that cater to large events is that people booking Pero’s facility can bring in their own food and beverages.

“We offer more flexibility and affordability,” he said.

The larger room and full kitchen will be used primarily for weddings, wedding receptions, rehearsal dinners, banquets, corporate events or meetings. It’s set up for music, with a stage in one corner.

The smaller room offers comfortable space for events such as Super Bowl parties, cocktail parties or small receptions.

It also can be rented out as an upscale place to stay for the weekend, equipped with a fireplace, kitchen and a fold-down bed with 400-thread-count sheets that is stored in the wall when not in use. Furniture can be rearranged to maximize the space, Pero added.

A new ceiling was installed in the main room for both aesthetics and acoustics, and Pero kept as much of the brick wall space as possible to retain the historic feel on the room.

The massive lodge was built by Whitefish Masonic Lodge No. 64 in 1915 at a cost of about $12,000, according to the “Stump Town to Ski Town” Whitefish history book.

During Whitefish’s centennial in 2005, a time capsule that had been placed in the Masonic Lodge cornerstone was opened during a special celebration.

As Pero’s remodeling project was under way, he learned from longtime citizens that the building has been used for a number of things through the years. In the late 1940s the U.S. Post Office operated in the basement of the lodge.

Response to the new event center already has been encouraging, Pero said.

“I’ve had a lot of calls,” he said. “I booked two weddings this week.”

Pero continues to build moderately priced homes in Whitefish, though not as many as during the high-growth years earlier in this decade.

“I built four houses last year, sold three and rented one,” he said. “I’ll do another three to four this year. It’s been fairly steady.”

Pero moved to Whitefish in 1999 for the real-estate development and said he still owns “a lot of land” that is yet to be developed. Adding an event center to the mix gives him some diversification, he said.

“You have to adjust with the times,” Pero added.

For more information about Brix Elegant Events, call 253-6147 or e-mail rjpero@aboutmontana.net.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by e-mail at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.