Russo's On The Bay

What Russo's On The Bay does

Russo's On The Bay, operating under Russo's Hospitality Group, is a privately held, family-owned event venue and full-service catering company founded in 1987 by Frank Russo Jr. in Howard Beach, Queens, NY. The company operates a single flagship waterfront property at 162-45 Cross Bay Boulevard with five distinct event spaces: the Encore Ballroom (up to 575 guests), the Paragon (90-260 guests), the Rose Lounge (65+ guests), the Promenade (waterfront dining), and Russo's Garden (outdoor ceremonies, 50-guest minimum). On-site capabilities include two kitchens supporting cooked-to-order plated dining (no buffets), an in-house bakery producing custom wedding cakes and desserts, and full AV infrastructure for corporate events.

The business serves three primary customer segments — wedding couples, corporate clients, and social event celebrants (bar/bat mitzvahs, sweet 16s, anniversaries, showers, etc.) — plus a multi-generational family customer base that books successive life-cycle events. Revenue is generated primarily through per-event contracts with a $2,500 non-refundable wedding deposit, customized payment plans, and quote-based pricing. Ancillary revenue streams include ticket sales for charity events (e.g., $150 per Disco Night ticket, $100 per Heart of Gold 50/50 raffle ticket), the Preferred Vendor Program as a referral ecosystem, and the Fresh Gourmet home-delivery brand. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via website inquiry forms, phone inquiries, in-person tours, and listings on WeddingWire, The Knot, and Zola.

The broader Russo's Hospitality Group portfolio includes sister venue Vetro Restaurant & Lounge, the Russo's On The Bay Fresh Gourmet home-delivery brand, and the Angels on the Bay children's charity — forming an interconnected brand ecosystem anchored in the NYC metropolitan wedding and events market.

Name

Russo's On The Bay

Legal name

Russo's Hospitality Group, dba Russo's On The Bay

Website

https://russosonthebay.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Russo's On The Bay is a family-owned waterfront wedding, corporate, and social event venue in Howard Beach, Queens, founded in 1987, offering full-service catering, in-house bakery, and five event spaces accommodating up to 575 guests across the NYC metro area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wedding & Event Venue Catering

NAICS

Caterers (722320)

SIC

Retail-Eating Places (5812), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Venue & Banquet Hall Catering (THAFAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Conference & Convention Center Catering (THAHAKAB)

Keywords

• Wedding venue services
• Event catering
• Corporate event hosting
• Banquet hall rentals
• Special event planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Howard Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Event Venue Rental and Catering: Full-service event venue rental with comprehensive catering services. The venue hosts weddings, corporate events, and social celebrations, providing plated meals, cocktail hours, and desserts. Revenue is generated through per-event contracts with deposit requirements ($2,500 for weddings) and customized payment plans.
2. Event Tickets and Fundraising: Revenue from charity events hosted at the venue, including ticket sales for galas and disco nights (e.g., $150 per ticket for Disco Night 2026) and 50/50 raffle proceeds supporting Angels on the Bay.
3. Russo's On The Bay Fresh Gourmet: Home delivery and takeout service offering gourmet family-style meals that customers can prepare at home, extending the Russo's culinary brand beyond the physical venue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Russo's On The Bay operates a full-service waterfront event venue in Howard Beach, Queens, providing venue rental, in-house catering, an on-site bakery, and dedicated event coordination for weddings, corporate events, and social celebrations. The venue offers five distinct event spaces accommodating 50 to 575 guests, complemented by customizable plated menus, ethnic and kosher catering options, and a Preferred Vendor Program connecting clients with vetted photographers, florists, musicians, and transportation providers.

Product overview

Russo's On The Bay is a premier wedding and events venue in Howard Beach, Queens, offering multiple distinct venue spaces: the Encore Ballroom (up to 575 guests), The Paragon (90-260 guests with divisible rooms), Rose Lounge (up to 65 guests), The Promenade (waterfront dining), and Russo's Garden (outdoor ceremonies). The venue operates as a unified platform with catering services, an in-house bakery for custom cakes, full-service event planning and coordination, corporate events hosting, and a Preferred Vendor Program connecting clients to vetted external service providers. The company has been operating since 1987 under the Russo family tradition of hospitality.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Vetro Restaurant & Lounge: A restaurant, lounge and catering venue offering a modern, elegant setting for events. Located as a sister location to Russo's On The Bay along the waterfront.
• Russo's On The Bay Gourmet
• Angels on the Bay

Products and services

• Encore Ballroom The grandest and largest function space at Russo's On The Bay, accommodating up to 575 guests for weddings and large events. Features a grand staircase entrance, neutral color scheme, polished floors, upholstered furniture, commissioned chandeliers, and an optional bridal suite.
• The Paragon A versatile event space accommodating 90 to 260 guests, featuring mirrored ceilings, contemporary chandeliers, intarsia stone floors, color-adjustable LED lighting, and the flexibility to divide into three separate rooms with terrace access.
• Rose Lounge A colorful, multi-purpose event space accommodating up to 65 guests, equipped with its own exclusive bar, lounge setup, and a 6'x6' pull-down projector screen. Ideal for VIP rooms, pre-wedding accommodations, or after-parties.
• The Promenade A contemporary waterfront dining room with unobstructed views of the bay, featuring four bars, two 55-inch flat-screen monitors, WiFi, and direct access to the Encore Ballroom and The Paragon. Suitable for cocktail hours or stand-alone receptions.
• Russo's Garden

Quantifiable outcome

• 5.00 star rating across 2,690+ customer reviews

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Angels on the BayminorOthersNon-for-profit children's charity sponsored by caring individuals affected by children's suffering. Russo's hosts the annual Angels on the Bay Gala (31st annual in 2026), Disco Night events, and Heart of Gold 50/50 raffles to raise funds for chronically ill, developmentally disabled, and physically challenged children in the community.
• Vetro Restaurant and LoungecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister restaurant, lounge, and catering venue offering a modern, elegant setting. Provides Russo's recommended food quality experience for clients to visit and taste the cuisine during wedding planning. Also offers outdoor waterfront ceremonies. Russo's Group brand.
• Preferred Vendor Program PartnerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCertified network of professionals meeting Russo's standards for quality, variety, history, testimonials, financial stability, and insurance. Includes vendors for music, photography, floral arrangements, invitations, accessories, transportation, and preferred hotel rates. Preferred Vendors have knowledge of Russo's facilities and rules ensuring seamless events.
• Russo's On The Bay Fresh GourmetminorOthersFamily-style gourmet dining delivered to homes, allowing food-lovers to create Russo's famous meals with minimal time and knowledge required. Russo's Group brand extending the culinary experience beyond the venue.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• New York Marriott Marquis: Times Square hotel with massive ballroom and event space competing for corporate events, galas, and weddings across the NYC metro. A larger, broader incumbent offering hotel rooms, F&B, and convention-style space that overlaps with Russo's corporate and gala segments.

Direct peers

• The Foundry: Long Island City industrial event venue hosting weddings, corporate events, and private celebrations with curated catering partners. Directly competes for Queens/Brooklyn wedding and corporate events against Russo's.
• Bryant Park Grill: NYC park-side full-service banquet and restaurant venue specializing in weddings, private parties, and corporate events. Comparable on multi-space event hosting, in-house catering, and premium reviews profile.
• Grand Prospect Hall: Brooklyn banquet and event venue offering all-inclusive wedding and corporate packages with in-house catering. Operates in the same borough as Russo's serving overlapping NYC wedding couples and corporate clients.
• Tavern on the Green: Iconic Central Park wedding and event venue with full-service restaurant and banquet catering. Comparable in combining landmark setting, multiple event spaces, and full in-house catering for weddings and corporate events.
• The Palace at Somerset Park: Somerset, NJ banquet and wedding venue with grand ballrooms and full-service catering. Direct competitor for large Jewish and multicultural weddings in the NY/NJ metro — a core segment Russo's also serves.
• The Water Club: Manhattan waterfront event venue offering full-service catering, multiple banquet rooms, and waterfront weddings. Operates the same venue + catering hybrid model for weddings and corporate events in the NYC metro.
• Guastavino's: Iconic Manhattan event venue under the Queensboro Bridge offering large-scale weddings, galas, and corporate events with in-house catering. Competes for high-end NYC event bookings with similar premium service profile.
• The Park Savoy Estate: Florham Park, NJ estate wedding and event venue with full-service catering, multiple ballrooms, and gardens. Comparable size, capacity range, and one-stop venue-plus-catering model targeting the broader NY/NJ metro wedding market.
• Liberty House Restaurant and Events: Jersey City waterfront wedding and event venue with full-service banquet catering and bayfront ceremony spaces. A near-identical format to Russo's in the broader NY/NJ metro wedding market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/russosonthebaybyfrankrussojr
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/russo's-on-the-bay/mycompany/?viewAsMember=true
• Instagraminstagram.com/russosonthebay
• Xx.com/russosonthebay

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Russo's On The Bay