Events at Refinery

What Events at Refinery does

Events at Refinery is a privately held event venue founded in 2003 and headquartered at 2302 W John St, Champaign, Illinois. The company operates a single multi-space facility featuring a 7,000-square-foot ballroom with solid maple flooring, Studios A&B (capacity up to 220), Studios C&D (capacity up to 250), and a Champagne Room (capacity up to 50), collectively accommodating events ranging from intimate gatherings of 5 guests to large celebrations of 500. The venue serves weddings, corporate events, fundraisers, quinceañeras, fraternity and sorority functions, and private celebrations, and it also offers a commercial commissary kitchen for rent to food entrepreneurs.

The product portfolio is layered: base venue rental includes a 5-hour Classic Reception Package with tables, chairs, linens, and staff setup/takedown; the Unforgettable Upgrade Package adds chiavari chairs, uplighting, draping, charger plates, and a bridal suite. À la carte ballroom upgrades include monogram lighting, shimmer curtain, crystal columns, photo booth, and barn doors. Three-tier Concierge Services (Tier One through Tier Three) coordinate vendors (photographer, DJ, caterer, cake, florist, videographer, transportation, hair/makeup) and include an Event Day Coordinator at the top tier. In-house bar service offers cash bar, consumption bar, and beverage packages with professional bartenders. The venue is physically connected to Victoria Point Apartments and Refinery Gym, creating an integrated event-accommodation-fitness campus.

The business model is direct-to-consumer, one-time event-based venue rental with quote-based pricing. Marketing is conducted through the company's website, a Facebook page, and private in-person tours; customer acquisition is largely local/regional in Central Illinois. Headcount is 11-50 employees, and the company is founder/owner-operated, with Chris Chesnut serving as Director of Events. No funding rounds, parent company, or public listing are disclosed. Pricing is opaque, and revenue, profit, and growth metrics are not reported.

Name

Events at Refinery

Legal name

Events at Refinery

Website

https://eventsatrefinery.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Events at Refinery is a privately held, single-location event venue in Champaign, Illinois, operating since 2003. It hosts weddings, corporate events, fundraisers, private celebrations, and Greek life functions, with a commercial commissary kitchen rented to food entrepreneurs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Event Venue Services

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (711310)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAFAIAC

Venue & Banquet Hall Catering

Travel & Hospitality/Foodservice & Beverage (Restaurants, Cafes, Bars)/Catering & Banquet Foodservice

SECONDARYMPAKADAI

Venue-Owned/Operated Event Organizers (In-House Promoters)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Sports (Leagues, Teams, Events, Venues)/Sports Event & Tournament Organizers (Tours, Championships, Meets)

SECONDARYTHAHAKAE

Wedding & Social Event Catering

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Catering & Banqueting Services for Events

Keywords

• Event venue rental
• Wedding venue services
• Corporate event hosting
• Private celebration space
• Commercial kitchen rental

Headquarters

HQ city

Champaign

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Venue Rental and Event Services: Events at Refinery generates revenue through venue rental fees for weddings, corporate events, private celebrations, and other gatherings. They offer tiered packages (Classic Reception Package, Unforgettable Upgrade Package) along with optional add-ons such as bar services, ballroom upgrades (monogram lighting, crystal columns, photo booth), and concierge services. Revenue is primarily one-time event-based rather than recurring.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Events at Refinery is an event venue operator that rents multiple indoor event spaces (7,000 sq ft main Ballroom, Champagne Room up to 50 guests, Studios A&B up to 220 guests, Studios C&D up to 250 guests) for weddings, corporate events, fundraisers, private celebrations, and Greek life events. It supplements venue rental with three tiered Concierge vendor-coordination services, Classic and Unforgettable Upgrade wedding packages, full on-site Bar Services with professional bartenders, two Bridal Suites, and a rentable Commercial Commissary Kitchen for food entrepreneurs.

Product overview

Events at Refinery is an event venue and management platform offering multiple distinct venue spaces and event services. The core offering consists of four venue spaces: the main Ballroom (7,000 sq ft), Champagne Room (up to 50 guests), Studio A&B (up to 220 guests), and Studio C&D (up to 250 guests). These spaces serve as the foundation for wedding receptions, ceremonies, corporate events, fundraisers, quinceañeras, fraternity/sorority events, and private celebrations. The company layers additional revenue services including wedding reception packages (Classic and Unforgettable Upgrade), ballroom upgrades (monogram lighting, photo booth, crystal columns), three-tiered concierge vendor coordination services, full bar service with multiple billing options, bridal suites, and a rentable commercial commissary kitchen. The venue can accommodate events ranging from intimate gatherings of 5 guests to large celebrations of up to 500 guests.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Studio A&B Wider-layout configurable venue space holding up to 220 people, popular for wedding receptions, fundraisers, quinceañeras, business and holiday parties, and fraternity and sorority events.
• Studio C&D Narrow-layout configurable venue space holding up to 250 people, suitable for wedding ceremonies, rehearsal dinners, business conferences, and birthday parties. Can be combined with Studio A&B for larger events.
• Champagne Room Intimate private event space accommodating up to 50 guests for birthday parties, bridal showers, baby showers, rehearsal dinners, wedding ceremonies, and cocktail parties.
• Ballroom (Main) Main flagship event space with 7,000 square feet of solid maple flooring, floor-to-ceiling windows and mirrors, accommodating various wedding styles from classic and casual to elaborate and formal, with capacity up to 500 for business and holiday events.
• Classic Reception Package Base wedding reception package including tables, chairs, table linens, napkins, customizable floor plans, head table arrangements, and trained staff for setup and takedown over a 5-hour event duration, for couples planning weddings at the venue.
• Unforgettable Upgrade Package Premium wedding reception package including chiavari chairs, uplighting, draping, charger plates, candle votives, luxury bridal suite access, and custom centerpieces, eliminating the need to purchase and resell table decor, for couples seeking an upgraded wedding experience.
• Concierge Services Three-tiered vendor coordination service for wedding and event clients. Tier One includes photographer, DJ, caterer, cake, and flowers coordination with 5 planning calls/emails. Tier Two adds videographer, transportation, hair/makeup, and a Day Coordinator meeting with 10 planning calls/emails. Tier Three adds dress shopping, tuxedo rentals, rehearsal dinner, final payment delivery, and an Event Director as Day Coordinator with unlimited calls/emails.
• Bar Services Full on-site bar service with professional bartenders included, offering three flexible options: cash bar, consumption bar, and beverage packages, combinable per event. Available to wedding, corporate, and private event clients at the venue.
• Commissary + Commercial Kitchen Commercial kitchen available for rent to food entrepreneurs for food preparation, catering operations, and food truck commissary use. Includes 6 wash/rinse/sanitize compartment sinks, freezer, fridge, dry storage, prep area, two standup warmers, two stoves, ice machine, and dishwasher chemicals.

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and preferred.

• Victoria Point ApartmentscoreOthersEvents at Refinery is connected to Victoria Point Apartments, providing integrated venue and accommodation experience for out-of-town wedding guests and event attendees.
• Refinery GymcoreOthersCo-located with Refinery Gym, creating a comprehensive entertainment and fitness campus. The venue connection provides additional amenities for health-conscious event guests.
• Haven FloristpreferredChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred vendor florist listed on Events at Refinery's vendor page. Recommended to clients for wedding and event floral arrangements.
• Complete Weddings + EventspreferredChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred entertainment vendor providing DJ services and event entertainment. Listed as a trusted partner for weddings and events.
• Preferred Caterers NetworkpreferredChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEvents at Refinery maintains a list of preferred caterers. They also allow outside caterers with proper documentation, providing flexibility for clients.
• On-Site Hair & Makeup ServicepreferredChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred vendor providing on-site hair and makeup services for weddings and events. Available through concierge Tier Two services.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• The Knot Worldwide: Operates The Knot and WeddingWire marketplaces that connect couples with venues, caterers, and other wedding vendors. Comparable as a competing channel for wedding venue discovery and a marketplace intermediary that sits between venues like Events at Refinery and prospective customers.
• Cvent: Enterprise event management platform with venue sourcing (Cvent Supplier Network) used by corporate and association planners. Comparable as both a software platform competing for the corporate event booking channel and a marketplace listing competing venues against Events at Refinery's ballroom.
• Hilton Hotels & Resorts (Events & Catering): Major hotel brand with extensive banquet and event facilities across the U.S. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering hotel ballroom venues, on-site catering, and bridal suites that directly compete with Events at Refinery's wedding and corporate event positioning.
• Marriott International (Events & Catering): Global hotel group with full-service event and banquet offerings across multiple brands. Comparable as a broad incumbent competing for wedding receptions, corporate galas, and social events with bundled venue + catering + accommodation packages.

Others

• CaterTrax: Catering management software for off-premise and event catering operations, including online ordering and kitchen management. Comparable as an enabling technology for catering operations, which intersect with Events at Refinery's commissary kitchen rental and bar service offerings.
• Eventbrite: Event ticketing and management platform used by venues and organizers to publicize and sell tickets for events. Comparable as a channel partner/indirect competitor that some of Events at Refinery's smaller corporate and nonprofit clients may use to drive event attendance.
• Zola: Wedding planning platform with registry, website, and vendor marketplace features used by engaged couples. Comparable as an adjacent vendor that influences where modern couples book venues and competes indirectly for vendor mindshare during wedding planning.
• Tripleseat: SaaS platform for managing event bookings, leads, and operations at restaurants, hotels, and event venues. Comparable as an enabling technology provider to comparable venues and as a benchmark for how Events at Refinery's peers digitize lead-to-event workflows.
• Aventri (EventX): Event management software for corporate events, conferences, and trade shows. Comparable as an enabling technology and as a competitor for the corporate and MICE bookings that Events at Refinery serves through its larger ballroom and studio spaces.

Direct peers

• PartySlate: Online marketplace for event venues and vendors, listing upscale ballrooms, banquet halls, and event spaces across the U.S. Comparable because it competes directly with Events at Refinery for the same wedding and corporate event clientele via venue discovery and vendor sourcing.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/eventsatrefinerycu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eventsatrefinery

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 Events at Refinery