J Loft — Local services in New York

• J LOFT WILL SELL YOU A VISION, TAKE YOUR MONEY AND GIVE A CONTRACT FILLED WITH HOPE*

Though this event space has received a remodeled and renovated look during the pandemic, management and it’s operating practices still needs an immense amount of restructuring.

Days prior to the open house in May of 2021, I had 2 different people call the owner/ management at separate times to advise if the space was available for a specific date, to which the owner advised on both occasions that it was free and available to be booked by anyone with a minimum deposit of $1,000. Upon entering the establishment at one of the open houses, the owner was courteous to show the venue around to several prospective clients, including myself. I was hypnotized by the high ceilings and clean look. So, it was obvious that I book this place immediately . He stated that the date and time was available ( the same date and time I had my friends call and inquire about earlier). He called his girlfriend/ partner to double check the calendar as well as draw up the contract for me to sign, in which I did and place the $1,000 deposit at the same time

UHH OH, here comes TROUBLE!!!

Nearly 2 months pass by and the owner calls and says “ Hey, what date and time was your event again?!”. Immediately red flags were raised. I asked “ Is there a problem?!” “None at all, I’m going to figure it out. I’ll call you in about an hour”.

2 …. HOURS…. Later….

RING RING RING

“Hey this is…. from J Loft. Listen , I have a scheduling conflict. I booked an event last year for the same date as yours. So you can’t have it here. BUT, I found a great venue nearby offering the same amenities and more! You’re gonna love it!”

UMMM SIR, Let’s unpack this real quick :

You waited 2 months after taking my deposit and signing the contract to let me know that you have a scheduling conflict , WAY after I spent hundreds of dollars on mailed out invitations to friends and family out of town. You called me earlier in the day asking me what date and time I booked the event with you. I guess you had a hard time finding that info on your calendar in your phone, the signed contract YOU provided and email sent by YOU, but could easily locate my deposit 💵. The icing on the cake ladies and gentlemen: How you said that the date was booked last year, but stated that the date was available 3 TIMES before I placed the deposit ?

Im not a mathematician, but something doesn’t add up. I told him that he was wrong for this and brought up the fact that this is a major inconvenience and not professional. His response?: “ Well, in my contract, I can cancel your event at anytime and refund your money. “ PEEP THIS!! He made a mistake within his conversation in which it was evident that he booked this event not only after he took my deposit, but this was going to be a HIGHER paying event. ( A Brunch wedding to be exact, but months later it ended up being a baby shower )

Business Owners: (ESPECIALLY BLACK OWNED ESTABLISHMENTS) . DO NOT CHASE THE BIGGER BAG WHEN YOU HAVE ALREADY HAVE CONTRACT IN PLACE WITH A CLIENT Loyalty over royalty as I put it. It goes further than you know.

The only positive experience was them assisting me finding another venue. Though the price remained the same for this new venue, which was half the square footage space compared to J Loft, the owner contributed money towards the rental of this space. Hence, the 1 star.

Without a doubt, J Lofts operating practices are a bit shady. Nonetheless, your date is NOT guaranteed if you decide to go with them. No where in the contract does it state that they can cancel your event at anytime( I had it reviewed by one of my lawyers to confirm) . Don’t be fooled by the hype. Reality will set in when you get a phone call from J Loft Events saying your contract/deposit is null and void because they have potential clients that will spend more than you. I guess money does discriminate. Food...

I recently had a retirement party for my mother at J Loft, and had a great experience. It was my first time hosting a party for 180 plus people. While I had a vision, I certainly wasn’t prepared and aware of every detail required. The owner of the venue was extremely resourceful in directing me towards everything I needed for a successful event within my budget. On the day of the event, I had a sufficient amount of time to decorate, which was icing on the cake because the venue’s raw space is beautiful. Tables and chair were already on-site, so I created my tropical wonderland with flowers and plants. The up-lighting in the space was perfect (color changeable), which really set the mood when my guests were ready to boogie on the dance floor. JLoft’s amenities included a food prep area, with a sink and fridge which was perfect and just enough for a buffet setup which included 6 servers. The bar staff did a great job and remained busy throughout the event. There was freezer and cooler storage for ice and beer without hassle. The bathrooms remained clean. Most importantly the acoustics were great for my DJ. When the party was over, the venue’s cleanup crew was waiting and ready to work which was included in the price. Also, there was lots of street parking, so no stress. I loved the venue and would certainly use it again. My reason for 4 instead of 5 stars, is the coat check room could have been better arranged and had more racks. Second and lastly, the venue has beautiful lighting that reflects on the wall, but you must have a photographer with their own lightening, otherwise your photos will come out very dim/dark. I had a step and repeat backdrop near the entrance, and most of the photographs taken with a cell phone or regular camera did not come out well because of lighting. Overall great experience and most importantly my guests had a great time...

JLoft saved my dream wedding this past March and I will forever sing their praises and be grateful for my experience with them. I came in contact with the owners Ralph and Katherine through my amazing decorator Rose (Dream Work Diva). I had to change my venue 6 days before my wedding including finding a caterer since the old venue was providing the food. They met with me and literally took my newly added stress away and made it possible to remain in my budget, find a new caterer and even assist with fresh ideas for their beautiful blank space. They provided exceptional service and surpassed my expectations. Having the venue change at the last minute was absolutely nerve wrecking but they had everything under control and I didn't have to worry about a thing. My guests are still talking about how beautiful my wedding was. Everything turned out 100 times better than I envisioned and it was absolutely unforgettable. Thank you so much once again. ...