Winthrop Barn Theatre — Local services in Riverview

I was extremely excited that this venue had my date available. We were given three licensed caterers that were "allowed" into this venue. We chose two. Publix and DRG. Corresponded with DRG and emailed them our selection as requested. Did not get a call or email back at all whatsoever. Our goal was to meet our 2nd deadline for payment with all budget info met. I had to email the venue scheduling staff to advise them of this and that a refund is requested unless I heard back from DRG... I also rcvd an email indicating that Vanessa with DRG was out on Mondays...mind you my email was sent more than a week before. ALL of a sudden I get a call from Acropolis who was NOT a part of the original 3 allowed caterers asking if they can email me their "VAST" menu from its various restaurants... I said OK thinking that it was truly more than what the Acropolis menu had as I have visited there and would not add but maybe two items to a party menu. They emailed a menu that was no where near vast and the selections were dreadful. My husband went today to get our refund and noticed that one of the DRG restaurants (which sits on the venues property) were CLOSED. When he inquired about us NOT being told he was told they closed two weeks ago! NO explanation as to why the venue who owns the land in which the restaurant sits would or could NOT advise us of this and LIE about not knowing why my calls and emails were not returned was given. This answers the question as to why would Acropolis call in the 1st place. I had high hopes of this place as the presentation was great and the venue itself is indeed beautiful. If I could give zero stars I would as they didn't even have the balls to tell the truth yet they had no problem with keeping our $250 deposit behind their deception. But that's life I suppose. Going to use this as a learning tool and keep it moving. Please DO NOT allow this place to limit you to their licensed caterers only. Damn shame!!!! We were NOT given the opportunity to adjust our contract cut off date(s) with an effort to find a more suitable and licensed caterers. Just pretty much a shoulder shrug and silence. Maybe we are the wrong kind of people to rent out this venue....I don't know but this was THE worst business dealing I've come across in a long time! Had we waited in the hopes of this venue doing the right thing we would have been stuck with menu's that we were NOT pleased with or loss of our 1st down payment. Very disappointed! Someone needs retraining!!!!!!!!

After some days of the above being posted, my husband gets a call from the very Winthrop representative whom we were supposed to be working with and she left a voice message that the owner was very upset about us not having our event at "The Barn" She goes on to offer to WAIVE the 15% upcharge if we were to use our own caterers (something else we were NOT advised was even possible initially) and an offer of a $50 gift card to Datz restaurant. One of the restaurants in the DRG chain....as indicated above who we just could not get a reply back from. We must look uneducated, stupid, gullible, vulnerable or whatever other adjective that fits their outlook of us. So we pay the SAME amount minus 15% and a $50 gift card just to start the planning process over? No thanks! She then calls a 2nd time after leaving that voicemail in urgency that my husband call her back. Well I'm not certain if he intends to or not but I'm not encouraging him to either. This has been a total disappointing ripoff and an utter INSULT. If making matters worse was a person it would be the person who made both of thee calls....(insert eyeroll & ...

Do your self a favor and stay away from this venue.

My cousin had her sweet 16 here this Saturday and let me tell you, Throughout the party, their bartender Frank was bribing us the young adults to give him more money in the tip jar in order for more alcohol to be poured into our glasses.

By the end of the night, our glasses were filled to the brim with alcohol. Due to the high volume of activity, my phone was left at this venue.

The next day, I went to the venue. Once I got there, I saw Frank cleaning, and I asked him did he see a phone. His response was " I have not seen a phone but do you want some alcohol? no one can say anything us now." Baffled by his response to the matter, I simply said: "no, thank you."

Come to Monday, my aunt called Jamie (the manager) and told her " Jaime, my niece lost her phone at the venue. Have you seen it?" Jaime's response to this was " Frank told me about the situation... however, let's keep in mind, this is the girl that had to be cut off". I want to state that my aunt and Jaime have had differences throughout the entire preparation of the party… Jaime gave my aunt a very hard time with any changes that she had.

Due to this harsh response, I took it upon my self to personally go speak to Jaime, and try to retrieve my phone. Once I got there, Jaime and her assistant Denise were VERY unprofessional saying things such as " Well your family was very happy when the open bar started. " along with sighing and making noises because I lost my phone.

It wasn't until 20 minutes later when she decided to finally tell us that they had surveillance cameras that could clear up many of my doubts. As I asked her to see the surveillance footage she would make excuses as to why she couldn't show me saying " Well I can't assure you a clear picture etc." finally she says "I need to show you the footage in an hour bc I have an appointment." As uncomfortable as I felt leaving the venue without seeing the footage, I advised her that I was on my way to the police station to make a report with all the names of the people at the Venue.

Two minutes after I left, she sent this image to aunt saying she found the phone (image below). Clearly, the items were placed neatly. So her response is "okay we found the phone, no need to see the surveillance footage."

Thankfully, I got my property back from these shady people and unfortunately, I did not get to see the footage of what actually happened that night.

However, Edgard (owner), I would reevaluate the staff you have. Clearly, they are not as trusting as Jaime proclaims, since this venue was...

I was privileged to be invited to attend a Saint Patrick’s day party at The Barn located in the Winthrop Mall in Riverview, FL. Once inside the invitation only festival, the surprises kept coming. Irish Cream coffee was a good start as I made my way to the appetizer table where pizzas, wings and pulled pork were a delicious way to start the festivities. As I headed to my table with a plate that looked more like a meal than an appetizer I passed a large room of tables laden with more desserts than I have seen in a long time. I was trying to figure out how I could eat the appetizers and still have room for the key lime pie and other treats when I passed tables that stretched almost the full length of the enormous hall. It would be difficult to list the selection of food that was prepared or the large table of large shrimp that was replenished all evening as were items on the serving line. My chances of visiting the main food line and the dessert room seemed pretty slim. Irish dancers and even a bagpipe made it a night to remember in a spectacular venue. A tip of the Brandon Hat to John and Kay Sullivan who hosted this memorable occasion. They were gracious insuring that all details were perfect for everyone in attendance. All left content as I did and I did get the...