Folding tables are stacked on top of one another inside the main hall of a downtown banquet hall, and twinkling lights are wrapped around the columns, still lit from last Saturday’s wedding. Veronica Camargo is busy these days, but happy — her new banquet hall, simply called Downtown Banquet Hall, is booked every weekend through September.
“The opportunity came,” Camargo said of her decision to open the business with her family. “We are open to anything that comes.”
The grand opening for the hall was May 5, the same day that Camargo’s other business, Creative Parties by Veronica, opened three years ago. Downtown Banquet Hall will host a multitude of parties, including birthday parties, graduations, family reunions and anniversaries.
Although Camargo is already hosting events, there are still some renovations that need to be made to the building.
“We have a lot to work on,” Camargo said. “We want to make it nicer.”
In the near future, Camargo is planning on getting ceiling drapes, in addition to new paint for the interior. One wall will also be taken out to make the inside of the hall larger, allowing for bigger parties. All of the repairs are expected to be done by July 1.
To some, it might seem like a lot of work to complete in under two months, but Camargo has a reliable team behind her: her husband, Roberto, and sons, Raul, Johan and Evan.
“It’s a family business and we all work together,” she said. “We believe that if we work together as a family we can achieve more. We want them to have a better life than we did.”
Business has also picked up at Creative Parties by Veronica since the opening of the banquet hall. Because the businesses are so closely related, Camargo offers bundles to those who use the banquet hall. For weddings, she offers the hall completely decorated, including tablecloths and centerpieces. Camargo also said that she can take care of other details for events, such as reserving the band and catering.
“We are a Christian business,” Camargo said. “We try to work with everyone. We are here to help and make their parties easier. We can do anything.”
The website for Downtown Banquet Hall is still under construction, but the business does have a Facebook page with the same name. For now, reservations for the hall can be made by calling Camargo directly.
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.
TO RESERVE A SPOT
Address: 201 E. Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd, Plant City
Phone: Veronica Camargo, (813) 758-0517