By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
ELLIS — A former bowling alley in Ellis that sat vacant for more than 20 years has been transformed into an elegant event venue.
Dolce Vita, which translates to the good life, encompasses 11,000 square feet.
The space, 203 E. Second, Ellis, has a standing-room capacity for 1,200 people with seating room for 700 to 800 people, making it the largest venue of its type in the area.
It has two wet bars, a catering kitchen, a commercial ice machine, a 15-by-50-foot stage, and state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems.
The stage is equipped with a camera, so action on the stage can be broadcast to TVs throughout the building.
Guy Riedel, owner, completely gutted the space and tore out the drop ceilings to reveal a beautiful truss system and 16-foot ceilings, which he preserved in the remodel.
"I like these old buildings that have good bones," he said. "I know that it looked rough for a lot of years."
The heating and air, plumping and water systems were replaced. Because of the size of the building, Riedel installed zoned HVAC with separate controls for those zones. Zoned HVAC allows the temperature to be cooler on the dance floor and warmer in other parts of the building.
The upper two sections of the building are handicap accessible. There are several steps down to reach the stage and dance floor.
The building has a smaller room that can be partitioned off from the main hall, which has its own bar and bathrooms. That room can seat 100 people and can be rented separately.
This smaller space has multiple TVs for presentations and a cozy gas fireplace.
A mural of the Ellis train depot adorns the west wall of this room. It was original to the building, but Riedel hired local mural artist Dennis Schiel to rehab and extend the painting.
The business encourages renters to bring in their own food or hire a catering service, as well as bring their own alcohol or hire a bartender.
Riedel says he sees many pluses to the location of the event venue. It is next door to a hotel, which has agreed to give the venue patrons block-booking discounts, Riedel and his wife own the liquor store next door and the venue is right off Interstate 70.
Riedel is also in talks with hotels in Hays about offering shuttle service to and from the venue. The venue also has ample parking, Riedel said.
The venue is booking events now. To book the venue, call Guy Reidel at 785-623-7138.
Cost will be $3,000 for the large side of the building and $1,250 for the smaller room and $4,000 for the whole building.
Tables and chairs come with the rental. Renters can use the table decorations that are provided or bring in their own. Dishes, glassware and utensils will need to be provided by the renters.
Both Facebook pages and a website for the venue are under construction.
The event will have a grand opening on May 6. The public is invited. Doors open at 7 p.m. A Wichita band, The Source, will perform. Riedel described the band, which plays tunes from the '60s to the present, as "Chicago on steroids." The cost will be $25 at the door. A cash bar will be available pending approval of the venue's liquor license within the next couple of weeks.
"We hope that will bring in a lot of people and show it off, so we can start booking it a lot more," Riedel said.