An adaptive reuse project in the Pearl District has transformed a former retail storefront into a 300-seat event venue.

The space, in a seismically reinforced building at 914 N.W. Everett St., is now called Everett West. The former home of furniture retailer Bella Casa has been gutted and renovated so that it can accommodate weddings, receptions, corporate functions and more.

“We just decided that having an event space would be a beneficial thing for our clients,” said Lauren Carr, owner of both Everett West and catering business partner Artemis Foods. “Jimmy Mak’s (jazz club) was going to go in here, and then he died and that all went on hold. It just kind of all fell in our lap at the right time.”

Prior to Bella Casa, the century-old building housed W.C. Winks Hardware until it moved to the inner eastside in 2001. The event space served as a garage while the hardware store occupied the rest of the block next door.

Currently, the project’s general contractor, Kasch’s Remodeling, is wrapping up interior finishes as well as remaining masonry work for the outdoor space. Bo Kasch, owner of Kasch’s Remodeling, said the project could have been finished several months ago were it not for a shortage of electrical, plumbing and HVAC contractors.

“It’s off the hook,” Kasch said Tuesday as he led a crew of laborers in laying down masonry. “We could have been done with this job about two months ago.”

Lemontine Design of Portland drew up the new floor plan and look of the facility, with lead designer Nicole Karnes selecting a polished industrial look and white walls.

“We really wanted to make this space a blank palette with basic colors so people can come in and design their own event and make it the space they want,” Carr said. “This makes every event unique instead of it being the same all the time.”

A well-lit green room will allow clients to prepare in peace, while a large industrial kitchen will allow preparation of up to 300 plated meals for events that will normally be prepared at Artemis Foods’ eastside facility near OMSI.

The outdoor patio space will have seating capacity up to 200.

Finally, a state-of-the-art audio-visual system will give the space functionality for corporate lunches, training or other events.

Partnerships also have been formed with other Portland caterers, including Buenos Dias, Hoda’s, Ash Wood Fired Pizza, Boke Bowl and Crown Paella.

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