701 Whaley is one of the most iconic + popular event venues in Columbia. It also serves as an art gallery, town hall, office building and Airbnb – and the historic digs are so ingrained in the community that it’s hard to believe the building has only been open as 701 Whaley for 10 years.

In fact, the building had an entire lifetime before it became 701 Whaley. It opened in the early 1900s as a community hub for the Pacific Mills village, a textile mill where workers lived, worked, shopped and ate – all in the same mill neighborhood. 701 Whaley was called “The Y” and held a bowling alley, barber shop, library, auditorium, dance hall, adjacent gym and pool – the latter of which 701 Whaley is currently working to restore.

Fast forward a century later, and 701 Whaley was re-established as a community hub (but up to code this time) when it was purchased by local developers (saved from being demolished by the City after being condemned in the early 2000s after the mill closed in the 1980s) and opened to the public in 2008. 701 Center for Contemporary Art (the building’s first tenant) opened the same year, and the new cultural gathering place was established. 701 Whaley is now on the National Register of Historic Places.

Since then, 701 Whaley has hosted countless events: weddings (on weddings, on weddings – it’s consistently named the “Best Venue” in town), parties, performances, nonprofit fundraisers, community meetings, memorials, proms ...just to name a few. Something else they’re known for? Being an accepting + inclusive venue that makes any group they host comfortable.

Now, 701 Whaley is opening its doors to say thank you to Columbia for filling its halls with 10 years of vibrant, community-driven events that gather together people from every walk of life; near and far. Last year was their best year yet in the biz, and they’re celebrating moving forward into the next 10 years.

Details:

🎉 701 Whaley 10 Year Open House Party

📆 Thursday, November 8, 2018

🕒 6-11 p.m.

📍 701 Whaley (701 Whaley St.)

💸 free + open to the public

🍾 cash bar by Black Tie + Liquid Assets

🍴 complimentary nibbles by Scott Hall, Sarah Simmons, Southern Way, Anna Cline + Capital City Catering

🍽 Black Rooster preview pop-up restaurant with Kristian Niemi

🎶 live music by Soda City Brass Band, Prettier than Matt, IndigoSoul-Columbia, Next Door Drummers + Lleau

💃 dance performances by Unbound Dance, Columbia City Ballet + Dance Lab (from CHS)

🎨 701 CCA Prize 2018 reception + party upstairs at 701 Center for Contemporary Art

🖼 'thehallway Hall of Fame' art display ft. past hallway gallery artists

🤝 open houses by 701 Whaley office tenants Flock and Rally, By Invitation Only...Event Planning & Design, Loft 201, Partytime DJ's, Joshua Aaron Photography + Conservation Voters of S.C.

🎥 historic images of 701 Whaley on display

RSVP to the party on Facebook.

This content was created in partnership with 701 Whaley.