I honestly was so incredibly pleased with Ron and his hospitality experience. He made the decision making process super easy regarding food/drink. You just tell him the vibe, and he's off to make everything perfect. I also had to do very little as far as decor goes because of the uniqueness of the Hipp. They already have a spectacular lighting collection, so you don't have to bring anyone in for that either. The value for the package that you get is unmatched, in my opinion. Not only that, but my original "getting ready/bridal suite" accommodation cancelled the day before my wedding, and Ron allowed me to change plans last minute and get ready there in the overlook. It was incredible and he saved the day, hands down. 10/10 would recommend!!!

Met and exceeded our expectations. Staff were kind and accommodating. Sara was flexible, easy going, engaged. Venue is beautiful. Would do it all again..

Definitely a unique venue and I mean that in the best way possible. If you're thinking of an indoor venue I'd at least take a tour and check it out. Ron was so great to work with, responsive and accommodating. The staff the day of were also great.

The space itself, a restored 1920's theater, looks and feels the part and they did a great job restoring the place. Being onstage, exchanging vows, we first thought would be weird, but was actually really cool. Food was great, at both the cocktail hour and for dinner. And of course, being a place that also holds live music, they had all the house equipment and lighting to make sure the music rocked and the dancefloor was packed.

We really liked that it was one-stop shopping for food, drinks, tables, lighting, sound, etc...They have a great restaurant attached/next door. We actually ate brunch there one time before deciding the venue and it was so good we called Ron the next day and said to draw up a contract.

The pictures also turned out great, with such differing light and spaces (balcony, dancefloor, stage, the greenroom with a balcony, the marquee out front, etc...) it was like we traveled the city for photos but never left the block.

I'd say if you're looking for an easy experience, unique space, plan on having a band (I guess a DJ would work too, but that stage just begs for a band), and aren't married to having an outdoor wedding, this is a great venue and at least put it on your list to tour and check out.

Great event location in historic Jackson Ward. A great venue to host a special event.

I was married on March 5th 2022. I was told several times I would be allowed to decorate the night before the wedding during my rehearsal. The day of my rehearsal Ron Stallings related I could only be in there 1 hour for rehearsals and to decorate. I planned all my events and schedule around this. He told me he was tired and ready to go, then started whistling very loud and was very disrespectful to some of my guests. He charged and additional 250 dollars to my decorators.. Saying they only had from 9 to 12….. even though nothing additional was going on before my wedding started at 4. He told me the venue would fold the napkins prior and then said we had to do it because we did not drop them off prior. Note I asked several times when to drop off my charger plates and napkins. Ron Stallings told me to drop them off when i come for rehearsals. Even though everything was in writing, He constantly changed everything depending on the mood he was in. The venue is nice, the food is good, the wedding coordinator is horrible! My wedding suite i was promised was dirty and not available. They gave me another suite with a shower filled with broken televisions and wood. When i asked about it, I was told the suite doesn’t come with the shower. That’s not what Ron Stallings told me previously. If it wasn’t for my team things would have been a disaster! His staff was recording my wedding as well. All my bridesmaid’s did not get to eat but i was charged an additional 1400 dollars for him saying i went over guests which was a lie. He went off of an old seating chart that was not used or updated. If Ron Stalling is not tour coordinator, things may be better. But his only concern was getting additional money. During my rehearsal.. he did not allow my dj to play music or my soloist do a mic check. He brought down a tiny beats speaker to try and plug into. If i could do it all over i would NOT book here or refer this venue. I met similar brides who are having the same problems with Ron Stallings.

If you are looking for a well-managed, professional venue for your wedding or special event, I strongly recommend looking elsewhere. My team and I booked The Hippodrome for a formal, high-level event, and unfortunately, we experienced blatant mismanagement, a lack of professionalism, and a complete disregard for our needs as paying clients.

1️⃣ Disrespectful & Unsettling Start

From the moment we arrived, we were met with unnecessary and uncomfortable comments from the venue’s owner, implying that he would “shut things down” if the event got “rowdy.” Our event was a seated, live-recorded discussion, not a party, yet there was an assumption that we would cause issues. This was not only offensive, but completely unprofessional.

2️⃣ No Staff Support & Disorganization

Once the owner left, the staff assigned to manage our event was nowhere to be found.
• The bar was left unattended for long periods of time.
• We needed lighting adjustments throughout the night, but staff were missing for 30-45 minutes at a time.
• I had to leave my own event multiple times to search for someone just to get basic venue support.

This level of disorganization is unacceptable for any paid event—let alone a wedding or milestone occasion.

3️⃣ Ruined Our Professional Recording

The final straw came at the end of the evening when staff started stacking chairs while our guests were still seated. Then, at exactly 9:00 PM, the venue abruptly turned on all the house lights without any warning, completely ruining our professional recording.

When I found the missing staff member, she was hiding in the kitchen, controlling the lights from her phone, and when I asked her to turn them back off so we could finish our recording, she refused, citing a “policy” that we were never informed about.

4️⃣ No Accountability & No Compensation

After investing thousands of dollars into this venue and an additional $2,700 into professional videography, we asked for a refund or, at the very least, a discussion. We were denied outright with no acknowledgment of the damage done to our event.

🚨 If You Want a Stress-Free Wedding or Event, Look Elsewhere

A wedding or special event should be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, handled with care and professionalism. The Hippodrome failed to meet even the most basic expectations of a venue.

If you want a venue that actually supports your event’s success, do yourself a favor and book somewhere else.

Ron Stallings promised a bridal suite and changed the day of the wedding. He was extremely rude to my guests and event coordinator. He rushed everything and continued to whistle very loudly while we were trying to set up. The place is beautiful, but dealing with Ron Stallings is not worth it. Book somewhere else. He is very snobby and displays the worst attitude for asking questions. I paid my deposit already with no refunds so I have to be extremely nice to him because he will ruin the event. He also makes up prices on the fly. He charged my wedding coordinator an additional 250 dollars for 30 additional minutes to complete decorations.