The Foundry on Broadway hosts weddings, private parties, nonprofit events and business or government gatherings for up to 200 seated guests with a dance floor, or 300 at a standing reception, in a historic brick building on Broadway in downtown Frankfort, Kentucky. The single open hall keeps its original brick, a polished concrete floor and a cocktail bar, with views toward the Old Capitol.
Seminars and company events
The venue markets itself for government and corporate use, including business meetings, workshops and civic gatherings, and has a separate offer for nonprofit organizations. A standard rental runs six hours, with an extra hour for setup and another for breakdown. Events from Sunday through Thursday end by 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday events can run until midnight. Extra rental days before or after the event can be added for setup, a rehearsal or cleanup.
Weddings and receptions
Ceremonies can take from 25 to 200 people. Staff help turn the room between the ceremony and the reception. Through a partnership with Liberty Hall Historic Site, couples can hold a garden ceremony there and then move to the Foundry for the reception. The neighboring Cooperage Bar can host a cocktail hour, a welcome gathering or an after-party, and a partnership with the City of Frankfort can open Catfish Alley to the event. Wedding packages are built around guest count, the level of décor and design, and how much help the couple wants from the team. Lodging and getting-ready suites are arranged with partners in town, not on site. The venue is pet-friendly.
Rooms and capacities
The hall seats 200 for dinner with a dance floor and holds 300 standing. The venue supplies 21 round tables of 60 inches and 200 chairs. A dance floor can be rented to cover the concrete, and further furniture comes from a rental company on the vendor list.
Catering
Organizers can bring their own vendors or choose from a preferred list of caterers, florists, photographers and DJs. Outside caterers must hold a current catering license. Alcohol is served either by a licensed caterer or through the Foundry, in which case its partner, The Cooperage, provides a licensed bartender.
History and setting
The building has changed use many times. It opened in 1891 as the Charles Stubenrauch Saloon, became the Paul Miller Garage, a Packard dealership, in 1936, and the Broadway Grill, a grocery and restaurant, in 1945. Several businesses followed in the 1960s, including a taxi service and an army surplus store, then Mitchell's Clothing Store from 1967 to 2012, before the building reopened as an event venue.
Getting there
The address is 317 West Broadway Street, Frankfort. Street parking has daytime time limits that lift after 5 p.m. on weekdays, and the lots at the federal building across the street and at River View Park, at Wilkinson and Broadway, are close by.
