What had been the Flipside gymnastics center at 516 Bailey Road in Crystal City will soon become a wedding and event venue called Marquee on Main.
Nicholas Smith, 43, of Pevely is renting the 6,700-square-foot building and is busy renovating it to accommodate weddings and other celebrations. He admits the name is somewhat misleading – but it’s on purpose.
“I know, I know, it’s not Main Street here,” Smith said. “But I grew up here, and we always cruised Main Street – which we considered this part of. That’s why it’s Marquee on Main, to kind of honor that hometown memory.”
Building owners Nick Terry and his wife, Heather Bowden-Terry, have moved Flipside to 1506 Parkway West, adjacent to B&B Festus Cinema 8 on the west side of Festus.
Nick Terry said when they decided to move the business, they considered turning their old building into an event venue themselves.
“We had the idea of doing what (Smith) is doing, but we’re just so busy,” Terry said. “Then he came to us with the idea, and he knows the business. He has the time. It’s just a good fit.”
Moving forward
Smith, a Dittmer native, has been in the wedding business since he began DJing while still a student at Grandview High School.
“Having my own wedding venue has always been kind of a dream,” he said.
His Big Show Productions has developed a number of contacts over the years, and he has formed working relationships with vendors in event planning. The death of his business partner, Jason Burns, last year, however, sent him into a funk and made him question what his next step should be.
“I thought about just getting out of the business altogether,” he said. “Then my son (Colin Smith) said, ‘Dad, you’ve dedicated so much time and effort; don’t walk away now.’ He kept me motivated and got me out of the dumps. He was a big catalyst in moving me forward.”
The building dates back to the 1940s and originally was a movie theater. The Terrys opened Flipside there in 2009.
“There is a small gallery just inside that was used as the parent waiting area,” Nicholas Smith said. “The rest of the first floor is a big, open area with 14-foot ceilings. I’m updating the restrooms, making the old office into a bar area. It’s going to be unique.”
Upstairs, the original projection room was adapted for use as an individual training space. “That will be the private bridal party space, where the bride goes to get ready,” Smith said.
He said the venue will also be available for non-wedding occasions.
“We can pretty much cater to any need,” he said. “If people want to do a company banquet, retirement party, anniversary, whatever. I have my prices online and I plan to keep it simple.”
Under the terms of his building permit, the capacity for the venue will be 325.
“That’s maximum,” Smith said. “But I really want to keep it in the 150 to 200 range. That’s what most weddings are these days.”
He said he has some preferred vendors he’s worked with over the years but will welcome other vendors, especially local businesses.
Smith hopes to balance elegance and economy for the new venue.
“The goal is to not be bargain basement but also not super expensive,” he said. “I’m looking to be in the middle range, nice enough but not out of reach for people.”
Parking may be something of an issue since the building has only about a half dozen spots on the street in front and a few more along the north side of the building. Another 25 or so spaces can be found around the back of the building on its south side.
Smith said he has made overtures to First Baptist Church, which has a 90-odd-space lot across Bailey Road.
“We’ll see if we can reach some kind of agreement,” he said. “I want to be a good neighbor.”
Smith said he is hoping to open in the spring.
“It might be presumptuous and a little crazy, but I’m hoping for May,” he said. “I’d like to open the doors, do a little show, let people come and see what we’re about.”
Smith said eventually he hopes to offer a one-stop, inclusive package that will enable prospective brides and grooms the opportunity to book all the components of their big day in one place.
“They could price the venue, the officiant, the photographer, a DJ, photo booth, decorations,” he said. “All they have to do is choose a caterer and pick out a dress.
“My ultimate goal is for people to think, ‘Wow, that was fun, and I didn’t have to worry about anything!’ That’s my goal – to make the day special with no worries.”
Spreading out
The former Flipside gymnastics facility has settled in its new digs, a 12,000-square-foot building that was built in 1998 as a Gold’s Gym. Flipside moved in shortly before Christmas.
“It’s almost double the space we had (at the Bailey Road location),” Terry said. “It’s better HVAC, and there’s more parking. It’s been great.”
The Terrys remodeled the space to include two full spring floors; two Tumbl Trak floor systems; gymnastics equipment, including bars, beams, and vault; a large assortment of assistive mats and equipment; a large dance room; and a parent viewing area.
A staff of about a dozen keeps busy with classes in gymnastics, cheer, dance, tumbling, acrobatics, pom and ninja tricking. They also offer school team camps and clinics, private lessons, birthday parties and field trips. Terry said Flipside serves about 400 children, ages 3 to 18.
“We have the space to do multiple birthday parties at a time,” he said “And we’ve been adding classes. We hope to add some parent-tot classes, maybe get into silks (aerial gymnastics performed on hanging loops of fabric) and possibly even some adult offerings.”
Terry said once things settle in from the move, an open house will be held.
“We’re hoping for probably mid-April,” he said. “The competitive cheer and dance teams go to competitions in late April, so we’ll have them do some demonstrations, kind of let everybody see what we’re all about.”
