Event Space Opens in Red Bridge Shopping Center
By Kathy Feist
Two new tenants have taken over the space occupied by Aerial Fitness: Silks and Poles at the Red Bridge Shopping Center.
Venue 508, an event space, and Bubo Tea KC, a bubble tea shop, opened for business October 15 in the 4,900 square foot space at 508 W 112 St. The space is owned by Bobby Sarai, a former investor in the fitness studio.
Venue 508
Gone are the exercise poles and brightly painted walls that once inhabited the space. Instead, Venue 508 is graced by soft gray walls, crystal chandeliers, white curtains and full length mirrors. At the back of the space are glass cut column vases holding white arrangements crafted by event planner Lorenzo Johnson.
“I wanted the arrangement to have a semblance of a cloud,” he said of the white puffy flowers and decorative branches. The look extends throughout Venue 508.
The 4,500 square feet space offers two separate multipurpose rooms, a main ballroom and his/hers dressing room facilities. The space can accommodate 150 people comfortably.
In addition to the main ballroom, which can seat 104 people, there are three smaller rooms down a hallway.
The two smallest rooms which have full length mirrors can be used for food and bar areas or as bride and grooms suites.
A third larger multipurpose room which holds up to 64 people can be used for a smaller wedding ceremony, dance floor, or meeting space. All three rooms have sliding wood barn doors.
Finally, the large bathrooms are complete with showers, lockers and handicap accessibility.
Venue 508 has a working relationship with Teefey Flowers, Heartland Imaging KC (photography), and Cosentino’s and Brancato’s catering services.
The adjoining boba tea space, separated by another sliding wood door, can also be incorporated for parties or meetings.
Venue 508 can host weddings, baby reveals, life celebrations, business meetings and cocktail parties.
A Santa’s Workshop is scheduled at the space on Thursdays during the month of December from 5-7 pm and on Sundays from 10 am – noon and 1-3 pm. Santa will be on hand to decorate cookies and ornaments as well as post with children. The cost is $25 per child.
For more information, visit www.venue508.com or call 816-491-8992 or 816-872-9543.
Boba Tea KC
Sarai may have taken out the fitness studio left behind by Silks and Poles, but he chose to keep the beverage space once called Mariposa Juice Bar. Based on the popularity of bubble tea shops in Overland Park and Westport, Sarai decided to open one in south KC. He considered opening a franchise, he says, but after consulting with Tea Drops in Westport realized Boba Tea KC could be done independently.
Boba tea, also known as bubble tea, is a combination of flavored tapioca pearls floating in milk tea. Boba Tea KC also has popping boba tea. The pearls pop when bitten into, releasing a fruit flavor.
The tiny shop also carries chai tea, pumpkin chai tea, hot chocolate and slushies. It is conveniently located next to Curves Fitness Center.
For more information, call (816) 491-8992