Brian Brown, a trustee for the American Legion Post No. 330 in Wapakoneta, welcomes guests to the American Legion Annex Monday for an open house. The annex is Wapakoneta’s newest event center, with space for nearly 250 guests in its main banquet room.
Mackenzi Klemann | The Lima News
WAPAKONETA — Wapakoneta’s newest event center officially opened to the public Monday.
The American Legion Annex seats 240 guests in its main banquet hall, with space for an additional 40 guests in a private banquet room and offices for rent available on site.
The American Legion Post No. 330 purchased and renovated the South Wagner Avenue property — a former bowling alley and health department office located behind the main Legion post — last August for use as an event center available to the public for weddings, graduation parties and other special occasions.
“We had a vision in mind of what we can do to better our post and better the community,” Post Commander Matt Schmalenberger said.
Legion members started working on the renovation last August.
An open house at the annex Monday inspired members of the public to visualize the annex in action: the DJ, photo booth and video booth inside offered a glimpse of future parties possible now that the space is fully renovated.
“We’ve showed (this building) to lots of people over the years,” said Jackie Martell, executive director of the Wapakoneta Area Chamber of Commerce, “but you had the vision to really connect it to the community and to all the work that you do.”
