As blushing brides and grooms get set to unpause their wedding plans, not every reception hall across Western New York is welcoming couples with open arms.

What You Need To Know

  • The Crystal Ballroom in Jamestown will remain temporarily closed
  • Wedding venues in NYS are allowed to reopen safely March 15
  • Leaders will review the status of the venue on a month-to-month basis
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"Well, the ballroom is popular. The ballroom brought people downtown. Just about everybody I've ever met in Jamestown has been to the Crystal Ballroom," said Jeff McCheskey, Jamestown Housing Authority executive director.

To celebrate special occasions, including wedding receptions.

A room that back in the day welcomed such guests like Lucille Ball and past presidents. 

"The historical nature of the room, I think a lot of people appreciate," said McCheskey.

McCheskey heads the Jamestown Housing Authority, owner of the spacious Crystal Ballroom, both located inside the Hotel Jamestown, a once-thriving hotel turned low-income public housing complex with office space.

McCheskey says when the COVID-19 pandemic initially hit, the authority shut the ballroom down, leaving would be wedding couples with nowhere to turn.

"And the rug was pulled out from under them. Ninety percent of the agony was absorbed by the couples," said McCheskey.

"It was devastating. I had to call everybody and basically tell them they had to postpone their wedding or cancel it. And it was hard pill to swallow," said Jamie Russell, Its Your Day, PattyAnne's owner.

Russell is an event designer who owns "Its Your Day" and "PattyAnne's," in addition to her role as the venue manager for the ballroom.

Russell had been working with the authority to update the decor, only to have to later break the news to numerous couples the facility was closed soon after COVID-19 initially hit last year.

"It was awful. We had a lot of brides that were excited about the new venue and I was getting a lot of phones calls in regard to it," said Russell.

Even after Governor Andrew Cuomo said earlier this week that wedding venues can resume as of March 15, if done safely, a majority of the authority's Board of Commissioners voted to keep the ballroom closed until further notice.  

McCheskey says because some of the residents have tested positive for COVID-19, the board did not want local or out-of-town guests especially to further endanger those living in the building.

"Our number one concern is our residents. And I think that seemed to be the point that tipped the scales in terms of the board's decision. Allowing the general public, even a limited number into the building would somehow result in the spread of the disease amongst our residents," said McCheskey.

"Once I explained that to the brides, they eventually understood why they were taking that position. It's frustrating for them to understand," said Russell.

Both Russell and McCheskey say they remain hopeful the ballroom will be reopen this wedding season.

"A historic gem of the city and it's beautiful. It's all dependent on how many people are getting vaccinated, and being tests, and if we can flatten this curve out there," said Russell.

"I'm 60/40 hopeful. I realize there are several roadblocks to clear," said McCheskey.

The authority will review the matter and vote again later next month.

To reach Jamie Russell, please send an email to itsyourday@gmail.com, or call 716-720-3918. The business also has a Facebook page.