Winding your way up the large staircase at The Witherby, the Gaslamp’s new private event loft space on the corner of Sixth and Market, you’re simultaneously transported back in time and vaulted into the future of San Diego’s nightlife scene.
The Witherby hosted its first party in December. The brainchild of EnDev, LLC, an entertainment and real estate development company that also owns the Side Bar downstairs and Stingaree, The Witherby brings a unique venue option to a business still dominated by windowless hotel ballrooms with dizzying carpet patterns and rubber chicken dinners.
“We felt this would close the gap on the type of different parties that we can do,” said James Brennan, real estate developer and partner in EnDev. “It rounds out our portfolio, but also rounds out the Gaslamp as well.”
Since opening in December 2005, Stingaree, located at Sixth and Island, has hosted numerous corporate events, in addition to being a lounge and nightclub. The Witherby will expand this aspect of EnDev’s business, able to accommodate sit-down dinners from 10 to 180 and theater-style events for up to 600.
The 7,400 square-foot space features two main rooms, each with a full bar, and a full kitchen. In-house catering is available, while outside caterers are also welcome. The furniture can be reconfigured according to the needs of the event.
The building is the historic Independent Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.) Hall, built in 1882. Oliver S. Witherby, the venue’s namesake, was one of San Diego’s first lawyers and state district judges, and served as an Odd Fellow member until his death in 1896.
The space was re-designed by Davis Krummins, who worked on both SideBar and Stingaree. Krummins modernized the Witherby while still keeping the classic historical details of the building, including the large windows, crown molding and exposed brick.
“It’s a dichotomy of modern style and timeless tradition,” said Mandi Kobasic, a sales and marketing representative for EnDev.
“This was a different spin than the norm,” added Brennan. “Most of the stuff we’re doing is lounge/nightclub, and this we felt needed to be a bit more elegant than that. It’s a clash between the old and the new.”
In addition to the opening of the Witherby, EnDev, comprising Brennan, Demien Farrell and Mitch Compton, is working on other lounge/restaurant projects, including transforming the former Margarita Rocks in Pacific Beach into Bar West and opening Universal in Hillcrest.
The Witherby is located at 526 Market St. For more information, call (619) 531-0005 or visit www.thewitherby.com.