Anyone know what the deal is with Cescaphe? I thought it was supposed to open in January? Thought it would be available for banquet/catering...

The Cescaphe building houses a catering hall (most of the interior), and a restaurant (the very front, where the windows are). The catering hall has been operating for over a year now, has had dozens of events, and is available for bookings. The restaurant is not open (at least as of a few weeks ago when I last looked).

Best,
Matt
---
Matt Ruben
President, Board of Directors
Northern Liberties Neighbors Association
733 N. 2nd St., Philadelphia, PA 19123
215-627-NLNA
www.nlna.org
mruben@critpath.org

hi does anyone know if they have an email address it looks like their website is not up yet and I am trying to see what dates they have available for a wedding reception

Kath,

I am planning my wedding as well. I tried calling Cescaphe and leaving messages, but no one seems to like to return my phone calls. I don't believe they have a working website at this time. At least, not from the last time I check. I ended up booking elsewhere. Good luck with your wedding planning!

Julie

There's a website, listed on the main page of this site (www.northernliberties.org)

Site is:
http://www.cescaphe.com/

Not much on it, but its a website nonetheless.

there website is cescapheballroom.com

Best wedding I have EVER been to!

My fiance and I visited Cescaphe for our wedding, possibly--great place. However, they're so popular they're booked for about two years. I have to say we've compared every other place to it and nothing really comes close.

I recently went to a wedding there and I have to say that it was one of the best wedding that I have ever attended. The food was phenomenal!! I highly recommend checking it out if you are looking to hold a function.

What about prices per head? Anyone have an idea about that?

I WOULD LIKE TO SET AN APPT. FOR A TOUR. I'M GETTING MARRIED WITHIN A YEAR/SO. PLEASE SOON AS SOMEONE SEES/HEARS FROM THEM PLEASE E-MAIL ME I'M INTERESTED

Victoria,
I am not sure as to what you are saying...did you call them already or, are you trying to contact them? According to all the feedback I hear, they do an outstanding job with their weddings and events. I have been inside and it is lovely. Actually, I am attending a wedding there Friday evening.
It appears that Cescaphe is the new "place" to have a wedding...they are booked way ahead.
Their presentation is extraordinary.

I've heard the weddings are beautiful. I only wish they knew how to handle trash and noise as well.

With Cescaphe so booked, does anyone have any other recommendations for reception halls? Anyone been to a reception in the city they thought was gorgeous?

We just attended my cousins Repici wedding reception on July 21, 2007 and it was the most eleborate and first class wedding reception we ever attended.

Our family attended a wedding reception there last evening (July 20th) for Leanne and Justin DiDomenico. The food, service and atmosphere were great - and if I knew how to spell hors d' ooeuvres, I'd tell you how good and plentiful they were as well. They also had a band that was fantastic!
Mary

Does anyone know what the building was originally

i think it was a movie theatre

Yup - the old Imperial Theatre. Many old timers remember going to movies there (or should I say sneaking into the theatre),and in fact, one of the squares on the Northern Liberties quilt depicts the old "Imp".
Mary

i dont know anything about the restaurant but if the rumour is true that this is the place responsible for the high rate of speed on second street - then they should be ashamed. we are building a nieghborhood and one day it will be one of our children being hit by a vehicle. please tell your drivers to slow down...thank you. With that said - I'm sure it is a great place to hang out, and in no way is the behaviour of thier valet drivers a refection of the atmosphere or the quality of food that is served in this restaurant.

For those who have been to or are familiar with Cescaphe, do you think it would be appropriate for a high school reunion with about 300 people? Would love feedback. Thanks!

Great choice... Although I'm not sure if 300 would fit comfortably. Had my wedding reception at Cescaphe bout 2 years ago & they mentioned just over 200 is considered the max (at least for a wedding reception). The food is amazing and the service is just as good. They are usually booked a year or two out but it's worth a shot.

The main ballroom does seat 300 people and there two other rooms that are used for cocktail hours and even a bar outside for a more outdoor type of wedding. Cescaphe is booked most weekends already, so I would contact them right away if you're interested. We do tours on Saturdays if you would like a tour.

Thanks for the info. Who does tours???

You can call the Cescaphe and they will set up an appointment. I am having my wedding there next year and we are so excited! The place is amazing and i have heard nothing but amazing things about the place. The people there are fabulous however it is true that they are booked very far out. We booked in february for our wedding in August 31 2008. Their website is cescapheballroom.com

I am very interested in Cascaphe for my wedding in Dec. '09. Is the place very expensive though. I've never got a definite answer.

Definatively Yes, but you get what you pay for

We are plannig a wedding in early 09, and have done a lot of shopping around. What Cescaphe offers is OVER the top. The ballroom, bridal suite, and whole inside is gorgeous. The price is comparable to an elegant wedding in " high end " facilities, and the staff, from the owner, through his whole team, are more than you can imagine. It is no wonder they are booked for 2 yrs in advance, you couldn't ask for more...the ballroom at the ben has a long way to go to compare to this elegant, CLEAN, friendly, warm ballroom. I can't say enough about how creative, friendly and wonderful the staff is , focused on detail and completely focused on satisfing you, the customer.

If you're getting married at Cescaphe, I give all Cescaphe brides a discount on my services. I love the ballroom and all the people who work there. They really do a fabulous job.

Chill.....what services do you offer??

I've been to several affairs at Cescaphe and agree that they do a great job. That being said, it is me or do they think they own the neihborhood? Last night Hancock Street was blocked with delivery trucks, musicians and the like. Don't we have any rights as neighbors trying to get home to our residences? Second Street is a disgrace, but Hancock isn't much better.

My services include wedding planning, day of coordination, budgeting, etc. cHill weddings is a wedding consulting company. If you are interested, just shoot me an email.

Thanks!

they suck block traffic on every street something should be done!

Hey:

Anyone know price per head at Cescaphe?

I am looking at a Friday night in Sep 09, any help would be appreciated!!

getting married:

my guess is that they have a range of price and service options. here's their phone #: (215) 238-5750

why do they every Saturday nite insist on blocking traffic on 2nd street something should be done i mean really, also the noise on Hancock st at 2am is a joke why are we letting them get away with they signed a agreement with the neighborhood i guess no one can enforce it we need to get stronger!

This comes up alot. Matt posted some info a few months ago. That signed agreement was when Tower still owned the building. Volpe ownes the building and has for quite some time. Message me and I'll give you some additional resources.

So bart sold the building? WoW, Volpe must be racking it in over there, and what does he do for this neighborhood? besides letting the party goers see our neighborhood? Seems like he is buying up the hood.

Recently we've been able to get some concrete action on this - for example when Cescaphe was doing work without a permit at the adjacent building, we were able to get that shut down, and it was a pretty firm shut-down from L&I, as they have/had to get zoning for what they were doing, not just a building permit, before they could resume.

As for blocking 2nd St., we hear these complaints periodically. Any help folks could provide in the way of emailing me with specific dates and times, and ideally with photos or video, would be greatly appreciated.

As for Hancock St. noise, that's totally unacceptable. Again, any specific documentation people can provide is a great help.

Finally, my understanding is that Cescaphe has purchased a valet parking lot near Front and Brown, which hopefully should reduce some of the problems that stemmed from them renting/using space at lots around the area.

Please email anything you have to me, and we will do our best to change the situation.

Thanks!

Best,
Matt
---
Matt Ruben
President, Northern Liberties Neighbors Association
matt@nlna.org
www.nlna.org

I had my daughter’s communion party there and it was gorgeous. If they do not have anything available at the Cescaphe location they also just started catering weddings at the Curtis Center on 6th and Chestnut in their atrium. It is a beautiful building. I would estiamte that either place the price would start around $150 per head. Good Luck