11 Apr Fire Destroys Lakeview Pavilion
WCVB, Boston 12:26 PM EDT Apr 07, 2014 – Hundreds of weddings and proms are in limbo Monday after a popular event venue was destroyed in a fire during the weekend.
“We were just sitting at home watching TV and we got a text message about 9 p.m. that said, ‘Did you guys hear about Lakeview?'” said Brent Gillingham.
Lauren Casey and Brent Gillingham were supposed to have their wedding at the facility on May 17. Now, they question where after a fire burned Lakeview Pavilion to the ground Saturday night.
“I just can’t even process the fact that it’s gone, and it’s not going to be here anymore,” Casey said.
They are among the hundreds affected by the fire. Weddings, proms — nearly 200 events all have to be moved.
“Our brides — that’s our priority right now. And we are getting in touch with other venues to make sure we find other places, and I’m sure they’re going to have the weddings of their dreams,” said Natalia Kapourelakos, of Lakeview Pavilion.
Kapourelakos and co-owner Anastasia Tsoumbanos said 200 couples have booked with Lakeview through fall of 2015.
“We have all of the wedding deposits in savings account, and will be issuing refunds by U.S. Mail to all brides and grooms within one week,” the owners said in a statement.
“Start making phone calls, start from square one, hope to throw something together in a month, and go from there,” Gillingham said.
Fire officials said careless disposal of a cigarette sparked the blaze.
Anyone who has an event scheduled at Lakeview is urged to contact the event coordinator, Terry Memmo at [email protected] for more information.
