JJ’s to manage events at The Sanford Barn

Dec. 2, 2019

This paid piece is sponsored by JJ’s Wine, Spirits & Cigars.

Want to hold your next event in the Sanford Event Barn? Here’s what you need to know.

JJ’s Wine, Spirits & Cigars will be managing events at the barn, which is on the corporate campus of Sanford Health in northeast Sioux Falls.

“Over the last few years, we’ve really developed a great relationship with Tom Slattery at JJ’s. We’ve leaned on him heavily to help us on the service side with a number of our events, and each one always met and exceeded our expectations,” said Bill Gassen, Sanford’s chief administrative officer.

“When we decided on the business model for The Barn and how we wanted to utilize it internally at Sanford and externally in the community, this just made sense to us. It was a natural decision to transition over and partner with Tom and his team. They know the community, know us, and we really see the world similarly in how we want to treat people and the type of experience we want people to have in our facility.”

Tom Slattery and the JJ’s team will be there to help event organizers at every stage.

“Sanford graciously brought us to the table early for our input to help make sure the space would be as functional as possible,” Slattery said.

“So that has allowed all of us to design a facility that not only looks good inside and out but is very functional. We’re looking forward to working with the other entities involved in events, from catering to florals, to see their level of excitement when they see what we have to work with.”

How it works

JJ’s will support events at The Sanford Barn beginning in the planning stages.

It’s a 10,000-square-foot space with lots of options and amenities, including a bar, prep kitchen, large bathrooms, conference rooms and outdoor event areas.

“As soon as you contact us about an event, you’ll be assigned someone who will work directly with you to make sure everything goes smooth,” Slattery said. “We’ll make sure your needs are taken care of and help with vendors and suppliers to make sure they have what they need for a successful event.”

Here are some commonly asked questions:

How many people can the venue accommodate?

  • Seating for 300 leaves plenty of room for a cocktail bar, stage, dance floor and DJ setup.
  • Seating for 400 is available for formal dinners or luncheons with limited space for a cocktail bar and stage.
  • Combination of seating and standing room for 500 is available for cocktail parties, holiday celebrations and mixers.
  • Standing-room-only for 650 allows for a few seating tables but mostly includes standing cocktail tables. Available for corporate events and trade shows.

JJ’s works through ABC Rentals to secure tables and chairs, or you can do so yourself.

What are my food and beverage options?

Every licensed caterer is welcome to work with your event.

“We don’t do catering, so we’re inviting clients to hire any licensed caterer, and they will find a kitchen set up to accommodate them,” Slattery said.

“What we definitely do is beverage service. We will secure the appropriate alcohol licensing for your event based on what you would like to serve, from beer to a full bar with craft cocktails. And, of course, we take care of serving your guests during the event.”

And as for dessert – you’ll want to check in with JJ’s for that too.

“We have the finest boozy bakery in Sioux Falls and will be offering dessert services for events at The Barn,” Slattery said. “You’re not required to use the bakery, but they provide top-notch goods for events, and everyone who has used them so far has been very pleased.”

What kind of extras do you offer for weddings?

The Barn offers bride and groom ready-rooms plus space for outdoor ceremonies in some cases, not including chairs or other setups.

There’s also an option to rent the event room at JJ’s Wine, Spirits & Cigars for a rehearsal dinner, including food, beverages and service.

What audio-visual options are there?

The venue offers five large-screen televisions, a drop-down screen, projector and PA system great for speaking and playing background music.

What if I’m a nonprofit?

Nonprofits may be eligible for reduced rates at The Barn and should contact Slattery for information.

The agreement between Sanford and JJs is rooted in shared missions, Gassen added. The Sanford Barn is part of the Sanford Frontier division, which is a taxable not-for-profit.

Beyond all the technical expertise and support, “Tom is a believer in the mission of Sanford Health,” Gassen said. “He sees what we’re trying to do and believes in it, and we wanted to make sure that’s true of anyone we’re working with – and he has demonstrated that same belief and approach to treating and serving people.”

The early reviews

Sanford started holding health system-related events at The Barn this fall, and the experiences have exceeded expectations, Gassen said.

“Attendance has been really good, the space has been very accommodating, and we’re excited to bring it forward now and open the doors more for business,” he said.

“It’s a strong extension of our overall revenue diversification strategy, which includes other venues such as Great Shots and Blue Rock Bar & Grill, and business lines like our fast-growing Profile.”

The greatest opportunity to improve “is just having Tom and his team there to capitalize on what we believe is a fantastic venue, bringing a high level of service to it. I think that will be the capstone to The Barn,” Gassen continued.

Slattery, whose team runs beverage service for events around the region, said The Barn is unique in the market.

“First, it’s within the city limits of Sioux Falls,” he said. “It’s close to an interstate, close to downtown, has ample parking, and that’s a key point we look forward to communicating as we market the venue to weddings, corporate and nonprofit events.”

He helped produce an event there in November to raise funds for The Compass Center and drew nearly 150 guests while raising $10,000.

“People were really responsive to The Barn,” he said. “They really enjoyed the space – the lighting, the features, the new-barn smell – and we had a full-service cocktail bar set up, so people can see how it can be set up for any event there, and it went over extremely well.”

Sanford employee perks

JJ’s is offering a discount to Sanford Health employees who hold personal events at The Barn.

“Our reasoning is simple. We appreciate and value the relationship with Sanford and all its employees,” Slattery said. “If a Sanford employee wants to book an event – a wedding, reunion, any gathering – they should contact us directly because it’s classified as an external event.”

Sanford employees were able to reserve some dates before The Barn was made available to the public.

“We’re still going to put the Sanford family to the top of the list when we get inquiries on private events, and we’ll take very good care of the employees,” Slattery said.

Book now

Based on early interest, The Barn is going to fill up fast.

“People are seeing the facility as they drive by and have been starting to inquire ever since it was built, plus we’re already nailing down some bookings for Sanford employees,” Slattery said.

Some dates are being reserved into 2021, he said.

“Once this gets released to the public and we get to ‘engagement season,’ we fully expect most dates for spring, summer and fall of 2020 will be booked out, potentially by mid-January. We’re encouraging people to inquire as soon as possible to get on the calendar.”

To start planning for your event now, email [email protected] or call Tom Slattery directly at 605-366-0152.

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JJ’s to manage events at The Sanford Barn

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