The Opera House Grand Opening

The Opera House held its Grand Opening on Sunday, March 7, welcoming at least 500 guests and a number of area vendors. The Crafton family, who is responsible for the recent renovation of the structure, celebrated their success with a ribbon cutting event during the business' open house expo. Additional photos to appear in the Wednesday, March 10 edition of the DDD.

Staff photos by Deanna Coronado

The Crafton family, who is responsible for the renovation of the former James Kahn Department Store, located in the downtown district of Kennett, recently restored the structure beyond its former glory into an elegant banquet hall that pays homage to its original roots and name.

According to Frank Crafton, the original "Opera House," was used to host various types of entertainment for the residents of Kennett when it was constructed in 1896. It later became the James Kahn Department Store before shutting down in January 1998. Following its closing, the building sat idle, awaiting its next purpose until three years ago when it was purchased by the Crafton family, which includes father, Frank, and son, Jake.

In restoring the structure the Craftons have visibly tried to keep as much of the original structure as possible in place, in an attempt to keep the building true to its historic roots.

New plumbing and electrical work was installed throughout the structure and the floor was stripped down to the original hardwood, sanded and stained beautifully.

Modern, yet classic, chandeliers hang from the vaulted ceilings, which in certain areas, features unique antique-style ceiling tiles. The walls also emphasize portions of exposed brick from the original structure. A sound system was also installed.

Several guests commented on the building's facade, noting that the exterior paint colors chosen were beautifully selected and reminded them of the building's original style.

"The historical preservation was definitely important for us," Crafton said, "but our main goal was to please our customers."

"Our grand opening was an enormous success," said Lindsey Crafton, Jake's wife, and business partner.

"We had a packed house with around 500 guests and 18 vendors in attendance."

The vendors included:

Florists: Deborah's Flowers, The Blossoming Rose, Andy's Creations, and The Tulip Tree.

Caterers: The Traveling Whisk, River's Catering, An Affair to Remember, Tasteful Creations, Shorty's, Chocolate Impressions, and Palace Ayres Cakes.

Photographers: Halford's Photography, Prestigious Images, and Bell Photography.

Children's Events: The Party Palace.

Wedding Decor: Carol & Company.

"The vendors who attended our event provided a huge service to our potential customers," explained Crafton. "Their presence allowed our customers to taste samples of wonderful food, review photos of events photographers have captured in the past, get pricing information, and overall witness a magnificent atmosphere.

"Thanks go out to all of our vendors for their fantastic participation and help in making Opera House's Grand Opening a successful experience."

In addition to thanking the vendors who participated in Sunday's event, the Crafton family also noted that many other individuals have contributed to the success of the project.

"A special thank you to Mr. Jerry Akers for his hard work and long hours. His work is truly top-notch," the family said. "Without Jerry's delightful personality and willingness to accommodate our requests, the Opera House project would have been a "job" rather than a fun "project."

"We would also like to thank Ms. Veretta Sexton The Garden Sanctuary for providing two gorgeous potted trees outside the building. She must have read our minds! They truly beautified The Opera House's exterior."

Lastly, we would like to thank the entire community of Kennett for your unending support and words of encouragement," the family added. "It must have been quite an inconvenience that we consumed so many parking spaces outside the courthouse with our equipment for all those months. We are sincerely grateful for your support and attendance during our grand opening event."

The Opera House is accepting reservations for dances, meetings, wedding receptions, parties, luncheons, and a host of other group-style activities. Those interested in making an appointment should call (573) 888-9600 for more information.

The structure not only features a sizable banquet-style hall, but also includes two additional rooms, allowing potential customers to choose between three sizes of space, depending on their individual needs.

In addition to the elegant space, tables, chairs and other needed items are available upon request.

Daily Dunklin Democrat Staff Writer George Anderson

contributed information to this story.