Vacant Crossroads buildings to bounce back as event space, rooftop terrace, offices

Two long, dark and mostly empty Crossroads buildings are getting new life.

The building at 1616 Grand Blvd. was last occupied by Cheesehead Homemade Gourmet Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, which closed in mid-2008 after only a couple of years of operations. Now Abbott Properties plans to open The Bardot wedding and events venue in the building in March 2020.

It will have two levels. The street level will have a bar and restrooms. A lower level also will have a bar, a bridal/VIP suite, and seating for up to 200 people. That floor will accommodate 275 people for standing and cocktail-style events. Abbott acquired the building in 2016.

The three-story building to the north, at 1612 Grand, also will have a basement level and will probably be used as an office building. A rooftop terrace with bar will be available to rent for private events. Abbott acquired that building in July 2015.

Both sides of the block, just south of the Power & Light District and Sprint Center, have mostly been renovated in the past couple of years.

Messenger Coffee Co. spent three years working on a corner space at 1624 Grand before opening in October 2017. Church of the Resurrection Downtown opened at 1601 Grand in mid-2018.

With all the changes on that stretch of Grand, there has been one constant. Wholesale florist Schmidt & Klaus Inc. has been at 1620 Grand since 1966. And of course there is The Cigar Box one block north.

This story was originally published July 30, 2019 at 5:00 AM.