The front entry of the Marysville Banquet Hall, photographed Oct. 16, features a bright red door framed by stained-glass panels depicting Yuba County on the right and Sutter County on the left, celebrating the shared heritage of the twin counties.

MARYSVILLE, CA (MPG) - “This is exactly what we needed,” was a phrase heard again and again among guests during the grand opening of the new Marysville Banquet Hall on Thursday, Oct 16. Located at 800 D Street, the newly restored event venue preserves the classic beauty and reverent charm of the former St. John’s Episcopal Church, which hosted its final service earlier this year in July.

“I raised my children here,” said Roleane Helder, who attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “It needs a lot of work upstairs, but it’s a beautiful facility. There are so many of the stained-glass panels that are memorable to a lot of people. My heart aches for what was, but it is nice to visit again — and at least it’s not being torn down.”

The church’s historic stained glass, some dating back to the 1850s, left a lasting impression on both longtime parishioners and newcomers alike. An article by Cynthia Fontayne once noted that several of the windows were original to the building, and that its magnificent pipe organ arrived from Europe by ship — traveling around Cape Horn long before the construction of the Panama Canal.

Guests sample desserts and hors d'oeuvres during the Marysville Banquet Hall’s grand opening celebration on Oct. 16, which featured local vendors and a live DJ.

Local historian Judy Mann shared one such story of heritage within the walls.

“Addie Cook came all the way from Missouri and she lived in Colusa and went to church here — this was her room,” Mann said, gesturing toward a smaller event room adorned with biblical-themed glass panels. “It was named after her family. She went to San Francisco and married into the famous Ghirardelli family, and in 1927 when the church was in despair, she sent some money to help.”

The building’s entryway now features more contemporary stained glass honoring key moments and symbols from Yuba-Sutter’s history. Just beyond that entry, guests are greeted by the enchanting view of the chapel, modestly decorated with floating candles and rose petals, evoking romantic possibilities for future weddings.

The interior of the adjoining chapel, preserved for traditional-style weddings and ceremonies, shown lightly decorated during the Marysville Banquet Hall’s Oct. 16 grand opening.

“I’m ordained, so I kind of set up the chapel to show that we can do weddings here,” explained Sasha Davis, the hall’s operations manager and local event planner. “It’s perfect for someone who wants a traditional wedding setting but maybe doesn’t have a huge wedding party. The space allows us to transition right into the event area for a reception, it’s kind of a one-stop shop for weddings.”

Davis brings years of experience, having previously served as Banquet Manager at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sacramento. Her strong local connections allow her to assist couples with every detail, from décor and catering to DJ bookings.

“I came and looked at the property and saw quite a bit of potential,” Davis said. “The wedding industry is so overpriced, and it’s really discouraging, so a lot of people forfeit something they’d like because they simply can’t afford it. Luckily, Gary and I were kind of on the same page. We want this place to stay affordable, whether it’s a wedding, a party, a reunion, whatever we can do.”

A view of the Marysville Banquet Hall’s grassy courtyard and adjoining indoor-outdoor banquet and dance space, photographed during the venue’s grand opening on Oct. 16.

The “Gary” she refers to is Gary Yu, one of the property’s owners and a familiar face in Marysville as the longtime owner of China Moon, one of the city’s most successful restaurants. Yu said part of his inspiration came from a visit to Genoa, where he witnessed an outdoor courtyard filled with laughter, dancing and celebration.

“Everyone was having so much fun, and I wanted to bring that same atmosphere here,” Yu said. “Not too many buyers would think about buying a church, but I figured the place was big enough and had a nice courtyard. I thought we could do a lot of different things besides just the event center.”

Yu and his partners have plenty of ideas for the space’s future, including a possible upstairs pool lounge, music nights and even monthly senior programs. For now, they’re focusing on renovating the upper floors one step at a time while the main level remains fully open and available for bookings. The venue includes two event rooms, a commercial kitchen and ample flexibility for customizing the layout.

Visitors gather inside the main hall of the Marysville Banquet Hall during its Oct. 16 grand opening. The newly re-opened space is designed to host weddings, fundraisers, and community events year-round.

As guests exited the chapel during the grand opening, they were led through to what co-owner Chantha Kem called the property’s “secret garden.” Mature trees and climbing ivy framed the stone steps leading down to an indoor-outdoor dance floor and banquet hall.

“I’m very excited to have everyone here and see what we can do with this place,” Kem said, encouraging visitors to enjoy the lavish charcuterie display laid out for the occasion.

The Marysville Banquet Hall can accommodate approximately 200 seated guests or up to 400 in assembly. To schedule a tour or inquire about bookings, visit marysvillehall.com or call 530-302-0393.