The former CenterPointe Showroom on Sturgeon Bay’s east side is set to take on new life as an event venue known as “The Boathouse,” following approval by the city’s Aesthetic Design and Site Plan Review Board on March 9.

Located on South 1st Avenue near the Maple-Oregon Street Bridge, the property will undergo a series of exterior improvements aimed at enhancing its connection to the surrounding waterfront district. Plans submitted include cedar shake siding, as well as accent lighting, illuminated wall signage, a new entry canopy, and the conversion of an existing window into a doorway.

Board Chairman Rick Wiesner said the building is already well-suited for its new purpose, noting that “not much work needs to be done on the inside, it was fairly nice already.” He added that the project fills a key need in the community, calling it “widely needed for Sturgeon Bay… a beautiful wedding venue down by the water.”

The venue is expected to host events of up to 500 people and will operate without a commercial kitchen. “There will be no commercial kitchen, the venue will have to be 100% catered,” Wiesner said, indicating outside vendors will provide food service for all events.

Wiesner also noted that the venue will be “a little larger than the similar venue across the bridge,” potentially making it an attractive option for larger gatherings. However, he acknowledged that parking could present a challenge. “One thing to think about is parking,” he said. “There is not a lot of parking there, one large event will take all of the parking spaces downtown near there.”

Wiesner says the project represents a positive addition to Sturgeon Bay’s waterfront, bringing new opportunities for events, tourism, and economic activity to the Downtown Sturgeon Bay Hub.

For more information, please visit The Boathouse Events website.