• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Muddy River Sports
  • Podcasts
    • State of Play with David Adam
    • Muddy River Minute
  • Muddy River TV+
  • Support Muddy River News
  • Newsletter

Muddy River News

Our Home. Our News.

  • Home
  • Top Stories
  • Politics
  • Muddy River Vibe
  • Blotter
  • Business
  • Local Matters
  • Markets & Ag
  • Opinion
  • Obituaries
  • Real Estate
  • Shop
Home » News » Owner moves real estate business downtown, opens event center next door in former Forum
The Business section is sponsored by:

Owner moves real estate business downtown, opens event center next door in former Forum

April 6, 2022 — by David Adam, MRN Editor

Carol Shaffer shows off the Corinthian Event Center at 415 Hampshire. | David Adam

QUINCY — As the managing broker and owner of Bower & Associates Realtors, Inc., Carol Shaffer’s primary job is to help people buy and sell real estate.

However, when the building once known as the Forum Show Palace and Winter’s West Wing, along with two other properties at 415-419 Hampshire, was available to buy, Shaffer couldn’t help herself.

She and her partner Mickey Tuter are in the process of buying all of them from Jon Winter. 

“I had this building listed for two years,” Shaffer said. “Every time I came down here to show it to someone, I just fell more and more in love with it.”

As Bower & Associates outgrew space at 2829 Broadway, Shaffer moved it in May to 419 Hampshire, formerly known as O’Griff’s Brewhouse.

“(Buying all three properties) wasn’t really even on my radar of a possibility,” she said. “As the Bower business was growing, I was bringing on more agents. When I started looking at moving my office, and checking other places to rent, it didn’t make sense. But we could buy this. It was ours, and we’re essentially paying yourself.”

Bridal expo, trivia night fundraiser held in March

Shaffer and Tuter, who live in Loraine, recently opened the Corinthian Event Center in the former Forum, 415 Hampshire. The first events — a bridal expo and a trivia night fundraiser for a local fast-pitch softball team — were in March.

Shaffer hopes to lease the building in the middle, formerly known as O’Griff’s Bar, to a retail business. She also took over nine upstairs apartments that are all rented.

“The buildings can never be separated,” Shaffer said. “You had to buy them all as a big package. So one day I said, ‘Let’s just buy these buildings.’ And then we’ll put my office in the East Room. So that’s what we did.”

The event center can accommodate up to 250 people seated and 400 people standing. Weddings are booked in the event center in May and June.

“There was just something about this property,” Shaffer said. “I’ve always loved the architecture in here. I love the granite walls and the bar. It just needed loving. Mick and I are do-it-yourselfers and workers, and it just seemed like a project that was more a labor of love. We repainted everything, put in new carpet and stripped the floors. We have a lot of labor in this. It just need cleaned up and freshened up.”

Building used as bank when it was built in 1876

Work to remodel the kitchen continues, and Shaffer hopes she can use the event center for luncheons, Christmas parties and other similar events.

“Our first wedding is in May. That’s our deadline for the kitchen,” she said. “We’ll be opening up the back (north doors to a parking lot). I know (parking) can get tight out in the front (around Washington Park). We built two huge bathrooms, and then we’ll open up the back walkway so we have all the parking in the back and people can filter in from there.”

Shaffer said she created the name of the event center after completing research on the building’s history. It was built in 1876 as a bank (with three vaults in the basement) in 1876. An addition was built in 1910.

“That’s why one (west) side has a granite wall, and the other (east) side has a wood wall,” she said. “You’ll notice the outside facade is just a little different because of the limestone from different eras, but they matched it all up really good. When we were trying to name it, we thought, ‘Do we bring back something with the Forum? Do we try to bring back the history of the bank?’

“Then we found an old newspaper article that said the architecture in here is called Corinthian Greek. That kind of triggered something. I always wanted to kind of reference it to love, because it is a reception hall. Well, Corinthians 13:1 is the Bible verse that starts, ‘Love is patient, love is kind.’ So it was like a light switch.”

Shaffer ready to take ‘backseat,’ concentrate on real estate business

Shaffer hired a general manager to direct the daily operations of the event center, allowing her to concentrate on her real estate business.

“Now we will take the backseat,” she said. “I have enough on my plate.”

People interested in scheduling an event should call Shaffer at 217-617-5333.

Miss Clipping Out Stories to Save for Later?

Click the Purchase Story button below to order a print of this story. We will print it for you on matte photo paper to keep forever.

Purchase Story
close

Do you want to receive the Muddy River News newsletter in your inbox every morning? Send us your email address, click "Subscribe" and don't forget to check your email to confirm your FREE subscription.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Filed Under: Business, Noteworthy, Top Stories Tagged With: Bower & Associates, Carol Shaffer, Forum, Mickey Tuter

Primary Sidebar

DAILY MUDDY: FREEDOM FEST AND A TASTE OF CLUB

https://youtu.be/Mso_omrcpHk
View Complete Forecast

Trending Posts This Week

  • Trump rally comparable to rock concert: ‘Just the excitement alone is amazing’
    MENDON, Ill. — Mike Teel looked around the Adams County Fairgrounds where the "Save America!" political rally, featuring former president...
  • Dear Diary: Spending a day in little ol’ Mendon waiting for Donald Trump to show up
    MENDON, Ill. — Saturday was arguably the biggest day in the history of this tiny town (2010 Census says 953...
  • Six presidents have visited Quincy while in office; seven others came here before they were president
    QUINCY — Six presidents have visited Quincy while they were in office, and seven others visited the city before they...
  • Real estate transfers in Adams County from June 13-17
    Muddy River News transaction information is obtained from Illinois Real Estate Transfer Declaration forms accompanying recorded documents. Dates provided may...
  • Ashley and Brittany visit with members of Trump Nation during ‘Save America!’ rally
    Ashley Conrad and Brittany Boll interview people (and videographer Ryan Stark recorded all of them) who attended the "Save America!"...

Follow Us Online

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Our Most Recent Podcasts

  • CLUB MUDDY PODCAST: Who the F… is Frankie Murphy Giesing June 30, 2022
  • Trump talks Miller endorsement, Adams Co. visit June 23, 2022
  • CLUB MUDDY: Breaking the seal June 22, 2022
  • BOOK NOOK with Ron Kinscherf June 13, 2022
  • BOOK NOOK: Libations for the Library May 18, 2022
  • Book Nook for April 26, 2022 April 26, 2022
  • Book Nook for April 19, 2022 April 19, 2022
  • DOB and the BBB: April 7, 2022 April 7, 2022
  • Book Nook: April 6, 2020 April 7, 2022
  • Book Nook: Quincy Public Library for March 22 March 22, 2022

More Top Stories

Hannibal attorney running for judge charged with felony for attempted tampering with victim

by David Adam, MRN Editor

HANNIBAL, Mo. — A Hannibal attorney running to become an associate judge in the 10th Judicial Circuit was charged with a felony earlier this month for offering a victim $4,000 not to testify against his client. Luke Bryant, prosecuting attorney for Marion County, filed a complaint in Marion … ...Read Full Article about Hannibal attorney running for judge charged with felony for attempted tampering with victim

Riverfront Development Corporation debates formation of, representation on 501(c)(3) foundation

by David Adam, MRN Editor

QUINCY — The Quincy Riverfront Development Corporation is formed, and board members are selected. The next step is determining how the corporation will handle the money it receives. That topic dominated Wednesday afternoon’s meeting in City Council chambers. The nine-member board will guide … ...Read Full Article about Riverfront Development Corporation debates formation of, representation on 501(c)(3) foundation

Withdrawal of Wiley’s attorney in first-degree murder case could lead to change in prosecution as well

by David Adam, MRN Editor

QUINCY — The decision of a local attorney to take a new job has led to the jury trial of a Quincy man charged with first-degree murder to be removed from the July docket. Wiley, 34, appeared Wednesday morning in Adams County Circuit Court. He was set to go to trial July 18 on three counts of … ...Read Full Article about Withdrawal of Wiley’s attorney in first-degree murder case could lead to change in prosecution as well

Miller wins Illinois 15th District race

by J. Robert Gough, Publisher

QUINCY — Congresswoman Mary Miller has defeated fellow incumbent Republican Rodney Davis in the 15th District Illinois Congressional race. "We took on the DC establishment, we took on the Fake News Media, we took on the special interests and we won," Miller said to raucous applause. "This win … ...Read Full Article about Miller wins Illinois 15th District race

Bailey dominates to take GOP gubernatorial nod

by J. Robert Gough, Publisher

State Senator Darren Bailey blew away the rest of the field in Tuesday night's Illinois GOP primary. Bailey, who garnered notoriety by opposing Governor JB Pritzker's COVID policies, will now face the incumbent Democrat in November. As of 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, Bailey had about 57 percent of the … ...Read Full Article about Bailey dominates to take GOP gubernatorial nod

Footer

Coverage Area

Muddy River News LLC
535 Maine, Suite 4A
Quincy, IL 62301

Have a Story or News Tips? Contact Us!

Phone: (217) 577-8044
Email: news@muddyrivernews.com

Copyright © 2022 • Muddy River News LLC • All Rights Reserved • Privacy Policy