Just beyond the gleaming office buildings of Houston’s central business district and the myriad of hotel, sports, dining and nightlife venues, which are sprouting like wildflowers in the wake of a multi-billion dollar urban renaissance, the city’s seemingly forgotten East End is awakening from its own slumber. Once physically and metaphorically in the shadows of downtown, this area is being reinvented by an eclectic group of artists and entrepreneurs. In February 2006, the “Warehouse District”, as it is known, became home to a new focal point and destination with the debut of Warehouse Live, a 1920s era warehouse repurposed as a one-of-a-kind event and concert venue.
For Brent Silberstein—a 30-something veteran of the music industry who began his career as a production manager for Houston-born PACE Concerts—the old adage “appearances can be deceiving” could not have been more true. In between concert tours, Silberstein scoured the city for unique spaces that could be transformed into intimate, cabaret-style environments for local events and touring acts. In March 2005 he happened on 813 St. Emanuel. A non-descript exterior, with small clues to the building’s past lives as a nightclub and Chinese wholesale business, concealed a dramatic interior soaring up to 22 feet in height and punctuated with original barrel vaulted ceilings of exposed wood planks, sculptural trusses, aged brick and cinder block walls, plus a concrete floor.
“This building makes us unique. We’re not trying to be the most superior building,” said Silberstein. “We’ve designed this place to be a valuable alternative to the other buildings in this city. It’s a unique space for the City of Houston, really in the South. It’s a lofty, contemporary, industrial look that you would normally find in SoHo, Tibecca, The Village or somewhere up East. No question…We’re not the Corinthian, but we’re the great alternative when you want something different.
“We also offer unique lighting. We’re also a blank canvas, so that whoever comes in can make it different with vines, art, soft goods, a multitude of different things. It’s set up to be a little different each time. In my years as a concert promoter, I’ve picked up a lot of things from venues in other cities. It’s all designed to bring in the best of them all, and I’ve created my own thing in the end.”
With its prime location just three blocks from Minute Maid Park, directly behind the George R. Brown Convention Center and within close proximity of downtown hotels and attractions, as well as new and unique neighborhood offerings, including Lofts at the Ballpark, artist and musician studios, Infernal Bridegroom Productions, Next, Kim Son and Jenni’s Noodle House, Silberstein realized this diamond in the rough could not only serve as a premium concert venue, but also as signature business event space that would harness the growing appeal of and investment in the Warehouse District.
A recently completed major renovation not only restored classic elements of the building, but brought the facility to state-of-the art. In order to achieve a true urban environment, the thoughtful design incorporates the selection of both contemporary and antique materials and fixtures.
Businesses already are taking advantage of this new venue. When Modern Luxury celebrated its first anniversary, it chose Warehouse Live for its party. “It was tremendous. It was a venue that had the sizzle and style and we knew that it would be fun to partner, since we were both celebrating their opening and our anniversary,” said Lou DeLone, publisher of Houston Modern Luxury. “With 1,700 people it was a great crowd, and the venue seemed to work well. The diversity of that club is fantastic. It expanded and got bigger as we grew. The options they give you can really make for a great night.”
To accommodate the diverse needs of bands and event planners, Warehouse Live now is configured to offer unrivaled flexibility in layout and production. The complex encompasses two fully-independent spaces—the Ballroom and the Studio—each with their own entrances and exits, restrooms, bars, stages and sound and lighting systems. The Ballroom, which can accommodate 1,500 standing room only (SRO), and the Studio, which can hold 250 SRO, can easily be combined for a total capacity of 1,750 SRO. For larger meetings, events or concerts, the Studio is well suited as a pre-function space with a unique vantage of the Ballroom over the large bar when the 7’ x 30’ foot partition is opened. And a raised area measuring 16’ x 50’ off stage right in the Ballroom is ideal for a VIP area.
Audio-visual support can be provided in house, and the complex is wired for high-speed Internet access. Catering hookups also are available. While parking can often be a problem downtown, Warehouse Live benefits from ample non-metered street parking throughout the Warehouse District and has access to three dedicated surface lots adjacent to the facility. Nine additional lots are nearby, and valet parking may be offered for specific events.
