Jacksons turn body shop into event center

There is a new event center in Concordia, and Anna and Allan Jackson would love for you to come visit.
Warehouse 315 takes its name from its address: 315 West Fifth Street. The venue was the former home of  Gearld's Body Shop, which had been in business since 1969.
The Jacksons purchased the property in January of 2023, and immediately set into a major remodeling project. “There was so much more demolition than we expected,” said Anna.
“We removed over 4,000 pounds of sheetrock, and repurposed countless two-by-fours,” said Allan.
They brought in contractors to do the electrical, plumbing, and HVAC, which is all brand new. But the Jacksons did almost all the demo work themselves. “It took seven months,” said Allan. “We worked a lot of nights and weekends.”
Once finished, they had turned the space into an event center of 5,000 square feet, which is permitted for a capacity for 99 people. There is an additional 3,500 square feet of space that the Jacksons intend to turn into a conference room and play area for children during events.
The Jacksons also plan to add a fenced-in outdoor area with gazebos totaling 1,600 square feet of space. And there will also be a patio area available by the summer of 2024.
How did the Jacksons get the idea for converting a body shop into an event center? “We actually went to a party in Wichita that kind of inspired our vision of the aesthetics of this place,” said Allan.
“We knew there was a need for a space like this in our area,” Anna said. “We both come from very big families. The gatherings for our families were getting so big that we needed more space. Somewhere to go. The idea just clicked from there.”
Here is what's included when you book an event at Warehouse 315: 99 chairs, 12 round tables, five rectangular tables, a kitchenette/bar prep area, and two bathrooms that are handicap accessible.
There is no oven at the facility for cooking. “We thought a lot about that, and then decided not to put one in,” said Anna. “We do have two refrigerators for keeping things cool, but our hope is that a lot of our renters will cater their meals to support local businesses.”
The Jacksons will unveil their project to the public with an open house on Sunday, April 21, from 1-4 p.m. But they're already taking reservations, and the phone is ringing a lot. “We're open to just about anything, at whatever hours are needed,” said Allan. “If you're having a pancake breakfast and need to be in at 5:30 in the morning to prepare, you'll have a key. If you have a party that goes to midnight, you'll have a key.”
But there are rules to follow. The Jacksons have been granted a liquor license and will provide a bar service, but no alcohol can be brought in from outside.
“Not only can people book the facility, but we also have planned events that we'll invite the public to,” said Anna. “We're going to have a karaoke night, a catered Valentine's Day meal, and fundraisers. I'm most excited about hosting a Christmas cookie exchange!”
To inquire about Warehouse 315, contact the Jackson on their Facebook page, or through their email: conwarehouse315@gmail.com