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The Reata Event Center: A Central Valley Showpiece
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Ann Maddox, left, and Robin Grohl opened the Reata in 2004 and have continuously been upgrading their services to meet the needs of customers. - photo by PHOTO BY RICHARD PALOMA

Take a 1920s-era abandoned brick building and add one experienced business woman with a background of interior design and one successful wedding planner and you have the foundation for a delightful venue for all occasions – The Reata in Oakdale.

Ann Maddox opened the facility dubbed, “The Valley’s Premier Event Center,” in 2004 taking a once-Dodge dealership brick structure turned restaurant-brewery and transforming it into what it is now, with a Tuscan themed garden patio and exterior, courtyard water fountains, and spacious hall.

“The Tuscan focus works,” said Maddox, who was an interior designer. “It adds elegance with an old world element.”

The Reata’s dining room is unique in that it reflects the charming character of the old classic red brick building with its high ceilings and tall windows, and features numerous elegant details with iron chandeliers, decorative lighting and a dramatic rustically adorned mirrored bar area.

In 2005, lifelong Oakdale resident and wedding planner Robin Grohl joined Maddox as the center’s event coordinator.

“When the brides come in here they love the warmth of the bricks,” Grohl said. “It’s an interesting building and has charm.”

Maddox said the chore of taking the abandoned building and grounds and making it into what it is today took several years. The wedding garden had been a dirt lot scattered with debris before being renovated into a tranquil garden piazza with a waterscape fountain.

Both women believe the setting is the ideal location for everything from intimate bridal showers and rehearsal dinners to grand weddings, receptions and a perfect venue for corporate meetings or social functions.

The Reata can accommodate indoor seating for up to 300 guests.

“In the valley, there are not a lot of nice facilities that can hold 300,” Maddox said, adding that the Reata has both heating and air conditioning that allows for year-round entertainment.

The center does their own on-site catering for the events at the location and offer a variety of extraordinary menus fashioned specifically for the complex by some of the area’s most creative chefs.

“The key people that do things here – flowers, catering, music – are Oakdale people,” Grohl said.

The Reata recently added a Mercedes Sprinter limo bus to its list of services that will allow customers to provide transportation to and from hotels or homes for themselves and guests.

The Reata is at 160 N. Third Ave. in Oakdale. The telephone number is (209) 845-9855.

Eclectic Empty Nest Under New Ownership
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Shelley Leadem, new owner of The Empty Nest, invites everyone to come in and see all the wonderful treasures currently waiting to be discovered in the eclectic shop of repurposed and restored items. - photo by PHOTO BY KIM VAN METER

Shelley Leadem is no stranger to the business world, having been in real estate for 20 years in her native Hollister, but the new owner of The Empty Nest admits that working in retail is a whole new world.

Leadem and her husband relocated to Oakdale three years ago due to a job change and quickly fell in love with the small town.

“My husband got a job in Modesto and we relocated to Oakdale because it reminded us of Hollister with its small-town environment. We love Oakdale. Absolutely love it. It’s close enough to big shopping if we need to and so centrally located, it’s awesome. Plus I love the community. They’ve all been so wonderful since opening.”

Leadem reopened the shop on May 1 and has been working to keep the same feel as the previous owners had with the eclectic shop, as well as adding her own personal flair. One of the projects she’s undertaken is transforming the upstairs area to hold classes and birthday parties in a room that has a ‘50s retro look.

“I used to be a shopper here. I always knew I could get a nice gift and have it wrapped and walk out having spent $10 to 15,” Leadem said. “I want to continue to offer that same kind of value to my customers.”

For those new to the scene, The Empty Nest offers repurposed items that have been restored and renewed from their original purpose. For example, an antique coffee pot that has been restored can start a new life as a unique flowerpot.

“We have repurposed furniture; old furniture that has been redone and restored. We have the old flavor with a new spin on it,” Leadem said. “I just absolutely love my products. I love homes and decorating. How great is this? I get to shop for a living.”

Leadem also has vendors offering their wares for sale in the shop and she’s open to seeing new items if they fit within the sphere of what she offers. If she likes what she sees and the price is right, she purchases the item, as she doesn’t offer consignment.

“I’m open to looking at items from people but I must be able to offer good prices to the customers. The Empty Nest has a reputation for offering affordable prices,” Leadem said.

Prior to her career in real estate, Leadem was in manufacturing as a production control manager. She admits that experience has come in handy as she manages her own inventory.

“With retail, cash flow is key. Managing and understanding inventory is also important,” Leadem said. “I’m very aware of my inventory. We have one-of-a-kind things. Trying to figure out what the clientele is really interested in is the challenge. I’m trying to get a good feel of what the community is after. There’s a sharper learning curve than I thought there’d be, but I’m up to the challenge.”

As a woman in charge of her own business, she offers the following advice to women interested in following in her footsteps to entrepreneurship:

“Pursue your dreams and do something you really love. If you love what you’re doing it doesn’t matter how hard it is. Get as educated as you can. Get a business plan and just go for it,” she said.

The Empty Nest is at 116 North Third Ave. in Oakdale.

For more information, call 209-847-9300.