Historic NJ Catering Hall:
The Garden Vista
Ballroom
A Grand Reception Hall Dating Back to the Roaring 20s
The Garden Vista Building was originally opened in 1922 as the home of the Passaic Elks Lodge—the first Elks Lodge on the entire East Coast. From the 1920s through the 1950s, the visually stunning Grand Ballroom was the centerpiece for North Jersey social events. Residents from Passaic, Clifton, Paterson, and surrounding areas enjoyed dancing on weekend nights there, and overnight guests stayed in the hotel rooms upstairs. From the marble lobby to the crystal chandeliers, gold leaf trim to the soaring vaulted ceilings, the Garden Vista was THE place to book a celebration for families and organizations throughout Passaic County.
In 2005, the Garden Vista Building was named to the National Register of Historic Places
An Affordable Ballroom, Updated for Today’s Weddings and Special Events
Decades after the Elks Lodge closed, entrepreneur Jim Robbins purchased the Garden Vista Building and restored its grandeur. After four years of skillful restoration, the historic special event hall reopened in 2009 as a sophisticated reception hall for fine catering and private events in Passaic County. As part of the North Jersey venue’s restoration, and in line with the neighborhood’s rejuvenation, Jim converted the former hotel rooms into rental apartments for seniors.
Recognizing the owner’s creativity, vision and meticulous caretaking of the venue’s history and original architectural features, the State of New Jersey nominated Garden Vista Ballroom for a national historic preservation award in 2010.
Venue Special Features
- Two stately staircases, featuring original gold decorative railings, lead from the balcony to the ballroom, and provide a grand entrance for brides, sweet sixteen celebrants, and quinceañeras.
- The spacious ballroom accommodates up to 170 people.
- Choose from our large selection of table linens and settings – as part of our affordable reception package, you’ll select from numerous mix & match options of linen colors and place settings to set a beautiful table.
- Our large dance floor can be configured to any size to fit your needs and enable your guests to dance the night away.
- Rent our historic reception hall and bring in your caterer if you wish – we understand that our guests may follow certain dietary laws (kosher, halal or other), or wish to host an event that requires specialty catering from outside or provide their own food.
- Flexible entertainment options – bring in a DJ or a full band, or use our baby grand piano for a classic touch.
- Valet parking is available in our parking lot.
- Available to the film and television industry as a location or a staging venue for production crews.
Book Your Event
in our Historic Venue
Located in Passaic, with easy access to major highways, our clients and their guests come from throughout North Jersey, NYC and Rockland County to celebrate special personal occasions or for corporate events.
Contact Garden Vista Ballroom to arrange your consultation and discover what’s possible in our historic gem for your next social or corporate event.
