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Community rallies to help couple before special wedding
Less than a month before their wedding, a restaurant suddenly closed without warning, leaving the Florida couple scrambling to find a new venue. "What do you mean it's closed? And then the panic set in," the bride-to-be told FOX 35.
ORMOND BEACH, Fla. - A Florida couple had to scramble to find a new venue a month before their wedding after their initial venue closed without warning, the couple said.
Florida couple's wedding venue shuts down 25 days before wedding
The backstory:
Melissa LeDoux and her fiancé, Jared, booked Rose Villa Southern Table & Bar in Ormond Beach to host their wedding on Sept. 26. They put down a deposit, reserved two rooms, and were in the process of finalizing the dinner menu.
"We had eaten there a few times while we were dating, we had taken family there for special events and things like that, so we knew the venue. We were pretty familiar with it," LeDoux said. "The food was amazing, the service was great, the staff were so friendly, and it just felt like home sometimes. It felt like you were eating in somebody's house."
However, on Aug. 28, they learned that the restaurant suddenly closed.
What they're saying:
"What do you mean it's closed? And then the panic set in," LeDoux recalled. She said she reached out to arrange measurements and finalize their wedding plans, and noticed communication was stalled for a week.
Statement from building owner
In a statement to FOX 35, Bill Jones, the owner of the building that housed The Rose Villa, said the restaurant's proprietor, Red Fusion, LLC, made an "undisclosed and sudden decision" to close the business.
"I am extremely saddened at this unexpected turn of events. "The Rose" has been an important part of my dream to give rebirth to the grand historic buildings of downtown Ormond Beach," Jones said.
"Most importantly, his decision has adversely affected the livelihood of its many loyal employees. I am truly sorry that this has happened to hope they find some recourse from the Red Fusion, LLC."
Jones clarified that while he owns the building, he has no role in the operation of the restaurant.
The other side:
FOX 35 reached out to Red Fusion, LLC, for comment on Friday. We did not hear back.
Community steps in to help
Local perspective:
LeDoux shared her situation on social media, and said several members of the community responded and offered ideas to help.
"So many people have just reached out, and it has been overwhelmingly positive," LeDoux said. "So that's one good thing that has come from all of this."
She and her fiancée have found another venue to host their wedding.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered by FOX 35 reporter Alexus Cleavenger, who interviewed bride-to-be Melissa LeDoux as well as a written statement from the building owner. FOX 35 reached out to Red Fushion, LLC, but did not hear back.