The guest list for Brandi Good's September 29th birthday party- between family friends and Facebook invitees- tops 200!
"I'm excited," says Brandi. "I've wanted a Sweet 16 party ever since I was little."
But on Saturday, Brandi's mom got a call from the banquet hall- the Oregon New Year's Association Club- saying repair work from water damage would make the club unavailable for their party date- just two weeks away!
Melinda Carmolingo is Brandi's mom.
"I basically told him that I had to call him back because I didn't know what to say. Shocked wasn't the word!"
Brandi's reaction at the news? "I started crying!"
Brandi's mom has hundreds of dollars tied up in deposits for the caterer, a DJ, a photo booth.
What's worse?
A friend told mom the repairs at the banquet hall got underway last month!
"I could have had at least three more weeks notice," says MeLINDA. "Where I could have been looking for something- possibly already had something."
We went to the hall, over on South 2nd street, and- no surprise on a Monday morning- found it closed up tight.
But while we were there, an Oregon Club board member approached us.
Ed Szymborski admitted, the plumbing break that caused so much water damage happened back in August. So why did the club just notify Brandi's mom on Saturday- two weeks before the scheduled party?
"Because we anticipated that this thing would be ready," says Ed. "We anticipated this building being finished a week ago- two weeks ago."
Ed promised me the club will help find a new location for Brandi's party- even if it's a more costly banquet hall.
"Absolutely," says Ed. Even if that means absorbing some of the cost for a more expensive venue? "If we have to do that, we'll have to do it- that's all," he says.
"We're not going to be shy about it and bashful about it- we're going to take care of things."
Brandi needs a south Philly venue that's available on September 29, large enough to handle 200 guests and will allow her already-hired caterer to work the event.
The Oregon Club promises they'll work to make things right.
Fox 29 will be watching.
