Ashley Klingler and Stacy Stumbaugh grew up in the same neighborhood, are lifelong friends and attended school together from Kindergarten to graduation at Bluffton High in 2005. They even share a first cousin.

Now they’ve teamed up as part of the staff of The Centre, meeting and banquet facility, 601 N. Main St., Bluffton. They are assisting the new director, Wendy Gaines, who for the past 13 years served as assistant director.

This all came about with the retirement of Brenda Gaines, who for the past 17 years was The Centre’ director. Brothers Dave, Bob and Ed Fett own The Centre.

With Wendy moving into the director’s role, Ashley and Stacy are co-teaming as assistant directors. Ashley’s official role is co-director and Stacy is event consultant.

The Centre is a full-service events hall. It is host to such events as corporate meetings, class and family reunions, wedding receptions, showers, graduation parties and funeral dinner.

“We are very flexible when it comes to working with a group interested in using The Centre,” said Ashley. “We provide services that people come to expect.”

She added that scheduling for The Centre is already into 2018, and recommends persons wanting to use it make a contact with the staff as soon as they are able.

One of the more unusual annual events is a murder mystery dinner theatre. Locally, the SHANNON Service Club holds its annual garage sale at The Centre and Bluffton Center for Entrepreneurs had had business expos there. Several other local groups regularly use The Centre.

How many persons visit Bluffton thanks to The Centre's events? According to Ashley and Stacy, the conservative number is 10,000 persons annually.

While most visitors come from a 60-mile radius of Bluffton, the facility was recently rented for a wedding reception with a bride from Indianapolis – who grew up in the Bluffton area.

The hall has held events as small as 30 persons, which was a Boy Scouts award banquet, and as many as over 400 persons for a wedding reception.

The Centre’s services include catering, a buffet, an alcohol package, and can even include decorating the hall for an event.

The Centre
601 N. Main St.
Bluffton
419-358-8533
www.thecentreonline.com