The Enquirer's Going In series is a companion series to Going Up, giving you details and an inside look into Greater Cincinnati's new construction projects.
The basics of The Phoenix:
- Address: 812 Race St., Downtown.
- Building type: Historic building and event venue. Also houses corporate offices for The Scottish Rite.
- Owner: The Scottish Rite / Architect: Drawing Dept / Developer: Hudepohl Construction Company .
- Size: 40,000 square feet. DelightMore will operate 28,000 square feet.
- Opening date: Early 2027.
- Cost: Not disclosed.
What you need to know about The Phoenix: The historic structure is back with modern touches
The Phoenix, a historic building with an opulent interior, will reopen to the public thanks to DelightMore, an events and catering company, and the Scottish Rite, a men's fraternal organization that is part of Freemasonry.
Guests will be able to rent most of the venue for events, including weddings, through DelightMore. The Scottish Rite operates its corporate offices in the remaining space.
The Phoenix oozes history, both public and personal.
The Phoenix was built in 1893 for The Phoenix Club, a social organization for Cincinnati's German Jewish community. Sitting United States presidents visited
the building and ate dinner in the appropriately named "President's Room." Afterward, they might have watched a play in one of the building's rooms, according to Emylie Hill, sales and design manager for The Phoenix.
Over time, The Phoenix became an event space and at one point, a restaurant open to the public.
“The Phoenix holds so many memories for people across Greater Cincinnati," said Don Vonderhaar, CEO of DelightMore, "whether they attended a wedding, prom, fraternity or sorority event, corporate gathering or another special celebration here. It’s been wonderful to see how much this venue means to people."
The Phoenix's previous owner abruptly closed the building in December 2023, said Hill.
The Scottish Rite quietly purchased the space in 2024. The organization left their home next to the Taft Theatre to accommodate declining membership, said Bob Dumford, executive director of the Scottish Rite.
DelightMore then signed a 10-year operating agreement with the Scottish Rite. That gave DelightMore exclusive rights to host events at The Phoenix. DelightMore will operate weddings, corporate gatherings, nonprofit events and social gatherings.
"Weddings come first," said Vonderhaar, but "we need to fill that Monday through Friday."
Architecture of The Phoenix: Italian Renaissance with fresh renovations
It's easy enough to miss The Phoenix from the outside, but once you enter this Downtown building, you're immediately met with a large marble staircase and stunning Tiffany glass windows.
Samuel Hannaford, who designed Music Hall, also designed The Phoenix. But unlike Music Hall, The Phoenix was built in the Italian Renaissance architectural style. This is most obvious in the building's symmetry, round arches and interior columns.
The Scottish Rite is renovating The Phoenix with DelightMore's construction and design partners. The space is undergoing minor changes here and there to "freshen things up," Vonderhaar said.
Renovations include new carpeting, hardwood flooring, fresh paint and changing out some light fixtures. All of the chandeliers will stay. The Scottish Rite is also updating the restrooms throughout the building.
"We want to retain this architecture," Vonderhaar said. "Let this historic character speak for itself."
Some of the spaces undergoing renovations include:
- The Tiffany Gallery: The mid-sized room features several Tiffany stained-glass windows.
- The Legacy Ballroom: A grand ballroom designed for weddings, galas and large-scale corporate functions. Renovations include adding a 25x45-foot LED wall.
- The President’s Room: Named in honor of U.S. presidents who dined here previously, the room features a hand-carved library breakfront and bar built in 1905.
- The 1893 Club: DelightMore describes this space as a "speakeasy private dining club" for small group events and dinners.
- The Society Suite: A room for preparations or small gatherings designed in the late 19th-century style.
- The Hannaford Lounge: A gathering and preparation space.
The Scottish Rite also updated its offices in an effort to attract new membership. (Fun fact: Renovations for that included removing a small bowling alley in the basement, according to Vonderhaar.)
How to book The Phoenix
Interested parties can book The Phoenix now to host events starting in early 2027. Clients can fill out the inquiry form at DelightMore.com to connect with Hill, who will give tours of the space and be the point of contact throughout event planning.
Pricing will vary depending on the type of event and how the spaces are used. During peak season, for example, rental rates for the larger ballrooms will range from about $6,000 to $8,000, according to DelightMore.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Modernizing Downtown's 133-year-old event venue, The Phoenix | Going In
