John Crone and Joe D’Acquisto, owners of the highly regarded Over the Moon Bartending, are taking their bar catering business to the next level by assuming operations of an historic Milwaukee events venue. 

Last week, the business partners signed a lease on the River Valley Historic Venue, located in the Menomonee River Valley at 422 N. 15th St.

The building, which was built by Gustave J. Jeske and Bros. in 1901, originally housed Milwaukee Casket Company. It was later home to Action Heating & Cooling before being purchased by Christopher Kidd of Christopher Kidd & Associates (CKA) in 2017. The firm transformed the blighted three-story cream city brick building, converting the second floor into offices and the first and third floors into a stunning event space, which was subsequently operated by Kidd’s wife. In 2020, the restored building was honored with a Mayor’s Design Award.

For Over the Moon Bartending, taking over operations for the event space is a full circle move. After all, they took care of the bartending services for Kidd’s daughter’s wedding, which was the first official event to be held at River Valley Historic Venue.

“It was really an honor to be chosen to work with them,” says Crone. “And here we are, six years later, at the helm of a beautiful space where we can host more events and assist folks in making even more treasured memories.”

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Over the Moon

Crone and D’Acquisto, who met through their work in the bar industry, launched Over the Moon Bartending in 2015, quickly meeting with success in the wedding and events industry. Since 2015, the company has grown exponentially, employing a crew of 25 experienced bartenders, each one hand-picked by Crone and D’Acquisto for their ability to meet and exceed the standards set by the business. 

As a result, Over the Moon has earned countless accolades and awards and maintained a record of top-notch reviews from clients, including high-profile partners like the Milwaukee Bucks, Milwaukee Tool, Johnson Financial and Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin. 

“Bartenders are the only vendors that interact with guests throughout an event,” notes Crone. “And we don’t take that lightly. In terms of events like weddings, we also understand and appreciate that it’s the most important day of a couple’s life together. As a result, we rise to the task and ensure that everything is executed without a hitch.”

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River Valley Historic Venue

Thanks to the extensive renovations enacted by CKA, the River Valley Historic Venue boasts a modern industrial space with fully restored masonry, new sound-insulated windows, new doors and new electrical, plumbing and HVAC systems. A prep kitchen was also installed in the basement to better accommodate catering services.

Patrons who reserve the venue for an event have access to both the first and third floors (7,000 square feet split between both levels), as well as a bridal suite on the garden level with easy access to the first-floor ballroom. Each floor can accommodate up to 150 guests for a seated event or 200 standing. Even better, the venue can accommodate all guests thanks to ADA-compliant access to all floors.

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“Access to two floors allows guests to plan both their wedding ceremony and reception in one location without any disruption for set-up or take-down,” says Crone, noting that the venue also boasts a dedicated parking lot with room for over 30 vehicles, plus free street parking.

“In addition to our services, we also maintain a preferred list of caterers, DJs, event planners, photographers and floral artists that execute at the same level as we do at Over the Moon,” he says. “And since we provide onsite staffing and oversight, we can better ensure that every event is well-executed right down to the last detail.”

The building also features a fun, unique feature unlike any other. An outdoor lighting system  – the same used at the Empire State Building – can be customized for any event.

Now booking

Crone and D'Acquisto have taken oversight on all currently scheduled events at the River Valley through 2024. But there are still a variety of dates available beginning March 1, 2024.

“Currently we have quite a bit of availability, including during the Republican National Convention,” notes Crone, indicating that the facilities can easily accommodate corporate events, meetings, charity galas, high school formals, anniversary parties and pretty much any other gathering that requires a larger space.

D’Acquisto nods.“We’re both really excited about this next chapter for Over the Moon,” he says. “With eight years of experience behind us, the timing is perfect for us to take on our own space. We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished and can’t wait to see what comes on the next leg of our journey.”

Parties interested in learning more about the River Valley Historic Venue or booking an event are welcome to inquire by email at Events@RiverValleyHistoricVenue.com or reach out to John Crone at (608) 347-1348 or Joe D’Acquisto at (414) 793-8476.