Thursday, October 1, 2026
“It’s going to be unique,” so said owner John Vitale about his newest addition “The Loft”. The new venue, located at 80 Waterfront Blvd., in Island Park, will be opening in Spring 2017, as part of Bridgeview’s 20th anniversary celebration.
Asked where the inspiration came from Vitale said, “I’ve seen weddings over the years. Now young people like to go upstate to “destination weddings”, the concept came from that, to recreate that feeling of a destination.”
He noted that while it may be the couple’s choice, it is often hard on the family because it includes travel, finding hotel rooms and additional costs.
“Younger people are paying for their own wedding, holding smaller weddings, not in traditional rooms like Bridgeview.”
Bridgeview Yacht Club, also owned by Vitale, specializes in celebrating one special event at a time in their waterfront estate, which features gardens, courtyards, a large bar area with a water view, and a dockside ballroom.
The Census Bureau projects that 2.3 million couples wed every year in the US. That breaks down to nearly 6,200 weddings a day. It can become an overwhelming task finding a place to celebrate a wedding or other affair.
“The industry is changing,” Vitale said. Parents traditionally paid for the wedding, but parents may not have the resources they once did. If parents are not paying they also lose the ability to decide where to celebrate.
“The space will be rustic, the chandeliers will feature color kinetics, clear crystal with the ability to change colors.” Vitale said they are working with different shapes of tables and different table arrangements.
The chefs that work Bridgeview will also be working “The Loft”, but the food selection will be more eclectic, Vitale said, to appeal to a younger audience.
