By Ron Hayes
The historic Boynton Woman’s Club made history again recently.
In July, the club’s members officially turned over daily management of their 86-year-old building to longtime local caterer Jim Guilbeault.
Under the agreement, the club will retain ownership of the Mediterranean Revival building, with Guilbeault overseeing its rental and catering contracts for weddings, birthdays and other social events.
Guilbeault said he will return 10 percent of his rental and catering fees to the club.
The landmark at 1010 S. Federal Highway was designed in 1924 by famed architect Addison Mizner, who agreed to donate his services as long as the building was worth at least $50,000.
Construction began with money provided by the family of Maj. Nathan Smith Boynton, donated as a memorial to the city’s founder.
The building was completed in 1926, and a cornerstone laid in 1932. Also home to the town’s library until 1963, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
But a building that old demands more maintenance, which has prompted the new partnership.
“As a club, our main focus is charitable interests and promoting education,” said club president Kay Baker. “But we were finding it very hard to give money to charities as we had to spend more to maintain a building that is 86 years old and needs constant maintenance. We were having to pull ourselves in two directions.”
In 2011, the building’s market value was assessed at $462,501— down from $549,393 the year before — at the same time the club was struggling to cope with rising operating costs, which Baker estimated at $80,000 this year.
In the past, members had offered to sell the building to the city, and when that was deemed impractical, there was some discussion that a simple deed transfer might be feasible. But that too never moved forward.
Guilbeault, whose company, Catering Solutions, manages the food concessions at the city library and Ocean Inlet Park, said he had discussed a similar management plan in 2003, but while the club’s executive council approved, the membership rejected the deal.
This time, the club’s 68 members agreed.
“There’s always dissension,” Baker said, “but the vote was overwhelmingly in favor.”
Both Baker and Guilbeault say the new contract will serve the club, the caterer and the public at large.
To manage the new operation, Guilbeault has formed a separate company, Boynton Beach Catering Inc., with his partner, Chris Francois.
A representative will be at the club Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., he said, and also available by appointment.
“We used to be open only during the mornings, and only two or three days a week during the summer,” Baker noted. “I would get phone calls from people who said, ‘Can I come by now?’ And I’d have to say yes, but not this afternoon.”
A grand opening will be held Sept. 21, Guilbeault said, with special events such as dinner and fashion shows, a wedding showcase and dinner shows planned.
“We’re just going to be as civic-minded as we can,” he added. “It’s a gorgeous building, and we want to bring it back to its fully operational state.”
Baker emphasized that any existing contracts will be honored as written, and building is still very much the club’s.
“Boynton Beach Catering is not taking over our building,” she added, “or taking us over, or anything like that. If he wants to clean, he can clean. But if he wants to paint, he has to check with us.” Ú
For more information, visit www.boyntonwomansclub.com or call Boynton Beach Catering at (561) 732-7887.
Comments