One of Cincinnati’s most iconic landmarks is rising from the ashes.
The Phoenix, the legendary event venue designed by world-famous architect Samuel Hannaford in 1893, will reopen early next year. Located on the corner of Eighth and Race Street, it’s one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks thanks to its intricate woodwork, iconic Tiffany stained-glass windows and the gigantic marble staircase inside.
Originally built for the Phoenix Club, a prominent social organization founded by Cincinnati’s German Jewish community, the building later became home to the Cincinnati Club. For years it served as a high-end fine dining restaurant and multi-floor banquet hall, and it was officially recognized for its historical significance & listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. The building closed in 2023, but was purchased in 2024 by the Scottish Rite Masons, who have turned over operations to local event company DelightMore.
“The Phoenix has long been one of Cincinnati’s most recognizable historic venues, and we’re deeply honored to help direct its next chapter,” said DelightMore CEO Don Vonderhaar in a statement. “Our goal is to preserve the elegance, craftsmanship and character that have defined this landmark for more than a century, while creating exceptional experiences for today’s weddings, corporate events, galas and celebrations. We can’t wait to welcome guests back into a venue that holds so much history while creating new memories for generations to come.”
The reimagined venue will feature four distinctive event spaces across multiple levels, accommodating everything from intimate weddings to corporate meetings, nonprofit galas and large-scale celebrations.
Original architectural features have been carefully preserved and enhanced with modern amenities, creating a venue that blends historic elegance with contemporary event experiences. Spaces include the Tiffany Gallery, an elegant, 175-seat setting for intimate celebrations featuring the venue’s Tiffany stained-glass windows; the Legacy Ballroom, a 350-seat ballroom designed for weddings, galas and large-scale corporate functions; the President’s Room, an intimate, 60-seat space featuring a famous hand-carved library, breakfront and bar built in 1905; and the 1893 Club, a 70-seat speakeasy private dining club designed for curated dining experiences and intimate celebrations.
The Masons will occupy the building’s basement and office space, while DelightMore will handle the rest of the building’s 28,000 square foot space as part of a new 10-year operating agreement. Public tours of the venue will begin later this month, but several weddings have already been booked in the space for 2027.
For more information on The Phoenix, visit the venue’s official website.