Podcast: Play in new window | Download
42 West, started in 2021, was created by event planner Lauren Pelissier and former Atlanta Hawks player Kevin Willis who partnered to establish a new event venue in West Midtown Atlanta. Willis found a unique space within a barren Atlanta warehouse and collaborated with Pelissier to turn the building into an upscale, stylish venue to host a variety of events such as movie premieres, celebrity events, sporting events, product launches and corporate events. Philanthropically-focused, 42 West charges a premium amount for high-end event use while also donating the space for non-profits in the Greater Atlanta area in need of space.
Co-owner and Operator Lauren Pelissier and Co-owner Kevin Willis of 42 West are in the studio for today’s Around Atlanta segment of Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio. Joined by co-hosts Carol Morgan and Todd Schnick, the group discusses their collaboration, shared philanthropic focus and the venue’s transformative space for a wide variety of events.
“I’ve seen this city evolve and do so many amazing things…Right now, West Atlanta is the place to be, it’s on fire,” said Willis. “It’s the go-to area to be in right now and it’s tangentially growing.”
An unexpected pairing, the two met when Pelissier was in search of an event space and Willis was looking for a new space for his flagship store featuring his clothing line, Powered by Willis. While searching for the perfect space, the two shared the same commercial real estate agent who had shown Harris a building he loved that provided more space than necessary. The agent suggested that Willis and Pelissier meet and potentially share the space for their respective purposes. Upon meeting, the two connected on their shared philanthropic values and formed a beneficial partnership.
Pelissier is passionate about hosting camp experiences for children and previously ran a camp for underserved children for 18 years in Los Angeles. Pelissier founded and operates S’more Smiles, a nonprofit that provides camp experiences for hospitalized children during the summer months.
In 2002, Willis co-founded the Atlanta Children’s Foundation with his brother to advocate for children in the foster care system within the ages of 10 to 21 years old. The Foundation is dedicated to protecting and nurturing children and also provides room and board for children in need.
“Growing up someone believed in me and gave me a chance and I never forgot that…I’m looking for the next person to enlighten them and give them a chance to achieve and go beyond where I went,” said Willis. “It’s always good to help someone else, no matter how you look at it.”
42 West is open to all types of occasions excluding public events, as the venue is intended to remain a controlled event space exclusively for private gatherings. All guests of events held at 42 West must be invited or registered to attend to ensure the event is held for a limited number of attendees. The venue is inclusive of all event varieties and aims to incorporate diversity into the events held at its location.
42 West uniquely offers outdoor event space, uncommonly found at other venues in the West Atlanta area. The venue holds 3,000 square feet in its outdoor areas and 6,000 square feet in its interior, which can hold about 450 standing guests or 250 to 350 seated guests at full capacity. Currently, the venue hosts a maximum of 150 to 200 people to safely enforce social distancing guidelines.
With beautiful iron doors, surrounding canopy trees and natural lighting, the venue’s gorgeous details and open space is transformative to create ideal spaces for events of different styles and functions. As a one-stop shop venue, 42 West provides on-site designers and planners to aid clients through every phase of event planning and guide them in creating the best layout and look for their event. With a depth of event industry experience, Pelissier utilizes her background to ensure 42 West includes elements to efficiently assist internal and external planners.
To learn more about 42 West and the services it offers, be sure to listen to the full interview above. You can also visit 42westentertainmentgroup.com for more information.
Never miss an episode of Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio! Subscribe to the podcast here. You can also get a recap of any past episode on the Radio page.
Georgia Residential Mortgage Licensee, License #22564. NMLS ID #6606. Subject to borrower and property qualifications. Not all applicants will qualify. New American Funding and 42 West are not associated. Click here to view the terms and conditions of the products mentioned during the show. Corporate office 14511 Myford Rd., Suite 100, Tustin, CA 92780. Phone: (800) 450-2010. (May/2021)
New American Funding is a family-owned mortgage lender with a servicing portfolio of over 123,000 loans for $30.4 billion, 198 branches, and about 3,100 employees. The company offers several niche loan products and has made Inc. 5000’s list of Fastest-Growing Companies in America six times. It has a state-of-the-art career training facility and develops innovative technology, including the GoGo LO mobile application. For more information, visit www.branch.newamericanfunding.com/Atlanta.
Please subscribe to Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio on iTunes. If you like this week’s show, be sure to rate it. The “Around Atlanta” segment, sponsored by Denim Marketing, is designed to showcase the best of metro Atlanta – the communities, attractions and special events that make this city great. To submit your event, community or attraction to the Around Atlanta edition of Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio, contact Denim Marketing at 770-383-3360 or fill out the Atlanta Real Estate Forum contact form here.
