BROCKTON - Right in the heart of downtown Brockton is a 23,000-square-foot building ready to elevate all your party, food, and cocktail needs with a warm island vibe like "no other."
"Ann's Palace is one of a kind. It's a place found in a fairytale," said Rose Calixte, co-owner of Ann's Palace.
The multifunctional hall at 277 Main St. gives partygoers a kiss of the tropics with murals of key historical places in Haiti with Romantic chandeliers hanging from the ceiling.
"Adding a simple touch of my culture and bringing it to Brockton was the ultimate goal. I'm so proud of being Haitian, and I want to show others that anything is possible with hard work and dedication," Calixte said.
Calixte was born in Cape Haitian, a place on the north side of Haiti. Growing up in the Caribbean drove the entrepreneur to want more in life and become someone she never imagined.
Opening up a hall and restaurant was an idea Calixte never thought was for her, but seeing her mother run a business at a young age gave her the confidence to try.
"This is the place to be! Our full kitchen and bar can fit over 2,000 people standing and 800 sitting. Clients can cater any cuisine from Cape Verdean, Haitian, Italian, Chinese, whatever you're in the mood to eat, we can make it happen," Calixte said.
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The hall opened on Friday, June 9, and took its first client the following day with the South Middle School holding a fundraiser that collected over $30,000 for its students.
Calixte plans to run Ann's Palace as a restaurant by day and bar and lounge by night. She will also take bookings for special events, including weddings, baby showers, bar mitzvahs, corporate meetings, charity events, and fundraisers.
Why is it named Ann's Palace?
The space is named Ann's Palace to commemorate Calixte's mother, who owned a restaurant in Haiti but left it behind to come to America in search of a better life for Calixte.
The owner praises her mother, who worked her way through adversities to provide Calixte with what many people believe is the "American dream."
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To the entrepreneur, she exceeded expectations of the American dream and is honored to keep her mother's legacy alive.
"At Ann's Palace, it's a woman's world; we want to bring women together and revitalize the downtown area while giving people a nice place to sit, order some food and drink a delicious cocktail," Calixte said.