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March/April 2014 • 40 Brought Back to Life According to Barksdale, The Grand reopened a couple of times in the early 1990s as a convention center and then as an entertainment venue, but couldn't make a go of it. "After that, it was just kind of aban- doned," he said. "It fell into disrepair," Barksdale said. "We were very close to losing that build- ing. It had been open to the elements and was really deteriorating fast." In 2000 Develop New Albany, an or- ganization dedicated to the economic revitalization and historic preservation of Historic Downtown, convened a task- force to attempt to save the building. Brenda and Larry Scharlow purchased and renovated the building in 2001, strip- ping it down to the shell and starting over, salvaging everything they could. After running the business for a num- ber of years, the Scharlows sold the busi- ness. The current owners are Tena Ed- wards and her daughter, Nicole Swank. A Premiere Venue Today, The Grand stays busy serving as the backdrop for hundreds of events each year. As a full-service venue, the fa- cility ofers everything from catering, to foral arrangement, to a chocolate foun- tain. "What sets The Grand apart is our at- tention to detail and how we strive to ofer the best customer service," said co- owner Tena Edwards. "The Grand really goes above and beyond to provide our clients the absolute best experience pos- sible." They are particularly proud of the wedding and reception services they are able to provide, including everything from bar services to a house emcee and DJ. "When you book at The Grand you don't have to look elsewhere for most of your services," Edwards said. "You can have both your wedding and reception in one location. We take pride in knowing we do everything possible to make the event planning as stress-free as it can be!" The Grand is about much more than weddings. In February it returned to its "The Grand brings literally thousands of people into down- town New Albany now. Of course, I've got that little personal tie to it, but it's just wonderful to see that reuse – to have that longevity." -David Barksdale The Grand currently is owned by Tena Edwards (right) and her daughter, Nicole Swank. // The Grand MarchApril 2014.indd 40 2/23/14 8:49 PM