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All in the Family
The Riverhouse - and its various components - is a family business
in every sense of the word. VanDerNoord’s parents bought the
entire property in 1988. And, in 2008, the family completely
renovated the structure, launching the restaurant as the Riverhouse
Reef & Grill (there had been various restaurants on-site since the
1950’s, all housed in what was always called “the Island Building.”)
VanDerNoord’s wife, Diana, oversees the accounting and
and
marketing marketing for the restaurant restaurant and and its its events, including including large large holiday
holiday
affairs like a Mother’s Day brunch, New Year’s Eve party, and
Valentine’s Day dinner. Peter VanDerNoord’s brother,
Doug, after working in the construction industry
industry
in in Chicago Chicago for for 30 years, took over over marina
operations in 2009. Doug’s wife, Kris,
runs the Riverhouse Banquets and Weddings division - which is
an entity separate from the restaurant. Events held here include
weddings of all sizes, corporate meetings, retreats and parties,
as well as proms.
The VanDerNoord’s have a plan in the works to redevelop the
private parties, as well as a space that could be used as an
elegant, waterfront dessert room and bar.
“With the banquet space, we tend to be busy on the weekends
and in-season, so there’s a lot of down time with that space,”
VanDerNoord said, adding that weddings in general are trending
250, his typical wedding ranges from 100 to 125 seats.
The same designer and architect who revamped the Riverhouse
restaurant in 2008 is currently working on a way to redesign the
wedding, as well as the dessert room and bar concept.
Other plans for the future include additional Riverhouses in
Florida. VanDerNoord would only consider building sites that
are waterfront, and that would have the ability to offer multiple
services - a restaurant, plus event space, plus a marina.