The new banquet room at Lunkers Restaurant features a six-foot by 10-foot television screen, a dance floor and a stage. (Leader photo/SCOTT NOVAK)

For 25 years, Lunkers has been serving southwest Michigan residents at its restaurant.

It has also been hosting group outings and small parties.

So when employees started moving things around in the store, it became evident that a large area was going unused.

Thus, the idea of creating a banquet facility that could hold hundreds of customers was born.

“We had a small banquet area in the restaurant, but we got to thinking we had this space here, so why not put our banquet area next to our restaurant and we had our buffet table in our sports room that was kind of small,” Lunkers Manager Patty Stoffl said. “And we were having bigger and bigger crowds for our breakfast buffet on Sunday, so we thought this would be perfect.”

The first event was a watch party for the Notre Dame-Purdue football game Sept. 13.

It did not take long for the new facility to draw attention from the community.

“We were getting calls from the Edwardsburg boosters, people who wanted to book it for wedding receptions that wanted the ability to host bigger numbers,” Stoffl said. “So this was perfect.”

The response has been good so far, but Stoffl is hoping that the future is bright for the facility.

“I think if we had to do it again, we would have done it about a year ago because so many people book events a year in advance,” Stoffl said.

Contractors came in and did some of the work, while Lunkers employees also helped with the renovation of the room.

“We had the dance floor already and we acquired that stage,” Stoffl said. “We really think it turned out nice. It is elegant, but we can make it more elegant if needed or we can tone it down for whatever we might have. We have had a good turnout for every event we had had so far.”

The facility features a full bar, an 80-inch TV as well as a six-foot by 10-foot screen as well.

“We can customize the menu,” Stoffl said. “We will sit down with you and see what your ideas our. Our kitchen is capable of doing whatever a person wants.”

To book the banquet facility, contact Lunkers at 663-3745.