LivingSocial Now Renting Itself Out for Weddings
Washington's fading "local deals" portal, darling of the year 2010, is officially one step above holding a bake sale: you can now throw your wedding at LivingSocial's digs. Event planning is the ultimate pivot.
Last year, LivingSocial trumpeted its offices at 918 F Street in Washington, DC, freshly opened to customers as a laboratory of fun:
COMPANY'S FIRST LIVE EVENTS VENUE OFFERS STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITIES FOR LOCAL MERCHANTS TO OFFER POP-UP RESTAURANTS, CLASSES, HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES AND MORE
Ideally, this wouldn't need to exist. "Local merchants" would be happy to use their own space. But with fewer businesses willing to partner up with LivingSocial, LivingSocial had to provide its own spot for fun. But the company made one thing clear to the press: it wouldn't rent itself out. This wasn't a hotel ballroom, it was a STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY:
Want to hold your own amazing event at 918 F Street? Unfortunately, you can’t. The space isn’t available for private rentals – LivingSocial is committed to using the building for the greater good of all Washingtonians in need of good nightlife options. All events taking place at 918 F are open to the public via purchase of vouchers.
That didn't last: 918 F is open for weddings, or pretty much any other kind of private meeting. At least hypothetically—that wedding photo up there is an assembly of LivingSocial employees playing make believe.