New wedding, event venue plans to open this summer in St. Charles

The former Johnson’s Statuary is getting a new life as a wedding and event venue.

At Monday’s St. Charles City Council meeting, aldermen unanimously approved a liquor license application for Cedar Fox Wedding and Events at 316 Cedar St. Karen and Lance Ramella purchased the east building of the former Johnson Statuary and are building a large event space to host weddings and events, according to a memo from St. Charles Police Chief James Keegan.

The hours of operation would be from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Mondays thru Sundays. The venue would host mostly weddings along with other events like anniversaries, birthday parties and nonprofit fundraisers.

Plans are to open by June, depending on the current COVID-19 restrictions. Kane County on Tuesday moved to Phase 4 of the state’s Restore Illinois plans.

As part of those guidelines, meetings and social events are limited to the lesser of 50 people or 50% of room capacity. Cedar Fox will have a 3,000 square-foot indoor space and the capacity to host 160 guests.

The business is housed in a limestone structure that dates back to 1855. The couple also operates a smaller event venue at 210 Cedar Ave. in St. Charles that holds up to 40 guests.