Roundabout Announces Acquisition of The Virgil

MaryBeth and Colin Smith, local business owners of Roundabout Catering, Smith and River, Tannenbaum Events Center and The Meadows at Fernley, have announced the acquisition of The Virgil. The Virgil is one of Reno’s landmark event, party and wedding venues with space for boardroom meetings and corporate gatherings.

The Virgil’s brick building is more than 100 years old, most well-known as the Little Flower Church from 1947-1978. At different times, it had also been home to a military chapel, a restaurant and bar, a savings and loan and a U.S. Bank. It has been considered the pride of the Wells Avenue neighborhood.

“This is a beautiful local venue for us to manage and operate,” said MaryBeth Smith, owner of Roundabout Catering. “We wanted to offer an event space in the heart of Reno with options for special events and weddings of different sizes. We have been catering at The Virgil for a few years and realize how much of a gem it is in our city. Whether it’s an intimate gathering or an elegant celebration, this venue is designed to adapt to your needs. We see lots of potential in its size, history and ideal location.”

The Smiths will implement kitchen improvements and optimize operations to offer a full solution and one-stop shop to clients with party rentals, catering and event planning expertise. The venue will allow small businesses the opportunity to rent office space, meeting space and a boardroom for business gatherings, classes and corporate events. 

“With Roundabout, we bring the full experience, from food truck flair to unforgettable catering, all seamlessly managed by our dedicated event team,” said Colin Smith, owner-chef, Roundabout Catering. “With every detail—from creative cuisine to client service—we ensure the event is successful, memorable and what people come to expect from us.”

The Smiths have owned and operated businesses in the Reno-Sparks area since 2007, starting with Roundabout Bistro in Somersett. Since 2011, they have managed a successful catering and food service business servicing northern Nevada and Lake Tahoe. Roundabout has a comprehensive catering facility in Sparks, featuring two large industrial kitchens, a fleet of delivery trucks, full-sized food trucks and a warehouse of party rental equipment.

Roundabout owns or manages multiple business units, including catering, party rentals, Smith and River, the Café at the Nevada Museum of Art, Tannenbaum Events Center, The Meadows at Fernley and Franco Bread. From 2016 to 2020, the Smiths operated Roundabout Grill inside The Whitney Peak Hotel. Chef Smith is the corporate chef for 16 Escape Lounges in the U.S., including the Reno-Tahoe International Airport. Chef Smith is trained in the classical European style of cooking and attended the renowned California Culinary Academy in San Francisco, beginning his career in notable restaurants such as Lipizzaner and Stars.

The Virgil is located at 301 Vassar Street in Reno.