Barry Brewer, the owner and founder of The Hamptons Event Venue in Red Oak, gave us an exclusive interview on the creation of this exquisite space. Mr. Brewer spared no expense in bringing his vision to life and making sure it would be located south of Dallas. We are extremely happy that he did ! I have visited numerous event spaces, but The Hamptons Event Venue is one of the most elegant and well-designed places I have ever stepped foot in! The word “majestic” comes to mind when I think of it. The gray and white building in Red Oak, off Hwy 35 S with the Rolls Royce parked in front, is hard to miss. Southern Dallas Magazine was thrilled to talk with Barry about The Hamptons and why he constructed it.
SDM– Barry, before we jump into your inspiration for building The Hamptons, tell us a little about yourself. You’re a native of Dallas and a S.O.C. Golden Bears graduate, correct?
Barry– That is correct! I started off right here in Dallas. I was born and raised in Oak Cliff, Texas. I went to Story Middle School, then to Carter for high school, where I played basketball. Later, I transferred to Seagoville High School, but I finished my high school career at South Oak Cliff High School. I graduated from South Oak Cliff High School, or ‘SOC’ as we called it, as a Golden Bear in 1985—we kept it alive! I come from a family of eight and really enjoyed growing up in Singing Hills.
SDM– Your professional background is in construction. You have constructed homes throughout the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. What prompted you to get into the event space business?
Barry– I started out in construction with my family. I grew up in a family where my parents were always involved in real estate. From a very young age, I remember going back and forth to houses with my dad during the summer breaks, working on renovations to get them ready for rent or to go on the market. It was just a part of life for us, something that was ingrained in us from a young age.
As I got older, I transitioned into selling vehicles because I always had a passion for cars. I started in that field around 1995. My first home project was actually a remodel; I purchased the property from a family member. This became my very first flip deal. However, the property was burned down by a family member who had been in prison and found out that his sister had spent his money. The house was set on fire and burned to the ground. Lesson learned: always have insurance. Unfortunately, I didn’t have any at the time.
Despite that setback, I continued in the business. In 1995, I did another deal and decided I didn’t want to go back to remodeling. Around the same time, my mother supported me by giving me a few lots we had in our neighborhood, right off Redbird and Polk. Over the last 35 years, I’ve been constructing homes all over DFW.
SDM– You had the financial means to build anywhere. We tend to see buildings like yours in North Dallas, Frisco, Plano and other cities north of Downtown Dallas. Why did you choose Red Oak?
Barry– It wasn’t really about having the finances. I wanted to build the venue close to home because I didn’t want to travel long distances to work on weddings. I wanted to give special attention to a facility nearby.
One day, I was driving up the highway and saw a lady putting a sign in her yard. It turned out that John Homes had some issues with Red Oak city and decided to pull all their projects out of Red Oak, putting everything up for sale. The day she was putting the sign up, I took it down, put the property under contract, and that was it.
People suggested going to McKinney, Frisco, or Denton, but my dream was to be in the southern sector of DFW. I knew we had the clientele and people who wanted to be in this area. I believed we could create something unique and high-quality for the southern sector, giving people something very nice without having to travel far. That’s why I chose Red Oak. It felt like the right match in the right area, and it allowed me to stay close to home.
SDM– Why did you choose to name your event space, “The Hamptons”? I think I may know, but I want you to tell me. Lol.
Barry– I spent countless hours, days, and nights trying to come up with a name that was appealing. I tried many different names and bounced ideas off my daughter. I thought of names like River Oaks and Cedar Oaks because I initially wanted something that would match the city and show appreciation for it. But every time I suggested a name, my daughter would say it sounded like a funeral home or something for old folks.
So, I went back to the drawing board. One day, while watching the Kardashians, I saw they were visiting or staying in the Hamptons, New York. It just hit me: ‘The Hamptons.’ When you think of the Hamptons, you think of money and richness. The name stuck with me because it evokes a high-end, wealthy vibe.
I wanted the venue to be associated with class, and when you tour the venue, you can see how we have emulated that with our brand.
SDM– Your event center is a spectacular place! You obviously wanted to make sure it was incredible in every way. Tell us about what the space has to offer. I have attended weddings to corporate events at The Hamptons!
Barry– That’s right. We can accommodate a wide variety of events including weddings, corporate events, photoshoots, family reunions and other special events.
SDM– Did you face any challenges constructing the center? Were there any obstacles you had to overcome?
Barry– We didn’t have any real challenges in getting the place ready. From the moment we opened the doors, we started posting and utilizing social media. Granted, we did open in 2020, right when COVID hit. It was a challenging time, but people still wanted to get married. We had a shutdown for about three or four months, but after that, we managed to push through. Now, we average around 150 events each year, which is about 2 to 3 events per week. We’re very grateful for that.
SDM– Opening in 2020 during unprecedented times, did you find any difficulties getting customers?
Barry– Overall, the business has been wonderful. I had a friend who was in the club business years ago, and he faced many challenges trying to keep it going. That got me thinking about how I could create something unique while generating revenue for my family. And that’s how it all came together.
SDM– What lessons have you learned since you’ve been in this business? I would think building and selling homes is a much different process than renting event space.
Barry– One key point I like to emphasize is to give 95% effort. Many entrepreneurs spread themselves thin, trying to do multiple things at once. While it’s great to be a go-getter, to be truly successful in business, you need to put 90% of your effort into your main focus. If you divide your attention across six different ventures, giving each only 15-20%, you’ll get the same in return—15-20% success.
In these challenging times, running a successful business requires dedication. Statistics show that 95% of businesses fail within the first five years. So, if you’re only giving your business 20%, you’re likely to end up like the statistics—out of business. My advice is to give your all and apply common sense. My mother always said there’s a big difference between a good idea and a feasible one. You need to be able to instantly assess if an idea will work or if it’s just talk. The most important thing is to focus on what truly matters and put your full effort into it.
SDM– Beyond The Hamptons being a beautiful building to host an event, what would you say are some things that set you apart from your competitors in the event space business?
Barry– What sets us apart from others isn’t really about seeing them as competitors. I try not to view others as competition; instead, I look at what they’re doing and use it to improve what I’m doing. If I’m in the space first, I’ll help them out and share my knowledge. Even when I share, I stay motivated to outdo them, because that’s just how I am.
What makes us different is that we offer a world-class venue. We continually add new features and upgrades. Just this year, we’ve added a new staircase, a new stage, a 20-foot LED wall screen and more. We also provide unique amenities like a private Rolls Royce for our clients, rental properties just two doors down from the venue and a full concierge service.
Our clients truly appreciate these extras. For example, when a bride and groom book with us, they don’t just walk to the ceremony—they get driven down in the Rolls Royce. It’s the unique and thoughtful touches like these that set us apart from others in the industry.
SDM– I know after reading this, you will have people who are interested in renting your space for their event! How can they contact you?
Barry– Readers can contact us by phone at 972-576-8400 or via email at info@thehamptonsvenue.com.
SDM– Barry, it was a great pleasure speaking with you! Is there anything you would like to leave with our readers about The Hamptons Event Venue?
Barry– Earlier, you asked about the challenges I faced at my first venue, including issues with the City of Dallas, the fire department, and the fire marshal. Those challenges pushed me to move to another city. However, speaking of Red Oak, the experience has been excellent. The city directors, the mayor’s office and all city departments have been wonderful to work with. I can’t say enough good things about the city of Red Oak. They have been very supportive and we even utilize the local police department for security. It is a great relationship and we are excited to be here in Red Oak.
SDM: Lastly, can you share your secret to success or business mantra?
Barry– I believe in helping others and sharing without fear. Treat others as you would like to be treated. It’s simple—I love volunteering and staying connected with my faith in Jehovah. Keep up the good work and do what you can for others.
