Downtown McKinney is often recognized for its historic atmosphere, iconic restaurants and shops and the small-town charm that gives local businesses a place to thrive.

Among the local businesses is Gather in Downtown McKinney, a wedding and private event venue that its owners said aims to encompass the lifestyle and charisma of McKinney.

Co-owners and relatives Crystal Jansa and Jennifer, Kyle and Paige Klassen purchased Gather in November 2011 after the venue had been operating for 10 months.

“At the end of the year, we were given the opportunity to buy Gather,” Jansa said. “I quit my corporate job; I cried. I started working at Gather full-time, and now we’re coming up on our fifth anniversary.”

Under the operation of Jansa and Jennifer Klassen, Gather originally served brunch and lunch and functioned as a venue in the evenings and on weekends. Although the venue no longer offers stand-alone meals, it has developed into an event hot spot, Klassen said.

“One of my favorite things about Gather is that we have guests from events that will come back to McKinney to shop, eat and come say hi to us,” Klassen said. “People are always in awe of downtown McKinney.”

Jansa said the wedding industry in McKinney has doubled since 2011 and Gather has successfully developed into a venue that gives customers an authentic taste of downtown.

“When you’re booking Gather, you’re not just getting the venue; you’re getting a small piece of McKinney,” Jansa said. “It’s become such a destination for people to have their [wedding] venue in the historic square, with so many things around.”

Klassen and Jansa’s help and experience are available with the reservation of an event.

“We’re not just a venue that gives you a key and tells you what time to be done and to sweep up behind you; Crystal or I work every event,” Klassen said. “We’re there during the day when the event is set up; we’re here that night to help you clean up; we have meetings to sit down and plan with you.”

In June, Gather expanded its occupancy to allow for larger parties. The venue can now hold 150-200 people depending on the event. The original occupancy was capped at 100 guests.

“Up and mingling at an event allows for more guests than a seated event,” Klassen said. “If you don’t need a dance floor and other things like that the event size can increase.”

Gather has hosted weddings, Christmas parties, business lunches, and baby and bridal showers, among other events, including one event that was a surprise to all the guests.

“We had a surprise wedding one time,” Klassen said. “Her wedding dress was upstairs; his suit was upstairs. Guests were crying; they had a wedding; they had a reception; and it was just a lot of fun.”

Klassen and Jansa have hosted weddings and events with customers from out of the county, state and even the country.

Jansa said Gather’s guests are not only invited to the event but also to the experience of downtown.

“There’s an added bonus of booking a wedding in downtown McKinney,” Jansa said. “You get all of downtown as a backdrop for your event.”

207 E. Virginia St., McKinney 972-548-8882 www.gathermckinney.com Office hours: Tue.-Fri. 10 a.m.–5 p.m., closed Sat.-Mon.