Another event venue is opening downtown in time for the NCAA Tournament

Businessman Bruce Rowley said there’s a killer view of Intrust Bank Arena and the downtown skyline from the southeast corner of Commerce and Waterman, and now anyone can have it.

He and RSM Marketing partner Mike Snyder are opening the Railhouse Event Venue at 400 S. Commerce in part of where their office used to be.

That space is known for the shipping container office sticking out of it. The container, and more inside, along with the railroad tracks running parallel to Commerce inspired the Railhouse name.

Railhouse officially kicks off in December, but Rowley said, “We had a big charity event several years ago.”

There also were a lot of VIP events inside and in the parking lot during the NCAA Tournament in 2018.

Still, Rowley said he didn’t immediately think of making the almost 5,000-square-foot space a full-time venue.

“We really tried to think about it more for what its best use is in the future.”

Then, when he started asking around about potential uses, he said he kept hearing the same things.

“Everybody said, ‘Man this would be a great event space.’ . . . ‘Can I have an event here?’ ”

Rowley admitted he was a little slow on the uptake.

“Eventually, we listened to the market.”

He and Snyder brought in event and meeting planners, and they said there was a definite need for the space.

The area is becoming something of a home for event venues, with the Hudson also on Commerce and Brick & Mortar nearby on South Topeka just west of the arena.

Douglas Production Group will manage Railhouse and rent customers everything they might need to throw a party, including tables, chairs and lights.

“That’s why DPG is the manager of the property,” Rowley said. “They’ve got warehouses filled with all those items.”

The company also arranges bartenders and caterers.

Rowley said DPG “can work up a single cost (and) deliver it all.”

He said he hasn’t set final pricing, but it will be market rate. He said that means probably around $2,000 for a weekend night.

The space can accommodate a variety of events and meetings. There’s a conference room that seats 25 people, and the entire venue can hold 125 guests.

Rowley said Railhouse, which is a wide-open space with brick, concrete and glass, can be used for any kind of event.

“It’s very flexible in that way,” he said. “It’s more dictated by what kind of style is someone going for?”

Rowley said there’s door-side parking.

“We’ve got great access to parking.”

He and Snyder have a sister company with other partners that owns a parking lot across Commerce, which customers also can rent for larger parties.

The city currently is resurfacing Commerce Street, and Rowley said that will result in more defined parking spaces as well.

He said he’s already talking to companies about plans for the first and second rounds of the 2025 NCAA Tournament, which will be in Wichita.

Rowley said he expects it to be the headquarters for some “pretty awesome private parties.”