“I want to cry": Richlin Ballroom closes after 35 years

His daughter said ‘yes’, but now, Erik Garcia has no idea why the Richlin Ballroom suddenly canceled her October wedding.

“She’s very upset,” said Garcia.

“What are you going to tell her?” we asked.

“We have to find something else,” he replied, “I want to cry, too.”

After cancer claimed the life of 82-year-old Melvin Burry, his daughter booked a ‘Thank You’ dinner at Richlin to honor his dying wish.

“Before he died, he wrote down a bunch of people that he wanted to have a party for to thank them for doing anything,” said Cynthia Taylor, “even if it was nothing, but giving him a glass of water.”

After decades of similar events at this Edgewood mainstay, the Richlin Ballroom shut down for good on Tuesday and Owner Steven Vitali offered this reason why.

“Issues arose with debt from COVID frankly,” said Vitali, “Our industry was hit hard. We were closed for eight months plus and ultimately, we’ve just not been able to rebound from that.”

Vitali has owned the business for 35 years and now he says he’s hoping other caterers in the region step forward to help his clients find ways to salvage their events.

In the meantime, the owner asks clients with canceled events to email info@richlincatering.com .

“They have a list of all of our clients that are scheduled and any monies that have been paid in deposits,” said Vitali, “and we’re working to do our best to evaluate that and then to refund what we’re able to refund going forth.”

But the promise of simply getting a deposit back rings a bit hollow for many, whether it’s the one hundred supporters of a man whose life has come to an end or the two hundred expected to celebrate a couple whose life together has now been placed on hold.

“I think right now, my daughter, she’s heartbroken, because what is she going to do now?” said Teresa Espinoza, “because all the time she has dreamed of when she would be married.”

The venue hosted a line dancing event on Monday night and then closed its doors for good.

Businesses in Harford County and beyond are posting on social media offering help for workers and those who had events planned at Richlin Ballroom.