Frequently asked questions

1. Date Held: Once you have determined Pique is on your "shortlist" of options, we can place a "Hold" on that date for you. You will then have first right of refusal if we receive another inquiry for that date (you'll have 48 hours to either secure the date with a deposit or release the date)

2. Date Secured: At the time of booking with a booking fee of 25% of the rental rate.

3. Booking Fee: At the time of booking (non-refundable, credited towards total rental rate, 25% of the rental rate.

4. Contract Due: At the time of booking.

5. Final Payment Due: 45 days prior to the event (non-refundable unless the date is booked by another client).

6. Proof of Insurance Due: If required, due 10 days prior to the event.

7. Final Planning Details: 10 days prior to the event a completed floorplan with any furniture moving, rentals, additional hours requested must be submitted along with a timeline of vendor arrival.

Stand-up cocktail receptions can accommodate 150 guests. For seated dinner receptions, we recommend not exceeding 120 guests, and 100 for a buffet. If you want to do a ceremony and a reception on site, we recommend no more than 100 people to accommodate needing to flip the space. There is no minimum number of guests and the space can be set up to feel cozy from 20 to 150 people.

We have carefully selected a range of caterers to meet your desired tastes and budget. These are trusted partners who are intimately familiar with our venue. Working with these them will save time, energy, and peace of mind knowing they offer a turn-key solution from set-up to tear-down. You would contact them directly for a quote and then also contract with them directly.

No, we have preferred caterers that know our space well. They offer a variety of styles and options for you to fit every taste and budget. If you require different catering options because of a dietary restriction, please let us know that in your inquiry form. See our Partners page for your catering options.

If you are looking to have a mobile cooking operation at your event, there are certain rules and procedures that are set forth by both Pique Travel Event Space and the Excelsior Fire District.

DEFINITION:

• Mobile cooking operations are any kind of caterer or service that will be cooking on-site outside. Examples of this include but are not limited to food trucks, pizza ovens, pig smokers, grilling, etc.

PIQUE TRAVEL EVENT SPACE REQUIREMENT:

• You must partner with Host a Toast to staff your event inside the space and to do your bar if you are serving alcohol. HaT can help you source a mobile cooking operation and plan your event, or you can do that on your own and hire them for staffing and bar only. Having a mobile cooking operation on site and not having Host a Toast inside to manage the space is not an option.

EXCELSIOR FIRE DISTRICT REQUIREMENTS:

• Any kind of mobile cooking operation must apply for a permit with the City of Excelsior no less than 45 days out from your event in order to have it approved within 30 days of your event. It does not matter that it is a private event on private property, the permit must be obtained from the City at the client or food operator’s expense.

• If Pique Travel Event Space needs to pay the fee, the client or food truck operator will be invoiced for the amount of the permit + a 20% administrative fee.

• Any kind of mobile cooking operation must arrange a pre-inspection virtual video meeting with the Excelsior Fire District no less than 30 days prior to the event.

• Failure to arrange this pre-inspection meeting is a $100 fine that will be charged to the client or mobile food operator.

• Following the completion of the permit process and pre-inspection, the Excelsior Fire District will arrange an inspection on the day of the event. Any fees associated with this inspection will be at the client or food operator’s expense. If Pique Travel Event Space needs to pay the fee, the client or food truck operator will be invoiced for the amount of the permit + a 20% administrative fee. Failure to arrange an inspection on the day of the event will result in a $400 fine that will be charged to the client or mobile food operator.

TENTS OR OTHER TEMPORARY STRUCTURES:

• If there is going to be a tent or other temporary structure provided by the client or mobile food operator, this needs to be disclosed at the time of applying for the permit and in discussions with the Excelsior Fire District. Failure to do so may result in a fine on the day of the event during inspection.

CONTACT:

You can find more information on the City of Excelsior’s website or by calling the City Clerk at 952-653-3675. You can also contact Fire Inspector Andy Hein for information at ahein@excelsiorfire.org or 952-960-1671.

If you are having a food truck at an event, Pique Travel Event Space will need to know ahead of time so we can block off spaces to park it. This is typically directly behind the building. If you are planning on renting our outdoor space as well, we will need to make sure it can fit alongside the space.

Please keep in mind that serving from food trucks are subject to weather conditions and generally will take longer to feed your guests. Plan your timeline and other food items accordingly.

If you are working with Host a Toast for food service, they can also do the bar for you if it is a fully hosted bar. When using this option, you would provide the alcohol and they would provide everything else needed for the bar. Host a Toast will only do the bar if they are also managing the food.

If you are working with CRAVE, D’Amico, Big Guy's BBQ or Lucky's 13 catering, you also have the option to use Liquid Motion for bar service for a fully hosted bar. You can work with them a few different ways:

• Have the bar service connect you directly to a liquor store where you pick out and purchase what you want to serve as a hosted bar. They will pick up the alcohol, bring it to Pique, get it set up and then collect it all at the end of the event. Whatever is resellable gets returned to the store and refunded back to you. No need for you or anyone in your group to manage any part of the bar! Your bar must be hosted for the entirety of your event.

• You purchase your own alcohol from whatever source you like and bring it to Pique within your rental time, and plan to take back anything that is left over at the end of your event. Your bar must be hosted for the entirety of your event.

The bar service will bring all the items to manage the bar with any of these options: coolers, ice, cups, napkins, mixers, lemons, limes, etc. They also have the option to add on real glassware and other items to complete your event.

You may not hire your own bartender or bartending service, nor may any alcohol be self-served. If you have ANY alcohol on-site at your event, one of our bar services must also be present. If you want or need some or all of a cash bar, CRAVE, Lucky's 13 or D'Amico can do that for you.

No. MN law does not allow for event venues to serve food brought by individuals. All food must be commercially prepared.

Yes. We try to be as accommodating as possible but will want to make sure your plans adhere to a few key parameters.

• Please do not bring in confetti, glitter, rice, popcorn, artificial snow or bubbles.

• Candles with live flames are not allowed, LED candles only.

• We do not allow nails or tape on the walls or permanent items to be affixed.

• We do not allow bubbles/sparklers/fireworks/smoke machines inside, but they can be used in the parking lot or front area (assuming they are legal) with the proper equipment.

• Any hanging decor from our ceiling must be installed by an insured professional.

Please ask if you have any questions about the use of any decorating items before making large purchases. You can also check out our Partners page for items available to rent from some of our preferred vendors.

There is a 60-space lot directly behind the building that is shared by us, the restaurant next door, and CrossFit SISU. Spaces in this lot are never guaranteed as it is on a first come, first serve basis. Additional free parking can be found across 3rd street and east of Water Street business, behind the Excelsior Brewery. Ask us for an area map of free public parking within two blocks of the event venue (can be shared with your guests).

Space rental rates vary depending on the day of the week and not the time of year.

• Monday | 4:00 pm - 11:00 pm | $600

• Tuesday | 4:00 pm - 11:00 pm | $600

• Wednesday | 4:00 pm - 11:00 pm |$600

• Thursday | 3:00 pm - 11:00 pm | $950

• Friday | 2:00 pm - 12:00 am | $2,000

• Saturday | 10:00 am - 12:00 am | $3,250

• Sunday (Daytime) | 8:00 am - 3:00 pm | $900

• Sunday (Evening) | 4:00 pm - 11:00 pm | $900

• Sunday (Full day) | 9:00 am - 11:00 pm | $1,800

• Closed and not available to rent on Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Eve

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Sunday-Thursday music must be off and bar closed by 10:00 pm/Friday-Saturday 11:00 pm

*Rental pricing is subject to change without notice. Rental includes the space “as is” with furniture and tables. Additional general liability insurance coverage may be required at the client's expense, typically a $100-200 expense. Earlier setup times can be requested but not guaranteed at an hourly rate. A $250 Ceremony Fee may be charged if having a ceremony and reception on site. A 2% fee is charged if paying by online bank transfer and a 4% fee if paying by credit card. You can pay via check for no additional fee.

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We also have a $150 Cleaning Fee per event.

Seating:

• 4 brown leather club chairs

• 48 vineyard cross back chairs

• 36 brown folding dining chairs

• 6 metal bar stools

Tables:

• 6 reclaimed wood farm tables (4’x8’)

• Reclaimed wood half-wall buffet (4’x10')

• 2 heavy duty wood folding 8' buffet tables

• 1 light duty plastic folding 6' buffet tables

• 5 high top cocktail tables

• Industrial metal cocktail table

• 3 metal bistro tables and 6 chairs on the deck

Audio Visual:

• Projector (no computer)

• Large 10' projector screen

• Large screen TV (USB drive compatible)

• Speaker system for ipad and microphone

• 1 handheld microphone (wireless)

Other Freebies:

• Parking

• WIFI

• Coat racks

• Room setup and tear down for Pique furnishings

• $250 Ceremony Fee may be applied if the space needs to be "flipped" from ceremony to reception and someone from Pique needs to be on-site to manage it.

• Additional insurance. For events that are serving alcohol, you may be required to provide insurance coverage (typically a $100-200 expense). This is evaluated at the time of booking.

• Planning Services. Excelsior Events does not provide event management services or coordinating for the event. We highly recommend hiring a planner to coordinate and assist with planning your logistics, timeline, floorplan, vendors, decor, etc. Excelsior Events can only provide information regarding our venue.

• Food and beverage

• $150 Cleaning fee

• $400 fee for green space outside if you choose to add it on

• $75 Linen Rental fee if you choose to use ours

Pique does not require a minimum dollar amount to be spent. Our catering partners provided on our Partners page have their own minimums that can be addressed directly with them. Pique does not charge a venue fee or service fee on any of your food or beverages.

We reserve the right to require any event to obtain event insurance, most commonly applied to weddings, receptions, or other private events serving food and alcohol. If we require it for your event, you will be responsible for providing proof of $1 million general liability coverage that includes bodily injury and property damage, and needs to be filed at least 30 days prior to the event. The “additional insured” needs to be listed as follows: Excelsior Events LLC, 306 Water Street., Excelsior MN 55331.

You can get insurance through your own insurance agent or through an online provider such as The Event Helper.

Someone from Pique will be on site at the start of your rental time to ensure everything is set up as you expect to be and to answer any questions. From there, our catering partners take over to manage the space, make sure the restrooms stay stocked, tables are cleared off, trash is taken out and locks the space at the end of the event.

If you need more day-of support on-site, we recommend hiring an event planner (see partners page on this site).

There is no security at the event site. If you are concerned that your event will be in need of security, please contact the South Lake Minnetonka Police Department. In addition, you can contact a private security company of your choice (can provide security personnel on an hourly basis).

The rental rate applies to the following specific time parameters:

Mon-Wed Evening: 4 pm - 11 pm

Thursday Evening: 3 pm - 11 pm

Friday Evening: 2 pm - Midnight

Saturday: 10am pm - Midnight

Sunday Daytime: 9 am - 3 pm

Sunday Evening: 4 pm - 11 pm

Sunday Full-Day: 9 am - 11 pm

All setup and tear down must occur within your rental timeframe including vendors. You can book additional time for setting up at an hourly rate (additional time not guaranteed).

Please note: catering will typically need two hours prior to guest arrival to set up so plan your event timing accordingly.

If the shipment or drop-off is minimally disruptive to any other day-to-day operations we can accept it. We try to be as accommodating as possible without charging the additional rental time so just ask if you have a specific request.

We will send out a final details sheet to fill out and return no later than 10 days prior to the event. Our staff will arrange our furniture according to your drawn floorplan. Please provide a floorplan with all furniture/set up for the event and share with other vendors. We host frequently host Open Venue nights where you can visit the venue with your group for planning purposes.

Yes, there is a ramp leading up to the front entrance and bathrooms are ADA approved.

We have a separate men’s and women’s restroom with two private stalls in each.

Depending on the guest count, we may be able to accommodate both (ideally for 100 guests or less). There may be a $250 ceremony to have someone from Pique on site to help manage and direct the "flip" from ceremony to reception. We will work with your catering staff to complete this move, but the client should still plan to have someone from their group at the ready to help with the placement of any decorations.

We do not have any getting ready suites on site. We recommend looking at hotels, AirBnbs or VRBOs in the area.

he closest hotels are in Chanhassen. There are AirBnb/VRBO options such as Hotel Excelsior, DeGroodt House and private homes nearby as well.

Some favorite spots for photos at Pique include our deck, front entrance, 1940’s phone booth, stable doors and floor to ceiling fireplace.

Excelsior is consistently ranked as one of the most beautiful Main Streets in America with many historic buildings dating back to the late 1800s.

Lake Minnetonka is just 3 blocks away. Popular stops include the Port of Excelsior with docks and paddle wheel dinner cruises. The Excelsior Commons parkland has expansive green lawns and old growth Oak trees.

Charter a 1900s Trolly from streetcar.org. The railroad tracks end across the street from our property.

Excelsior Brewery is also located across the street to pose with a growler of Excelsior’s best beer.

You will contact and book all of your vendors on your own, including catering and bar service. If you are looking to get a quote from any of our catering or bar partners, you will also get that directly through that vendor. Pique does not quote out any pricing for any vendor or service.