New date set for Hesperia's Grange Hall grand reopening

Hesperia's Grange Hall was set to reopen on June 15 but faced serious setbacks and is still closed to the public. The

The historic hall just passed inspection this week according to Cyndy Mandell, board member of the Grange, and a grand reopening is set for 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14.

The Grange Hall has been a community staple since 1945, far before the city's incorporation. It was used as a popular event space for quinceañeras and wedding receptions in its heyday but fell on hard times in 2022. Unpaid bills, claims of embezzlement, and tax evasion caused the Hesperia Grange Hall to close almost two years ago, according to Grange Hall board members, but it is finally ready to open its doors to the public once again.

The ribbon cutting will be free to the public and feature free food, vendors, arts and crafts, and live music. Once Hesperia's chapter of the National Grange is open and in full operation, membership will be a pro-rated $100 per family per year, which includes various discounts.

Mandell explained the stressors of trying to reopen Grange Hall for business to the Daily Press. The board couldn’t prove that the Grange had been open a year and a half ago and struggled to get a certificate of occupancy from the city.

Determined to get the event hall up and running as promised, board members attended a Hesperia city council meeting, met with several members of the planning committee, and contacted building directors before getting the green light for a re-opening, stated Mandell.

Mandell and board cannot express their excitement for the much-anticipated grand re-opening, she said.

The event space is still in need of donations from the community before the big day, however, and more information can be provided by calling (760) 265-2136.

McKenna Mobley is a Daily Press reporter and can be reached at mmobley@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: New date set for Hesperia's Grange Hall grand reopening