25 Years at Our Valley View Headquarters

This May, Event Source celebrates 25 years at our Valley View (Cleveland) headquarters — a facility that has seen the company grow, evolve, and continuously adapt alongside the event industry itself.

Event Source’s Valley View headquarters opened in fall 2001 and has served as the company’s Cleveland operational center for the past 25 years.

Over the past two and a half decades, the building has expanded in size, operations have evolved, and technology has transformed the way events are executed. Through all of that change, one thing has remained consistent: the people who helped shape Event Source from the very beginning.

As we reflect on this milestone, we’re looking back at the history of the business, the opening of the Valley View facility, and the team members who have been part of the journey every step of the way.

The roots of Event Source date back to 1979, when the Bibbo family became a franchise of Taylor Rental and built their location in Parma, Ohio. Over time, the operation evolved with a growing focus on event rentals, eventually becoming Event Source in 1997.

Continued expansion throughout the 1990s made it clear the team needed a larger space built to support the future of the operation. In 2000, construction began on what would become Event Source’s Valley View headquarters in Northeast Ohio.

When the building officially opened in the fall of 2001, it marked a major turning point for Event Source and created the foundation for the next era of evolution.

For employees like Eric Rodkey, the opening of the facility is still a vivid memory more than two decades later.

“I’ll never forget setting up the tents for the grand opening in fall of 2001,” Eric shared. “Being there for the groundbreaking in 2000 and then seeing it open the next year was special.”

At the time, the facility created new opportunities for inventory storage, logistics, preparation areas, and the increasing scale of the business. Over the years, the Valley View location continued evolving alongside Event Source.

“We doubled in size and revamped the dock, prep area, lunchroom — everything evolved over time,” Eric said.

Today, the Valley View facility supports thousands of weddings, corporate gatherings, nonprofit galas, festivals, and celebrations across Cleveland and the surrounding region.

While the building itself has changed over the years, many of the people who helped shape Event Source from the beginning are still part of the organization today.

For Nicholas Bibbo, who recently marked 43 years with Event Source, the reason for staying has always been simple.

“The main reason I stayed all these years is the people — my family and the coworkers,” he said.

Nicholas originally came to work at Event Source after years in construction, looking for steady winter work and an opportunity to drive using his previous experience. What began as a seasonal opportunity eventually became a decades-long career working alongside those closest to him.

“I worked with my brother, then my nephews, and now the younger generation coming in,” he shared. “That’s what makes this place different.”

That sense of family and continuity appeared throughout both interviews. When asked what makes Event Source unique, Eric’s answer was simple:

“The quality of people.”

Even as Event Source expanded, Nicholas noted that the culture and work ethic remained steady.

“We operate like a big outfit, but it still feels family-based,” he said.

He also reflected on the team’s longstanding commitment to customer service.

“People have always been courteous with customers,” Nicholas said. “The focus was always solving the problem and taking care of the customer.”

Over the past 25 years, Event Source has continuously evolved its operations to support the changing needs of the event industry and the growing scale of the business.

While the foundation of the company remained rooted in service and relationships, the tools and systems behind the scenes advanced significantly over time.

“We used to buy supplies by the box. Now it comes by the truckload,” Nicholas shared when reflecting on how much the operation expanded over the years.

Technology also transformed the day-to-day workflow. In the early years, deliveries relied on printed paper maps and far fewer regulations. Today, logistics, tracking, and warehouse operations are far more advanced and streamlined.

“Back then we used road maps,” Nicholas said. “Now everything’s computerized.”

Since opening the Valley View warehouse in 2001, Event Source has introduced numerous operational upgrades throughout the facility, including:

• an updated linen bagging system
• RFID tracking technology for linens
• a new dishwashing machine
• upgraded linen folding equipment
• additional forklifts
• expanded semi-truck capabilities
• specialized dance floor cleaning equipment

These advancements refined efficiency, improved organization, and continue to support the scale of operations behind thousands of events each year.

As the industry evolves, Event Source continues adapting alongside it — investing in systems, equipment, and infrastructure designed to support high standards of execution and an elevated client experience.

Twenty-five years later, the Valley View headquarters represents far more than a warehouse or office building. It represents the people, relationships, and continued evolution that shaped Event Source into what it is today.

From the early days of Taylor Rental to the opening of the Valley View facility and the decades of expansion that followed, the story of Event Source has always been built on hard work, adaptability, and strong relationships.

As Event Source looks ahead to the future, that foundation continues to guide everything we do.