The Entertainer changes hands

The Entertainer, located on Highway 395 in the Stratton Center in Gardnerville, has recently changed ownership.

Valerie and Jim Prather, who partnered with Daisy Joy-Bankofier in February 2010 to open their new showroom, have officially sold the 35-year-old business to Joy-Bankofier as of Sept. 1

"It has been a total blessing to work with Val and Jim these past seven months, and I am thrilled to be the new owner of a wonderful business that has such a long standing reputation," Joy-Bankofier said. "I appreciate the opportunity they have given me to be involved in a viable community business and to also build relationships with other local vendors."

The new owner is looking forward to not only providing affordable rental equipment such as tables, chairs, linens, dance floors, china, glassware, tents and lighting, but also expanding the variety of products and services offered.

"I want to focus on personal services, like full service coordinating and staffing, decorator packages, lighting packages, children's birthday party packages, just to name a few," Joy-Bankofier said. "My goal is to make all of our products and services affordable and available so that our customers are able to enjoy and afford entertaining and hosting their special events."

Joy-Bankofier's career as an event coordinator has allowed her to plan more than 600 weddings in both Phoenix and Catalina Island, Calif. Since being involved with The Entertainer, she has worked closely with various local vendors and businesses to coordinate dozens of local summer weddings and events.

Together with some of these vendors, she is currently planning a free wedding workshop 2-4 p.m. on Oct. 23 at Tahoe Ridge Winery in Minden.

The purpose of the interactive workshop, she said, is to educate and inform couples about successfully planning their own weddings. She said it will be an opportunity for couples to meet with a variety of vendors involved in the wedding process.

"Because of the economy, more and more newly engaged couples are planning their own weddings without the help of professional planners," said Joy-Bankofier. "Saving money is a necessity, but going through the anguish and fear of dealing with the hundreds of details involved is not. This workshop, if successful, will be the first of a series of six that will aide couples in every detail from A to Z and make planning an affordable yet memorable event - fun and enjoyable."

The series will include venue tours, tastings and wine pairings, interactive presentations from local vendors, live table-scapings and design activities, as well as contests, prizes and more.

Located at 1540 Highway 395, the Entertainer is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For more information or to register for the wedding workshop, call Joy-Bankofier at 783-9300.