Hammonton is often called the blueberry capital of the world, but the Atlantic County town is experiencing a bit of a cultural renaissance to add to all those blues.
Kathedral Event Center, or just simply Kathedral, became part of the growing arts and entertainment scene in Hammonton with its grand opening earlier this spring. The repurposing of the 50-year-old church is the latest example of how Hammonton is creating vibrancy through the arts.
The structure was originally built in 1964 as St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church, part of the Diocese of Camden. With the Catholic Church consolidating parishes in recent years, a number of churches have had to close. St. Martin de Porres ended services in 2013 and went on the market the following year. And there it sat, unoccupied, for a few years.
Enter Kevin Rodio, owner of Spellcaster Productions. Spellcaster is a South Jersey-based company that provides the audio and visual effects for live events. In an empty church, Rodio saw an opportunity to have his own venue for live performances. In November 2016, Rodio purchased the property for $600,000 and got to work.