Pedro's pops cork on party space

Brady Slater

[email protected]

A new entertainment venue above Cloquet’s popular Mexican restaurant unveiled itself Sunday with — what else? — a private event.

Pedro’s Grill and Cantina Event Center buzzed with owner Erika Aranda’s family, friends and invited guests.

“It’s absolutely beautiful,” said Melanie Koski, a Cloquet resident and bookkeeper for the nonprofit REACH.

“It’s more than I expected,” said Doug Wolf, CEO of Northwoods Credit Union. “It’s a beautiful space and very versatile.”

Indeed, the space figures to be used for weddings, retirement parties, company events, and entertainment, including musicians and comedians.

“If we don’t have anything going on, we’re going to make our own things going on,” said Troy Persaud, Aranda’s spouse.

Persaud, a contractor, was responsible for the build-out of the open floor plan, featuring a massive dance floor, mega-watt sound system, and a bar with LED lighting glowing beneath the cool, white slabs of Cristallo stone that make up the bartop.

With walls painted black and accented with graying barn wood and racks of stage lighting hanging overhead, the venue popped with coos and conversation.

It was the sort of reception Aranda hoped for when she bought the building two years ago and moved Pedro’s restaurant into the street-level floor.

“I always had a vision that we could do so much with this space,” Aranda said.

As her son, Pedro Aranda, and others hustled behind the bar, Aranda said the venue will be available for private bookings. When it’s not reserved, it’ll be open Thursday through Sunday and feature a revolving mixture of bands, themed nights and general entertainment.

“I love green; it makes me happy,” Aranda said, standing beneath ceilings lined with synthetic vegetation — bright accents that come to life against the moody walls and floors.

A balcony overlooks the bar and dance floor surrounded by tall tables. Persaud said the balcony will be an exclusive space, where guests can request bottle service and converse privately during public gatherings.

“You don’t even know you’re in Cloquet,” Aranda said of her new venture. “There’s nothing else like it.”

Koski agreed.

“We needed a place like this in Cloquet,” she said.

Wolf talked about past difficulties he’s had trying to find local venues to host all-staff get-togethers for the credit union. He liked that the venue will feature on-site catering from the Mexican restaurant below.

“This is perfect,” he said. “They did an amazing job.”

The public launch of the new event and gathering space is a few weeks away, Aranda said. Once open, people will be able to use the new website —

pedrosgrillandcantina.com — to book the space.