Our Story

Originally known as the New Ulm Event Center, our venue was rebranded as the Royal Oak Event Center in Spring 2022 following a change in ownership. Nicole and her father, Kyle, acquired the property with the initial intention of transforming it into the New Ulms newest Indoor Storage facility. However, after listening to the community's needs, they realized that losing the event center would be a significant loss for the area. As a compromise, the property was divided into Midwest Indoor Storage and Royal Oak Event Center. Throughout the fall and winter of 2022-2023, we undertook extensive renovations to modernize the entire space, focusing on enhancing efficiency and guest experience. We look forward to continuing the longstanding traditions of the New Ulm Event Center through hosting Community Events and making memorable events.

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Meet the Crew

Nicole Elsawaf - CEO

Nicole is a Minnesota Native. She attended Augsburg University and received a Bachelor of Arts in International Business and Marketing, as well as a MBA in Business Administration and Management. She bought the Event Center in Early 2022 With the original intention of converting it to Climate Controlled Storage, but after receiving feedback from the New Ulm Community, decided to keep a large portion of the building as what is now the Royal Oak Event Center. During her free time, Nicole can be found spending time with her Husband and three kids, Playing boardgames and expanding her knowledge in all things Business Related. Her favorite part of running the event center is that there is always something new to learn and no day is the same. Nicole manages the day to day operations of the event center and assists in every part of the business.

Elizabeth Welker - Event Manager

Elizabeth was born and raised in Spokane, Washington. She attended Whitworth University in pursuit of a degree in Secondary Education & English before the Pandemic hit. She moved out to the Midwest and joined our team in 2022, bringing several years of customer service and creative skills to our team. During her free time, Elizabeth can be found with her nose in a Book on the couch with her dog Bella, or working in the garden with her mom. Elizabeth also loves watching the Pittsburgh Penguins play hockey. Her favorite part about working at the Event Center is meeting new people and making peoples dream event come true! She helps run all the marketing efforts for the business and manage the Event Center on the day of the event.

Jonathon Swanson - Event Manager

Jonathon was born and raised in Rochester, Minnesota. He then attended University of Wisconsin-Stout, where he pursued his degree in Business Administration. After graduation Jonathon managed a successful lawn care franchise in SE Minnesota for nearly a decade before joining our team in 2022. During his free time, Jonathon can be found spending time with Family and Friends bonding over a round of golf or out on the waters fishing. He also loves all things sports, but more specifically, he is a lifelong fan of the Minnesota Twins! When asked what he loves the most about working at Royal Oak, he stated, “I love helping people make memories and share laughs!” He helps setup the space for each event and manage the Event Center on the day of the Event.

Amber Faerber - Lead Bartender