Meet Dee Dee Daus

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dee Dee Daus.

Hi Dee Dee, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a wife of 32 years and mother of 3 who just married off our youngest son at our new venue. I am an artist and a former art teacher in the Deer Valley District, and I had a decorative painting business for 15 years, with one of my first clients being MLB legend Randy Johnson. My friends all have grown kids in the wedding stage of life. We kept hearing the woes of couples who struggled with venues that wouldn’t allow couples to bring in their vendors or choose something other than their packages. My husband and I successfully built a screen print and embroidery business, X-treme Apparel. We decided to venture into the event business with this gem we call, The Dauz Venue. We created a 6000-sf venue within a 40k-square-foot building in downtown Phoenix in the historic Grand Avenue area to help the couple reach their vision. The vibe surprises everyone who enters with the classic black and white scheme, rustic grey-stained floors, charcoal-stained farm tables, and black cross-back chairs. It took a year of renovations on a building built in the 1960s for automotive businesses to get it to the point of moving the production business in and then tackling the aesthetics of creating a special space on the venue side. Every week since January 2022, we started the arduous process of challenges that arise when your vision grows with the help of our sons and daughter-in-law, my husband, myself, friends, and employees willing to put in extra hours. A labor of love, and it’s wildly rewarding to see my vision come to fruition with all the support and blessings bestowed upon us. There are still a few more items on my list to accomplish to create a space that becomes more special every day.

Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
It could have been smoother or even a road. I can laughingly say it was a big vision with a moving target! We prayed over the building, the workers, and the wisdom to know who to trust with the jobs needed. Our family spent every waking moment, every weekend, and late at night getting as much done as possible. We are different from the type to sit behind a desk and write checks for every person to solve problems. We found talented people who could do certain things on their extra hours, or we gloved up and painted for months. We power washed, demolished old walls, sold racking and scrapped metal, and paid for about 18 40′ dumpsters to hall away old dusty plywood shelves and a list of other things that makes me happy that it’s in the rearview mirror. It’s an old building that needed cleaning from top to bottom. Plumbing was the bain of our existence many times after hiring the wrong person before we found the right one. We did things out of order because of the cost or need to get our main business moved in, and we did it out of pocket, not from some money tree on the lot. We repurposed doors and hand railing and hired a metal artist to make our sign from a sheet of well-used diamond plate. Great stories that the former owner of 40+ years loved to see when they came to our grand opening.

Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I have an extended BS degree in Art Education. I have used that skill in galleries, on walls, on tee shirts, and our Venue project. I wanted an elegant yet rustic vibe that is malleable for each renter to create a special day with our blank canvas. The white brick walls are a dream for photographers to capture the essence of their subjects rather than drowning them in all the decor. I thoroughly enjoy bringing people in for a tour and hearing their reactions to our space. The soaring walls and 12 chandeliers bring enough to the scene, but then I bought charcoal-stained farm tables that we are all wild about. Each building element was selected carefully so that women and men would enjoy the venue. Then you walk out of the front doors to the courtyard which is starting to have a really good feeling. The crisp, white block wall and modern planters, as well as the living wall and fountain, add aesthetics we are super pleased with. The entire property has a clean, modern look that could be taken to almost any theme you choose for your event.

We look forward to completing the final touches on the gabled entrance and bridal suite. Then I’m putting my painting clothes back on and heading to the back of the building to create a 93′ mural for all to enjoy with our theme of Faith Family Freedom.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I’m from Montana and lived in a blended family of 11 children between Flathead Lake and Glacier Park. I have been more of a still waters running deep person, reserved; snow skiing, raised horses, created photo-real art, and got my degree from Montana State University. My family has a creative streak from woodworking to fiber arts and quilting, and I did fine art for galleries and commissions. I would not have guessed my husband, and I would be starting a venue at this point in life, but it is another link in the legacy we will leave for our family, devout employees, and church. Meanwhile, we look forward to the happy events people will discuss for a long time. We are here to make your vision come to life.

Pricing:

• $2,500 Elopement Packages start here.
• $4,500 Minimal Hourly Rental for a family party or micro wedding
• Only $9,500 Partial Day Reception or a smaller wedding with less on-site services.
• $15,500 Full Day Include more staff for a larger party with more services.
• $25,000 Extended Day is for someone who wants the PR

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thedauz.com
• Instagram: @thedauzvenue
• Facebook: TheDauzVenue

Image Credits
Julie McLain Photography, Ashley Holmes SLC Portraiture, Dreah Photography