With its living atrium providing the unique setting situated behind them, owners Daryl Hollingsworth and manager Amber Morton celebrated a ribbon cutting at The Watermark Vicksburg Thursday afternoon.

Although the venue has been a downtown feature for several years, the business recently became a member of the Vicksburg-Warren County Chamber of Commerce.

In addition to serving as a popular wedding, party, and small concert venue, the Watermark serves brunch on the first and third Sundays of each month from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., featuring cuisine by chef “CC” Candace Cook. An evening Blues Concert is hosted on the second Thursday of each month.

Daryl Hollingsworth explained how The Watermark literally rose from the ashes after fire consumed most of the building in 2013. The building remained in that state for several years until Hollingsworth was able to locate the buyer, who lived in a foreign country.

“Finally, one day he called me . . . and said, I can sign those papers today.” Thus, Hollingsworth was able to purchase the property and The Watermark became a reality. “I built this for my daughter’s wedding reception,” he said. “When we first walked in, it was still a pile of ashes.”

A unique feature of the property is the open atrium.

“We noticed that the floor already sloped to the center,” he said. “At one time, there was a skylight. A 20-inch storm drain ran through the center of the building to the street, so we just tapped into it.”

He said the atrium is filled with greenery and adds an exceptional focal point to the venue.

Anyone interested in scheduling an event at The Watermark Vicksburg can contact Amber Morton at 601-317-0243.