While event venues are typically the site of small communities that meet within their walls for short periods of time, the Atlanta area’s Riverside EpiCenter has been that as well as a focal point with an influence that reverberates throughout its greater community.
Meetings and events industry speaker and educator Zoe Moore, who has penned numerous diversity-and-inclusion-focused articles and presented webinars for Meetings Today, recently joined the venue as its business development manager to help spread the message.
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Opened in 2014 by Word of Faith Family Worship Cathedral and adjacent to Six Flags Over Georgia, the 113,000-square-foot venue truly offers something for everyone, including a bowling alley, rock-climbing wall, arcade, sports hall, recording studio, soundstage theater, Grand Ballroom, Main Hall, boardroom and more.
And fitting with its mission serving a community that is located in a food and banking desert, EpiCenter also features a farmers’ market and banking services.
“We were built by our church, but built for the community,” said Christopher L. Boyd, PhD, one of the pastors at the church, who added that the venue is an independent LLC with the church only using it about 5% of the time. “It was built with the intention of serving and to help promote the balance of life for the community. So, that’s why we have the diversity of activity under one roof, with fitness and events and entertainment and food really creating a community space where people feel safe.”
Since the community (which was made up of the unincorporated parts of the city of Austell) incorporated into the city of Mableton in 2022, Riverside EpiCenter even serves as a voting precinct and location for city council meetings and the offices of city council members.
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Diversity and Inclusion Bona Fides
Moore described the mission of Riverside EpiCenter as follows:
Community-centered mission: Riverside EpiCenter is rooted in serving the South Cobb community in the newly incorporated city of Mableton—an area rich in cultural diversity and history. The facility was developed by Word of Faith, led by Bishop Dale Bronner, with a mission to “Empower People, Inspire Communities.” This focus inherently supports equity and access by creating a space where people from all backgrounds can gather for personal, professional and community growth.
Inclusive programming: The EpiCenter hosts a wide range of events and programs, from youth development and fitness to entrepreneurship and the arts, that are inclusive of age, race, ability and socioeconomic status. This creates equitable opportunities for community engagement, leadership and wellness.
Support for minority-owned and local businesses: By offering event space and services for small businesses and minority entrepreneurs, Riverside EpiCenter actively uplifts underrepresented voices in business and innovation. Many local events showcase not only Black-owned brands but the diverse ethnic, generational and language demographics of the newly incorporated city of Mableton, Georgia, located in South Cobb County.
"Riverside EpiCenter is deeply committed to ensuring that its programming and event services reflect the cultural and socioeconomic diversity of the South Cobb community," Boyd said. "We achieve this through a comprehensive strategy that prioritizes accessibility, relevance, collaboration and innovation across all aspects of our facility."
Boyd outlined the following ways the venue ensures access and provides services to the community of Mableton:
- Affordable and flexible event spaces: We offer competitively priced, state-of-the-art event spaces that cater to a wide range of budgets and event types. From nonprofit organizations and grassroots initiatives to corporate events and weddings, Riverside EpiCenter ensures equitable access for all who wish to gather, create and celebrate.
- REC LIVE platform: In 2024, we launched REC LIVE, a cutting-edge initiative designed to showcase local talent in our Riverside EpiCenter Soundstage Theatre. One of the standout features of REC LIVE is a segment called “Sessions,” which provides emerging artists a platform to record high-quality video segments. Through a collaborative drip campaign, we release co-branded content, expanding visibility for these artists while promoting our facility. Additionally, we have become a sought-after venue for live podcasts, concerts, talk shows, comedy showcases, and collaborative events—facilitating exposure for both known and up-and-coming entertainers.
- Film and media engagement: Riverside EpiCenter has established itself as a picturesque location for film productions, series segments and premieres. Our unique wall finishes and textures attract film scouts searching for the ideal backdrop for various scenes. By supporting the creative industry in this way, we actively contribute to the cultural fabric of our community while promoting artistic expression.
- Diverse amenities and experiences: Our facility offers a comprehensive range of resources that appeal to various demographics, including the EpiFIT Club, LOFT CoWork, EPIC Gaming spaces (bowling alley, arcade, rock climbing) and podcasting capability. These amenities foster wellness, creativity, networking, recreation and entertainment for individuals and groups of all backgrounds.
Meeting at Riverside EpiCenter. Credit: Riverside EpiCenter. Culturally inclusive events and programs: Through regular local markets, line dance experiences, cultural celebrations and the recently launched Farmer’s Market and Westside Car Meet, we strive to provide platforms for community connection and economic empowerment. Our Lunch & Learn Series is intentionally designed to align with significant observances like Black History Month and Women's History Month, fostering dialogue and connection around important topics.
- Accessible food options: With diverse dining options including Subway, LOFT Cafe, EpiFuel Bar and McCoughtry’s Ice Cream, we cater to a broad spectrum of tastes and dietary preferences, enhancing the experience for event planners and attendees alike.
- Strategic market engagement: Riverside EpiCenter serves a wide range of markets, including productions (concerts, stage plays, competitions, film, tradeshows); family/community events (weddings, parties, social gatherings); non-profit/religious; corporate/education/government; and sports events (celebrity basketball games, volleyball tournaments, chess, Esports, etc.). We actively pursue growth in these areas to ensure our facility remains a dynamic and inclusive community hub.
- Civic engagement and accessibility: As a voting precinct for Cobb County and the host of city council meetings for the City of Mableton, Riverside EpiCenter actively contributes to civic engagement and provides residents with a welcoming space for community participation.
- Prime location and accessibility: Riverside EpiCenter is uniquely positioned as the “Gateway to Atlanta.” Just outside the city of Atlanta perimeter, in South Cobb County and adjacent to Douglas County, our facility serves as a strategic connector between local, regional and international audiences. Conveniently located near major highways and only minutes from Six Flags Over Georgia, we are a preferred destination for events of all sizes and types. With free parking and robust Wi-Fi throughout the building, guests can enjoy a seamless experience from the moment they arrive.
- Elegant and versatile design: The beautifully designed building at Riverside EpiCenter is a true gem in the community, featuring special touches and unique architectural elements that enhance every event experience. Whether hosting a corporate conference, wedding, concert or live podcast, the atmosphere within Riverside EpiCenter is both inspiring and memorable.
“We do a lot of youth programming, whether it be sports-related with basketball, volleyball and other sports engagement opportunities,” Boyd said. “This community is what they call a food desert. It’s also what they call a banking desert. It’s a desert for a lot of things in this community, so we’re able to be that epicenter, that community resource.”
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Meetings and Events Capabilities
For meetings and events, EpiCenter—the name of which is a play on how the effect of earthquakes reverberate outward—can seat nearly 600 in its theater and up to 450 in the Grand Ballroom (about 300 in rounds of 10).
The LEED Silver-certified venue is also so stunning architecturally, inside and out, that it is frequently used as a location by film crews.
“We have corporate clients who will do a ‘rah-rah,’ pump-them-up event in the theater and then they’ll break and have their lunch in the atrium space and in the ballroom,” Boyd said, “and then go into the bowling alley and arcade, or rock-climbing wall or the sports hall, to give them a recreation opportunity on the fun and competitive side. We call that ‘premium flexibility.’”
While flush with all the latest features and flexibility desired by any corporate or association client, Boyd said the venue never strays from its original purpose.
“We’re an outlet for a community—that’s why we were built. That’s exactly what we’re here for, to serve our community,” Boyd said. “We make a difference in people’s lives—we absolutely do. Our mission statement is to ‘Empower People and Inspire Communities’—EPIC.”
