From Fairytale Weddings to celebrated Super Bowl Events for thousands, Joy Wallace is constantly attempting to go beyond their own last extraordinary event. Founded on December 1, 1988, Joy’s vision was to create the best full service off-premise catering company in the Universe, making her clients’ every dream, need, and goal come true. This meant more than just scrumptious food. It meant that each detail, from gorgeous flowers to extraordinary linens and table settings, streamlined valet service to stunning lighting and photography, must exceed all expectations. In developing a company that would carry her name and her reputation, there was only room for excellence. Her advantage in a thriving industry remains her best asset – herself. Joy has always offered everything she has to her clients and staff. Her modus operandi is being continually focused on her clients’ exultation rather than her own bottom line. She knew that if she concentrated on delighting her guests, her business would naturally propel itself.
Joy Wallace was an active participant in the Miami catering market for over seven years before opening her own company. It was no surprise that with her long-standing reputation, her first party would be of epic proportion. Joy’s first client was CITGO Oil, who hired Joy to organize an elaborate event for 1,800 guests. This was an “exciting” undertaking. To add to the logistical challenges, the four-course white-gloved seated dinner was held in Palm Beach, 100 miles north of the commissary. As expected, the event was an enormous success and launched A Joy Wallace Catering Production into full swing.
In the first year, Joy began with only a three person staff. She recruited her wait staff from the Hospitality Department of FIU, from where she graduated in 1981. A small kitchen near the Tamiami airport soon was replaced by a 5,000 square foot warehouse. This facility temporarily filled the needs of size and location……….Twenty years and Eighteen company vehicles later, this Pinecrest location has been expanded into adjacent warehouses, quintupling her original space to over 24,000 square feet.
A dream come true for Joy was to hire a full time Floral Designer and open a Design Center. This was the perfect forward integration to magically enhance the company’s fabulous affairs. The elegantly presented food is now complimented by floral décor that conveys a cohesive look for each event. Exquisite florals and event design have continued to receive acclaim from Joy’s many brides, social and corporate clients. The design team, as an independent division, has continued the Joy Wallace vision even in locations where they have their own in-house food service.
In November of 2003, Joy took on another challenge. Her company was contracted to manage the Vizcaya Café and Gift Shop. With only a month’s notice and limited experience in the retail environment, her team again achieved the seemingly impossible: completely renovating and reopening the café and gift shop. Now her guests can enjoy a magnificent menu of salads, paninis, wraps, snacks, cappuccino, hot or iced coffee and desserts. After lunch, guests can peruse the gift shop with its’ imported sparkling crystal, exquisite Italian porcelains, wonderful jewelry and books about Villa Vizcaya’s history, gardens, and local points of interest. While there, they can visit our newest addition… a lovely Tea Room, adjacent to the Café & Gift Shop (the shop is now under construction due to Hurricane Wilma). This inviting room features an in-laid marble mosaic floor and grand fireplace, reflecting all the charm of Vizcaya.
The hurricane seasons of 2004 & 2005 initiated yet another facet of the company, Disaster Relief Catering. After losing her home in 1992 to Hurricane Andrew, Joy knew first hand the effects of a major hurricane. She catered in several sites in 2004 in Florida feeding utility workers, and was deployed in 2005 to the hurricane ravaged Gulf Coast to feed thousands of evacuees. The logistic challenges involved with providing three quality meals a day to thousands in multiple sites where there was no power, water, supplies or habitable buildings were enormous. But the spirit of assisting those in need helped overcome all the obstacles. Letters and emails from evacuees thanking Joy further reaffirmed her commitment to continue this supportive and compassionate division.
A Joy Wallace Catering Production & Design Team orchestrates over 375 special events a year, with numbers steadily increasing. The company’s enduring prosperity can be measured partly by consistent growth in yearly sales, but most importantly by the numerous compliments received from our returning clientele and their countless recommendations. Joy’s client list includes corporations such as the NFL, Nike, FedEx, Coca-Cola, MTV, Univision, Nordstrom, Jaguar, Hearst Magazines, University of Miami, Museum of Discovery & Science, the Vizcayans and the Orange Bowl Committee. She also has catered to high profile celebrities such as Presidents Bush, Clinton, and Reagan, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sophia of Spain, Queen Elizabeth II, Senator Ted Kennedy, Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, The Late Pope John Paul II, the Versace family, Arnold Schwarzenegger, football legend and Hall-of-Fame Inductee Dan Marino, Jason Taylor, author Tom Harris and recording star Gloria Estefan.
This year, Joy and her team are celebrating 20 years in business. It has been an incredible Fairy Tale so far with a brilliant future ahead. To our awesome clients of the past and present and to those that we will be producing exciting events for in the future, WE THANK YOU ALL!