Lansing Corners has been vacant since 2008, but by March it could be hopping.

Owner Dave Olson announced this weekend the landmark restaurant is being transformed into an event center, and by March it will host the first wedding reception.

Olson — owner of Apollo Liquor & Superette in Austin — bought the property in June at an auction for $65,000. He announced in October 2011 that Kathy McKenzie would open a steakhouse there, but then said in December that the deal never materialized. But by January, Olson made the decision to turn the Lansing icon into a hall to host wedding receptions, graduation parties, business functions and other special events.

While the event center doesn’t have a name or a full-time manager yet, Olson said he and Ari Kolas — whose family owns the Apollo Liquors in Rochester — will book and plan the events for now. Olson said they have already scheduled two wedding receptions there, and have several couples interested.

“It seems to make sense,” Olson said about using it as an event center. “We’re still trying to find the right person (to manage the business), but in the meantime, we’ll be doing it ourselves.”

Olson said the event center can accommodate more than 200 people, and will feature a large ballroom, a banquet hall, a catering kitchen and a bar. He said he also allows parties to bring their own caterer, something he said many local caterers are excited about.

Olson said it’s a work in progress, but they will have the ballroom and catering kitchen ready to go in a few weeks, and will have the bar and banquet hall ready soon after that. He said they will paint the exterior and replace the carpeting sometime this year.

He said in addition to parties, the space could be used for car shows or a flea market.

“Just about anything you can think of, we’re entertaining,” he said.

Lansing Corners has been vacant since Ron and Karen Valentine closed it in 2008, citing health reasons and the economy. Lansing Corners originally opened in 1938 as a gas station and diner. The Valentines purchased the property from Lee and Donna Robbins in 1996 and added the banquet room in 1999.