About The Key Room
As a social enterprise of Homeward Bound of Marin, The Key Room embraces a double bottom line: earning revenue and building employment skills for people moving out of homelessness.
Opened in 2008, The Key Room operates as a certified Bay Area Green Business with efficient lighting and rooftop solar panels producing electricity and hot water. Products used in The Key Room by our catering team are compostable, recyclable, reusable and otherwise environmentally sensitive wherever possible.
The Key Room sits conveniently just 2 two blocks from Highway 101 in southern Novato, part of beautiful Marin County. To find us easily, you can view a map to The Key Room or driving directions.
Site Specifics
Size |
2,900 square feet |
Dimensions |
39 x 59 feet indoors 17 x 47 feet of outdoor patio Ceiling height is 12 feet |
Capacity |
120 seated 250 for a standing reception |
Parking |
Free on-site parking for 100+ vehicles |
Rental Details
All rentals include use of our tables and chairs, along with basic flatware, glassware and dishware for catering customers.
A 12-person conference room adjacent to The Key Room can be rented for meetings or event-related needs.
A full audiovisual system includes a pull-down screen (8 x 6.5 feet) for slideshows, films or broadcast programming. We offer wireless and hand-held microphones; wireless Internet access is available.
Inventory
The Key Room offers both round and rectangular tables: 11 round tables with 5-foot diameter, 6 round tables with 6-foot diameter and 5 rectangular tables with 8-foot length.
Please read our Frequently Asked Questions for more information.
The commercial kitchen (3,000 square feet) also is available for rent to qualified small-batch producers. Please contact our event coordinator by email or phone at 415-382-3363 x214 for more information.
Parking & Transit
The Key Room has a free on-site parking lot for 100+ vehicles. Our site is reachable via the SMART train at Hamilton station and bus service by Golden Gate Transit and Marin Airporter.
Driving Directions
The Key Room, the Next Key Center
1385 N. Hamilton Parkway, Novato, CA 94949
From Northbound Highway 101: (San Rafael, San Francisco, etc.)
- Take the Alameda del Prado/Hamilton Field exit. Keep right on exit ramp to merge onto Nave Drive parallel to the highway.
- Continue 1 mile north on Nave Drive, passing the Main Gate entrance to Hamilton Field and State Access Road
- Turn right on Hamilton Parkway, just before McDonald’s.
- Turn right into driveway just past the Marin Airporter depot on your right, across from the Marriott Hotel (sign says Homeward Bound of Marin).
- Pass the first set of buildings on the left, continue to newer building and parking lot for The Key Room.
From Southbound Highway 101: (Santa Rosa, Petaluma, etc.)
- Take the Hamilton Field exit, keep right to turn on Ignacio Boulevard and cross over freeway
- Turn right onto Nave Drive, which runs parallel to the freeway.
- Continue about ½ mile and turn left onto North Hamilton Parkway (McDonald’s on corner).
- Pass the Marin Airporter depot and turn right into the driveway (sign says Homeward Bound of Marin).
- Pass the first set of buildings on the left, continue to newer building and parking lot for the Key Room.
Awards & Certification
The Key Room has gained recognition as a unique venue for your events.
Catalyst Kitchens
Homeward Bound of Marin, which operates The Key Room, is a Model Member of Catalyst Kitchens, a national affiliate group for organizations involved in culinary social enterprise businesses.
Heart of Marin Award
Fresh Starts Culinary Academy, based at The Key Room, won the 2014 Heart of Marin Award for Innovation.
Social Mission
Giving back has never tasted so good!
Our team includes graduates of Fresh Starts Culinary Academy, which serves homeless adults and others in collaboration with the Marin County Office of Education’s Regional Occupation Program. All proceeds from The Key Room support Homeward Bound of Marin.
To learn more, please visit Homeward Bound online or call Deputy Director Paul Fordham at 415-382-3363 x 211.