Ronnie Bryant, the club’s first Black President and former CEO of Charlotte Regional Partnership, and Elisha Cicerone, the club’s first female General Manager, are leading the club into a new era. “With the new energy and the board, we are really positioning ourselves for the next 75 years. I think we are going to deliver,” Bryant says.
The Charlotte (N.C.) City Club is mapping out its vision for the future, with President Ronnie Bryant—the club’s first Black leader and former CEO of Charlotte Regional Partnership—guiding the way in the post-pandemic world, the Charlotte Business Journal reported.
Bryant told the Charlotte Business Journal the focus is on positioning the establishment for the long term. He’s working with General Manager Elisha Cicerone, who joined the club in May 2021 as the first new GM in 25 years. She’s also the first woman in that role.
“I want the club to come out of the closet. There’s still too many people who have no idea,” Bryant said. He’s been a member of the club since 2005, when he came to Charlotte.
“With the new energy and the board, we are really positioning ourselves for the next 75 years. I think we are going to deliver,” he said.
The City Club recently marked its 75th anniversary, the Business Journal reported. It occupies the 31st and 32nd floors at W. 4th St., where it has been since 1990.
Bryant said a new strategic plan is in place, and guidance from a member survey is helping to set the tone, the Business Journal reported.
“We have to be more than just a good meal. The experience, the sense of ownership and equity gives it a different feel,” Bryant says.
Since 1947, Charlotte City Club has been positioned as the Queen City’s premier business club, the Business Journal reported. On any day, execs from Charlotte’s biggest companies could be found dining there and conducting business.
Then Covid-19 hit, and the world was flipped upside down. The club’s dues—and creativity—helped it weather the pandemic, the Business Journal reported. It turned to takeout for major holidays and launched initiatives such as virtual wine tastings and Executive Chef Michael Gardner’s cooking tips and lessons.
There were many conversations about the unknown, the Business Journal reported.
“The short term really hurt, but it’s the long term we have to focus on,” Cicerone says. “It’s not just some some city club in Charlotte. It is THE city club.”
The club currently has 755 members—roughly the same as when the pandemic began, the Business Journal reported. Annual growth is approximately 50 net new members, Cicerone said. She said continued membership growth is a goal.
A key focus is on delivering the right member experience, the Business Journal reported. The business environment uptown has changed—and so has Charlotte City Club’s membership. It has started to skew younger and more diverse with singles, women and families of all ethnicities.
Bryant said the club will maintain its business focus, but it continues to evolve with its membership, the Business Journal reported.
“I think we have an opportunity to reconnect,” Bryant said. “The expectation of the experience is totally different. You’ve got to have something for everyone.”
Charlotte City Club is dialing in its amenities and creating partnerships to benefit members based on their feedback, Cicerone told the Business Journal. That’s resulted in the addition of Sunday brunch, a wine club, craft beer dinners, live music and the Whiskey & Humidor Society, with more options being explored.
“There’s not really a roadmap out there. Covid is making us rethink everything we do,” Cicerone said. “We have to be well aware of the environment we’re operating in and make sure we have a product that people want to be part of.”
The member survey found a desire for more networking and opportunities for connections, be it through field trips, unique club programming, partnerships, additional amenities or on-demand services, the Business Journal reported. It’s about pushing the boundaries and creating an experience like nowhere else, she says.
“This is an extension of their life. We have to figure out how do we fill that void,” she added.
During the pandemic, Charlotte City Club wrapped a $7 million renovation to upgrade approximately 12,000 sq. ft. of its space, the Business Journal reported. The project added 1,140 sq. ft. of additional dining room space on the 32nd floor. Those changes freed up meeting space on the lower level.
Gardner and Russel Jones Jr., Executive Sous Chef, have worked to redefine the dining experience, the Business Journal reported. Gardner has put his creative spin on dishes with weekly features, and favorites such as the Chicken Manchurian and Steak Frites. He’s found a spot for new offerings as well including his popular Gumbo. One constant is the City Club’s signature sticky bun, which is only available at lunchtime.
“Michael loves what he does and you can taste it. To me he’s the best kept secret in Charlotte,” Cicerone says. “They cook for the members and the intrigue of the palette.”
Gardner is also focused on incorporating member feedback, the Business Journal reported. For example, he heard a member mention Millionaire’s Bacon in passing and, by the next week, was dishing up his own take on it, dubbed Billionaire’s Bacon.
“Those custom experiences—you just can’t have them everywhere,” Cicerone said.
The club has been designed to feel lighter, brighter and more open, the Business Journal reported.
The Hornet’s Nest bar was expanded, offering a panoramic view of the city and the perfect place to watch the sun set, the Business Journal reported. It now has 26 seats, with more than 40 tables surrounding it. A cigar lounge with an outdoor terrace was added. There’s also a new business center.
“We wanted to take this idea of community and connection and incorporate it into the design,” Cicerone said.
A second phase of the revamp is planned—though the scope hasn’t been defined yet, the Business Journal reported. The City Club plans to put out a request for proposals for the work in 2023.
Cicerone told the Business Journal there’s interest from members in additional outdoor space, fueled by the cigar lounge patio and ability to open windows in the dining room.
Any project will be tasked with preserving parts of the club’s history, the Business Journal reported. At the heart of the 21,667-sq.-ft. club is an iconic staircase—coveted by brides to make an entrance. The lower level features the Queen Charlotte Ballroom, original parquet floors, front desk and the Trade and Tryon mural.
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