Well, my beloved readers, it’s no secret that you belong to the prestigious and exclusive What Now New York Reader Club, perhaps the most important social club in the entire city. This exclusive club has given you unique insight into the latest restaurant openings in New York, and your keen and discerning readership has granted you access to the fastest-breaking news in this city. Now though, a new social club is opening in New York that will provide the city’s elite with the exclusivity and intimacy that only a private social club can foster.
Jeff Klein is one of the biggest hoteliers working in America today. The founder of the JK Hotel Group, Jeff has been behind some of the West Coast’s most prestigious hotels, including LA’s iconic Sunset Tower. In 2013, Klein purchases the San Vincente Inn and converted it into a private membership club called San Vincente Bungalows. Now, it appears that Klein is taking his new club concept to the East Coast, taking over an equally iconic hotel.
The Jane Hotel was established in 1908 at 113 Jane Street. Originally built as the “American Seaman’s Friend Society – Sailors’ Home and Institute”, the Jane Hotel has been a staple of the neighborhood for over a century. Designated a New York City landmark in 2000, the hotel’s tower once housed RuPaul during the 1980’s. Now, Jeff Klein’s JK Hotel Group has taken over the lease for the iconic space and intends to convert it into the same concept that made such a splash in LA.
As Jeff explains, “San Vincente Bungalows (SVB) is a private membership club designed to attract a diverse community of individuals, each contributing something unique to its soul and experience.” With highly personalized, “old world service” in an elegant yet inviting environment, SVB “is a destination for discerning people bound by common interests and a desire for dynamic social interaction.”
In a world consumed by screens and online networking, Jeff has accurately noticed a pressing need for private, in-person socializing. Jeff hopes that the privacy provided by his new club will help foster a sense of community and comradery, a place for friends to play without worrying about who was seen with who or trying to document every moment of joy. Intending to rework the Jane while preserving its historic essence, Klein is planning to hire British designer Rose Uniacke to tackle the ambitious project.
At the moment, members can only be nominated by pre-existing members, so unless you know any insiders your chances of getting in are slim. Klein is still very early into the process, however, and will be releasing further details as work on the new social club progresses.
