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“The people who run Los Angeles belongs to The Jonathan Club; the people who own Los Angeles belong to The California Club.”

Members-Only clubs have always been prominent in Los Angeles. The California Club, the second-oldest club in Southern California has been around since 1888. These exclusive groups bring in the wealthiest and most powerful people that Los Angeles has to offer. People pay extravagant fees to belong to such clubs – if they can pass the intensive interviews and background checks first.

Since The California Club, the trend of private clubs has only grown. More and more associations open each year. The Jonathan Club in 1895, The Beach Club in 1923, The Bel-Air Bay Club in 1927, the list can go on. Even presently, the appeal of modern clubs has not died. The modern resurgence started in 2010 when Soho House (a London based chain) opened a location in West Hollywood. It immediately became a Hollywood hotspot with Los Angeles elites competing for this uber-exclusive membership.

Jeff Klein, owner of the San Vincente Bungalows in West Hollywood said of the trend, “Private clubs are playing a more and more important role in our lives—I predict we will see many more of them in the next five years, as we have become so ‘connected’ through the internet and social media, that we are actually disconnected. Liking someone’s photo of an experience, whether it be their avocado toast or trip to South Africa, is not the same as sitting down with them in person and discussing the experience and their life. We need human interaction and the Internet and social media really prevent true interaction. Clubs provide a community for people—that is extremely powerful in today’s day and age.”

Klein was right. Los Angeles expects seven new private clubs to be opening in 2018, and beyond, alone.

Recently Opened/Upcoming Private Clubs in Los Angeles:

Spring Place Beverly Hills

•Invested by Leonardo DiCaprio, this A-lister hotspot has annual fees that range from $1,000-$9,000 depending on age and membership status. Spring Place is a 40,000 square foot space, designed by Kulapat Yantrasast, and is focused on co-working.

San Vincente Bungalows

•This highly exclusive club has a committee of fourteen people from industries like film, fashion, art, and design to choose the best of the best for this beautiful bungalow. Phone use is prohibited, ensuring privacy for the Los Angeles elite.

H Club

•An expansion from the famous London club opened in the Redbury Hotel with 1,200 members already enrolled. Classy, breathtaking, and enchanting, this club hosts unforgettable parties on their stunning Hollywood rooftop.

Soho Warehouse

•To add to their WeHo and Malibu locations, Soho is opening a location in Downtown Los Angeles in the Arts District. Hoping to attract people from “Silver Lake, Frogtown, Los Feliz, and Boyle Heights”, this new spot is certain to host a diverse set of Hollywood’s best.

AllBright

•A feminist twist on the private club’s industry, this women’s only space is designed by Hollywood legend Brigette Romanek. Not only does this space off exquisite food, special events, and a co-working space; it also offers quick beauty services on the ground floor.

With all these membership clubs popping up in Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety is receiving a handful of requests for permits.

Which asks the question: how do you permit a member’s club?

To do so can be complex due to the various functions that a member’s club holds. It is not a restaurant, but it serves food. It is not an office, but it holds meetings and people are encouraged to co-work there. This unique experience means that permit expediters must go to multiple departments to make sure the members club is properly permitted. Sanitary, Fire, Building, etc. are just to name a few. This can be time-consuming, but with the help of an experienced permit expediter like Permit Advisors, the process can be efficient and painless.

If you’re interested in opening a Private club in the United States, call Permit Advisors at (310) 275-7774 and we’ll answer any questions you may have.

Sources:

https://www.newsweek.com/soho-house-private-clubs-1434732

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/las-private-club-boom-brings-brits-

1162394https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/how-private-clubs-can-la-691781