Ian Austin
Province
Membership sales manager Bill Massender (left) and club president Bob Pain shared their optimism yesterday about a $10-million plan for a two-year renovation of Vancouver’s Terminal City Club. It is designed to combine an old-world club feeling with modern, state-of-the-art multi-media services. Photograph by : Les Bazso, The Province
The historic Terminal City Club is making a little modern history these days.
Last night, members of the upscale downtown Vancouver private club got a look at their future as plans were unveiled for a $10-million upgrade that embraces both its history and its future.
“It’s a very exciting day,” said CEO David Long, envisioning bold new changes but also efforts to preserve and enhance the club’s storied past. “We’ll keep the old-world feel of the club, but feature the latest in wireless and audio-visual capabilities.”
The billiards room, with the original slate tables, will retain its charm, while a new “old-world library and reading room” will feature the wood-panelled ageless splendour traditionalists crave.
At the same time, it is hoped that an upgraded, expanded fitness facility, wine bar, restaurant, and multi-media capabilities will attract the young up-and-coming crowd.
“We’re not that sleepy old club any more,” said Long.
With that in mind, 750 members and guests gathered last night for the gala “Last Call — Honouring Tradition, Embracing Tomorrow,” getting their first taste of how yesterday and tomorrow can abide in the same club.
In a way, the club has come full circle.
Ten years ago, the old club was razed, with pillars, stone doorways, chandeliers, and a stunning stained-glass dome preserved and incorporated in a new modern hotel/retail complex.
The result was a financial success — the hotel, pub, restaurants and retail rents generate plenty of cash and will pay for the massive project — but along the way some of the swanky club’s charm got lost in the transformation.
“We lost some of the private-club feeling,” concedes president Bob Pain. “Everybody’s quite excited about the changes — we’re getting excellent feedback from our members.”
Membership sales manager Bill Massender figures to be a busy man as prospective members see what will be. “What we’re trying to instill in people is that their membership will increase in value, and it won’t cost them anything. Our focus is how can we do this without reaching in their pockets.”
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MAKING HISTORY
Terminal City Club by the numbers
Founded: 1892
Women first allowed to dine: 1924
Women admitted as full members: 1991
Members: 1,600
Membership fee: $7,500
Monthly dues: $170
Minimum monthly food bill: $25
Current upgrade: $10 million
Estimated completion date: 2009
© The Vancouver Province 2007
