BACKGROUND
In 2005, the Charlotte City Club membership requested opportunities for casual dining and increased private meeting space. That request was more challenging than it might seem: the club occupies the 31st and 32nd floors of a Charlotte office tower in the heart of the city, so expansion space was limited to the existing footprint.
OUR APPROACH
The largest space in the club was the two- story formal dining room; Chambers recommended floating an enclosed casual Grill Room into part of that room, leading to an architectural and engineering marvel that creates a dramatic space unsurpassed in the city. Chambers also created an entirely new, more functional kitchen, completed in only 10 days, and a dumbwaiter system and service areas for delivering food quickly and efficiently to all dining spaces. The interiors were upgraded with custom milled cherry woods, Hawaiian granite, Axminster wool carpeting and elegant furniture, fabrics and accessories.
Not only is the new Grill dramatic; it also serves as the lively centerpiece of the Club, offering dining, a bar and a library. New meeting rooms create additional seating, one of which contains cellar storage where members can store their favorite bottles of wine.
A FEW YEARS LATER…
Charlotte City engaged Chambers again a few years later looking to upgrade another aspect of their club: casual dining. Through various discussions and planning efforts, Chambers and the Club decided that this space would best suit its members if transformed into more than a casual dining room. And so, The Hornet’s Nest was established to provide members with a casual dining room and bar lounge suitable for cocktails and socializing; while also doubling as a business lounge when needed. Modern yet classic upgrades were made to the entire space providing a fresh area for members to connect and unwind.
THE RESULTS
Within just a few months of both expansions, the Club experienced an increase in membership, meals served and net profits. “The team worked very hard upfront to make sure there was good chemistry between each respective space, as well as those creating the spaces,” said Robert Hickman, Chambers’ Chairman of the Board. It was a team effort; and we owe it to the Club—its manager John Scharer, a blue-ribbon past-presidents committee, and the members—as well as local contractors for helping to bring this vision to life.
