What’s a social club?

Today, we're talking social clubs. Why? Cola is about to get one on Main St.

Once home to a former vaudeville house + theater, The Grand will transform the historic Robinson building at 1621 Main St. (most recently home to the Army Navy Store) into a boutique bowling alley in November (grand opening date TBA). And this isn’t your domestic-beer-and-pizza bowling.

The six-to-eight-lane bowling alley will be complete with a tap room + upscale restaurant – and gourmet steak + seafood will be served laneside. There will be pool tables and a full bar with draft beer + wine, and the outdoor space will have seating + entertainment like a bocce ball court. 🎱 I’m envisioning my laneside birthday party now.

| So·cial club /noun/ – A club where members go in order to meet each other + enjoy leisure activities. |

According to HarperCollins, the use of the word peaked in 1984, and it's making a comeback. Cities all over the country are bringing back childhood nostalgia in all the best ways.

Arguably Cola’s OG social club? The born-again Varsity Billiards at 1132 Devine St. – opened in 1964 and reopened on Aug. 25. It has a dozen pool tables, food + drink (but no alcohol), a jukebox + video games. Retro hangouts are the jam.

Four social bars we want in Cola, too. 🙌 ⬇️

Royal Palms Shuffleboard | Brooklyn, N.Y.

A 21+ shuffleboard club with DJs, food trucks + two full bars.

Photo by @royalpalms

Queen Park Social | Charlotte, N.C.

“We are a place that stresses social interaction over social media. We believe the best conversations happen around a table surrounded by friends, not on a cell phone.” We would have to agree.

Photo by @queenparksocial

Pinewood Social | Nashville, Tenn.

Includes dining, bowling, swimming, bocce ball and plenty of drinks.🥂

Photo by @pinewoodnashville

Ace Ping Pong | Denver, Co.

Ping Pong + beer… possibly the perfect combination for any great night.

Photo by @ace_eat_serve

While I can’t wait for The Grand on Main, my ideal Cola social club would be either be on Devine St. (within walking distance from my house, of course) or in the former Harper’s building in Five Points. The space would need to be 12-18,000-sqft. – where else could another social club go in Cola? Let us know about other cool spots for a place like this.

Back to my dream social club: I envision an outside courtyard space with cornhole, bocce ball + a grass croquet court. The menu would include a wide variety of delicious apps, like a charcuterie + cheese boards, devilled eggs, brussel sprouts and ahi tuna tostadas. Craft beer + wines would be served – along with a selection of mules.

–Beth