Grand Rapids Civic Leaders Reveal Plans for Commerce Club in Historic Building
Posted By: DBUSINESS on November 10, 2025. For more information, please click here to read the source article.
A group of regional leaders today unveiled plans for the Commerce Club, a first-of-its-kind private destination for professionals and community leaders that is expected to usher in a new era of connection, collaboration, and capital to Grand Rapids.
Located at the historic 61 Commerce building in downtown Grand Rapids, the six-floor, 30,000-square-foot private club has been designed to deliver a curated membership experience for professionals in business, lifestyle, and community.
The club will be owned and governed by a group of more than 50 founders and equity owners and feature what is described as world-class business and social amenities spanning a café, concierge, event venue, offices, conference and coworking space, overnight suites, an executive gym and wellness center, and a lower-level speakeasy and cigar lounge.
The founders equity offering for accredited investors is more than 50 percent complete and is expected to be fully subscribed by Dec. 31.
“West Michigan is filled with incredible talent and high achievers, but we’re lacking a gathering place – the spot – for like-minded individuals to connect and collaborate,” says Jeff Lambert, chairman of Lambert by LLYC and a co-founder of the Commerce Club.
“I’ve experienced first-hand the value of a private club experience in Detroit, Chicago, and around the world, and we founders want to bring that unique vibe and catalytic place to our hometown.”
Phase One renovations are set to begin in the first quarter of 2026 with an anticipated club opening before the close of the year. Design elements and member amenities will feature a modern, sophisticated aesthetic complemented by warm, classic details that celebrate the original brick and exposed wood beam construction, along with nods to the city’s history.
The Commerce Club also announced it has partnered with Real Times Media (RTM), parent company of the Michigan Chronicle and other media properties and events, to make west Michigan its newest market and the Commerce Club its home. Detroit-based RTM will bring its “Pancakes & Politics” events to Grand Rapids as well as other media, business, and cultural content.
Under terms of the partnership agreement, RTM also will provide production and advertising support for the Commerce Club’s member magazine and its multi-media and podcast studio.
Michigan Chronicle Publisher and RTM CEO Hiram Jackson is a co-founder and investor in the Commerce Club.
“We’ve built relationships in Grand Rapids for years and watched with great admiration the
entrepreneurial ethos and underdog mentality of this community,” says Jackson. “When the Commerce Club opportunity arose, we knew it was the time and place to invest in the west side.”
Other partners on the launch of the Commerce Club include Rockford Construction, Progressive Cos., Gensler-Chicago, Acrisure, LLYC, Miller Johnson, and other companies and business and community leaders. The Commerce Club team also includes Club Benchmarking, the private club data and management consulting firm, and Ted Gillary, a 25-year former general manager of the Detroit Athletic Club.
Phase One Commerce Club plans will include:
Opening Bell and Concierge: A coffee and juice bar on the main floor creating a social hub and go-to meeting spot, complete with a dedicated concierge.
The Mint: An event venue on the second floor for members to host business and cultural events and unforgettable gatherings from product launches to wedding celebrations. The Mint will also host a year-round calendar of member-only experiences, entertainment, and curated special events.
Spring Street: The third floor, devoted to productivity and collaboration, will feature private offices for tenants, as well as meeting rooms, coworking space, and a multi-media and podcast studio.
Founders Suites: The fourth and fifth floors will consist of 18 private and elevated suites, offering overnight or extended stays for members and their guests.
Currency: The lower level will feature an exclusive speakeasy, dedicated cigar room and outdoor patio, and a wine cellar and chef’s table for members to enjoy a sophisticated escape or celebrate the deal or important milestone.
Phase Two of the club will include outdoor and rooftop space and a full-service restaurant, as well as other amenities fueled by the needs and desires of its founders and members.
Commerce Club membership is structured into two tiers – Founders and Members. The Founders group includes equity ownership and exclusive club features, and will direct the club’s future, shaping its direction and legacy from the start. The second tier, a general membership level, will be accessible only by referral from a founding member with a membership cap in years one and two.
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