Move over, suburban country clubs of yore, where golf and tennis were gateways to the right connections: The private social club has arrived. To be sure, social clubs are nothing new. The oldest one in North America, the Order of Good Cheer, was founded in Nova Scotia in 1606, supposedly to help French colonists chase away wintertime blues. But let’s face it, private clubs are really about hobnobbing with your own people. The new twist is that in this era of money, mobilization and isolation, private social clubs are filling a void, and the trend has been sizzling in big cities since the pandemic.

In Sarasota, you’ll find discreet networking at Waterworks, which pioneered the local social club movement; tightly guarded exclusivity at Club 23, where you can’t even take a photo inside; private concerts by big names at WhiteLeaf Private Concerts; invitation-only super-yachting on Lotus; and the soon-to-open 1000 North, which is impenetrable unless the powers that be know you’re serious about joining.

Is the modern social club here to stay? That depends on whether it’s offering something unique and exclusive. With all the wealth and newcomers rolling into town, Sarasota’s private clubs have real value when it comes to making those all-important connections and deals. The country club isn’t dead, but it’s got competition.

Waterworks

The go-to retreat for city insiders.

Launched in September 2018, Waterworks was Sarasota’s first modern social club. It’s named for its home, the 4,500-square-foot, 1926 Waterworks Building in which the city’s water utilities were once housed and that’s now on the National Register of Historic Places. Following a 10-month renovation that started in late 2017, the building’s cavernous floor plan still showcases original brick walls, industrial beams and crystal chandeliers.

The decor is clubby, and the clientele is friendly. Downstairs, members sit and sip drinks at the bar or lounge in plush leather chairs. Upstairs, men and women smoke cigars in the cigar room or play pool and live out their Paul Newman fantasies of being a hustler.

Each member is assigned a liquor locker, where they provide and keep their preferred spirits. The club provides beer, mixers and garnishes.

Waterworks is also renowned for its “hosts” (usually pretty young women) and its tip-free system. Hosts know each member, and, like all good servers, their guests’ personal preferences. Lunch and dinner offerings are available, but the food mostly serves to soak up the alcohol.

Rachel McAree owns Waterworks with former major league baseball player Robin Jennings and says their shared goal was to build “a place where people could connect, whether for networking, collaborating, closing deals, entertainment or just enjoying the energy of a like-minded community.”

As far as staffing goes, McAree says, “We look for individuals who naturally have a warm, friendly demeanor and a real eagerness to learn. From there, we invest in comprehensive training. The focus isn’t just on procedures, but on understanding how to anticipate and meet members’ needs in a way that feels effortless and authentic.”

While at Waterworks, you’re likely to see local politicians and community leaders, perhaps brokering deals or making introductions that could change the future of Sarasota. Just as likely, they could be trying to grab a few moments of
relaxation away from scrutiny. 1005 N. Orange Ave., srqwaterworks.com

Annual Dues: $4,800-$6,000

Membership Cap: 300 members, with memberships still available

If You Want to Join: Order another box of business cards and give those Gucci loafers a shine.

Club 23

Coffee, cocktails and total secrecy.

Club 23 is located above DD Coffee Roasters and owned by married duo Vic Copilla and his wife, former adult entertainer Kira Lee. Members enter the club via a secret door, speakeasy style, in the coffee shop’s adjoining art gallery, which showcases Lee’s larger-than-life paintings.

From its concealed entrance to its “no photos” policy, Club 23 is driven by exclusivity. The club’s main room is decorated with antique Victorian sofas and armchairs, surrounded by moody aubergine walls covered in vintage photos and memorabilia that Lee has collected from antique malls around the state. It’s a little burlesque, and a little grandma-chic mixed with a little Sarasota history.

“Everything in here, except for some of the furniture, is antique, and some of it’s from our families,” Lee says.  “I spent a year and a half  going to estate sales and to Arcadia with a big truck.”

Like Waterworks, Club 23 operates on a no-tipping service model, with lockers for guests to store their spirits. Members also enjoy unlimited coffee from DD Coffee Roasters since Copilla is a self-described coffee freak and hand-selects the beans before roasting them in Northgate.  “Most members come in every day to grab their coffee and head to the office or work out of the club,” he says.

The club also hosts monthly themed nights and pop-up nights from area shops like Bambola Lingerie. Every Thursday, members can enjoy high tea service, and lunch and dinner are catered every day—including a big brunch on Sundays—by Annie Miller of DaniAnnie Baking Company. 1620 Main St., Sarasota, club23srq.com

Annual Dues: Less than $20,000 (the only number the owners would share)

Membership Cap: 69 memberships, with only a couple of spots left

If You Want to Join: Disable your phone’s camera and check to see if they’ve changed the secret password.

1000 North

Coming soon: An upscale club started by sports stars.

Sarasota’s newest private club, 1000 North, is set to open in the spring of 2026 on the ground floor of the BLVD Sarasota building. The 13,000-square-foot space will mirror the original 1000 North in Jupiter, which was founded by developer Ira Fenton and partners, including sports stars, such as former New York Giant Tucker Frederickson, golf legend Ernie Els and basketball icon Michael Jordan. For the Sarasota club, the group has partnered with local developer Kevin Daves, known for his work on The Concession Golf Club and The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota.

The club’s director of membership, Alex Elshimy, describes 1000 North as having the “exclusivity of a private club with the vibrancy of a dining destination,” with visiting celebrity chefs, live music, forums and concierge services (for all those private jet travelers!). 520 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, 1000northsarasota.com

Dues After Initiation: Undisclosed, although the Jupiter club’s fees are a one-time $5,000 initiation fee plus $5,000 annually.

Membership Cap: Undisclosed

If You Want to Join: Let us know how you did it.

The Lotus Yacht

Only the chosen will climb aboard this super yacht.

What is 100 feet, invitation-only and floats? A pre-owned luxury Broward 100-foot super yacht at The Lotus Yacht private club, docked at Marina Jack (it’s not as big as Jeff Bezos’ 417-foot yacht, but it is big). Owners Stephen Gardner, who was most recently the president and chief marketing officer of Tikun Olam, an international cannabis wellness company, and his wife, Maiya Gardner, don’t allow applications for their club; instead, they depend on introductions from other members. Then they personally vet each prospective member based on their ability to mesh with everyone else. It’s all about vibes, and interesting conversations are a must. If you pass muster, they’ll extend an invitation to join their limited membership roster.

“We’re proud to have created a community we picked to make sure everyone gets along and has great conversations,” Maiya says. “We have created quite an interesting group of people.”

The couple bought Lotus in October 2022 and launched the club the following January. They converted the ship’s staterooms into a conference room, media room and relaxation room, updated its bathrooms and expanded seating space for guests on the bow, which is busy even on a Thursday at 3 p.m.

The yacht remains at its Marina Jack port all day on Thursdays and Fridays; on the weekend, guests are taken to sea or the Intracoastal for days spent jet skiing, snorkeling and lounging with everything they need, including snacks and drinks, all catered by a 13-person rotating crew. Included with each membership is private access to the yacht either at port or at sea, for events like weddings and parties, or just with a handful of friends out for a leisurely sail, Monday through Wednesday. But members still need to book in advance and pay for the crew, food and fuel. 2 Marina Plaza, Sarasota, lotusyachtsrq.com

Annual Dues: $16,000-$25,000

Membership Cap: Undisclosed

If You Want to Join: Too bad

WhiteLeaf Private Concert Club

Where music lovers can hear top performers on a small stage.

Music industry veteran Barry Weisblatt got his start as an agent 40 years ago in New York City and has since worked as an event producer and talent buyer. He moved to Sarasota in 2019 and quickly realized the town attracted fewer pop musical acts than he expected.

“Every time that I saw my favorite artist was coming to Florida, I recognized that if I wanted to go see them, I needed to get into my car and go to St. Pete, Clearwater, Tampa, or, God forbid, Orlando,” he says. “Our music halls do great jobs for their focus areas, but they can’t cover everything.” So Weisblatt devised a plan that led to membership-based private concerts, inspired by a similar club he learned about in Charlotte, N.C., called Music With Friends.

Tapping into music industry connections made throughout his career, last year, Weisblatt hosted musician John Popper of the 1990s band Blues Traveler, as well as Robert Randolph, who Rolling Stone named one of the 100 best guitarists of all time. 

“I started with smaller shows last year, which I’m calling season one, at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre, before moving over to Harvest House,” Weisblatt says. “You walk into Harvest House for a concert; there are no seats, there are no pews, just you standing, watching center stage, with awesome sound, lights and an LED screen. It’s all there.”

Weisblatt hopes to one day open his own local venue, with a private space upstairs and a public venue below, but, for now, he’ll continue hosting concerts exclusively at Harvest House. Each one is capped at 150 guests and includes a 90-minute mixer before the show, with catered food and drinks, including alcohol. “The pre-show social is for networking,” he says. “There are a lot of new people who are moving into Sarasota every day, looking for ways to connect with other like-minded people. Music is the common denominator and what’s driving our success.”

A  $5,400 annual membership includes a year of concerts and allows for an additional guest (and sometimes two). It’s not a bad deal once you tally up the cost of the drive to Tampa, a fancy dinner beforehand, tickets for good seats at the show and a hotel room afterwards, should you choose to indulge in a few overpriced venue cocktails. Weisblatt welcomes members young and old, so long as you love live music and can fork over those annual dues. Events are held at Harvest House, 3650 17th Street, Sarasota, whiteleafconcertclub.com 

Annual Dues: $5,400 annually (private membership level); $20,000 annually for a corporate membership

Membership Cap: 63 memberships, with several still available.

If You Want to Join: Dust off your old vinyl collection so you can brag about who has the best first pressings.