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New chef, renovations to mark 50th year of 2300 Club
An email from Tom Yeaman, Board President of The 2300 Club:
The 2300 Club Announces New Executive Chef, 50th Anniversary Celebration, and Major Club Renovations
RICHMOND, VA… The 2300 Club, Richmond’s best kept secret for fine dining and relaxed socialization in historic Church Hill, is proud to announce its new Executive Chef Michael Hall to head up food and beverage operations for one of Richmond’s oldest private clubs. Chef Hall who owned M Bistro at Rocketts Landing will begin operations at The 2300 Club next week…and will emphasize his award winning “Country French Cooking with a Southern Flare”…offering his distinguished menu of fine dining and a few new touches representing the best in Southern cuisine. Previously, Chef Hall had been general manager and executive chef at the Bull and Bear Club and also Executive Chef at The Berkeley Hotel in Downtown Richmond.
Founded a half century ago by historic preservationists and some of Richmond’s best known families who had just moved to Church Hill and wanted a neighborhood private club for fine dining and social events, The 2300 Club will hold a series of 50th Anniversary events and ceremonies later this Spring to celebrate its founding and to honor its long list of dedicated current and past members and the dozen families who first organized The Club in 1964.
Inside renovations have already begun in the restored Civil War era row house at 23rd and East Grace Streets in the historic St. John’s Church neighborhood and should be completed by the end of March, and outside enhancements to the formal back garden private event and outside dining area will also be completed in time for Spring events. During this period The 2300 Club will remain open for lunches,dinners, special Chef tasting’s paired with wines, and private events several days each week before completing the renovations and returning to its full weekly operations and dining schedule.
“Richmond is blessed with having some of the best chefs, restaurants, and private clubs and dining facilities offering incredible food and beverage opportunities not only for the casual diner, but also for those who expect superior dining experiences, and “foodies” who seek the newest and best food creations and flavors to enjoy”, said Tom Yeaman, the newly elected board president of The 2300 Club, “and we know that many of his dedicated clients will want to follow Chef Hall and experience some of the best cuisine in Richmond in our small private club setting in historic Church Hill overlooking Downtown Richmond.”
Information about The 2300 Club can be found on the Club’s web site www.the2300club.org or by calling 644-2300.
Style says that “a meet-and-greet event is planned for next week to introduce Hall to members and guests.”
The premise for a “private” club such as the 2300 was based on the Virginia ABC laws prohibiting liquor by the drink. Those laws have long since been wiped off the books.
If you want to join the 2300 club, here is what it will cost you according to their fee list.
Initiation fee $250.00 joining?
quartely assesment 100.00
monthly dues 50,00
monthly minimum
food & beverage 50.00in
annual bar locker fee 35.00
TOTAL per person per year $1885.00
I would prefer to spread my drinking money around to various establishments that I enjoy and not be locked into one place. $1885.00 is a lot of wine, beer and mixed drinks. Then on top of these fees ( that let you walk in the door ) you have to pay for food and drinks. I like a wide variety of ethnic foods.
I could have this wrong. I have never been accused of being cheap, but is this a good deal?
Who of the best known families had just moved to Church Hill In 1964 for it’s fine dining?
Jean,
We all make concious decisions on how we spend our money. Because you feel this is not a good deal or who the best families were in 1964 is not the issue. This is an institution in Church Hill that has hosted many memorable occasions for many of us. I was a member for many years, and President of the board, twice. I couldn’t support it in recent years because of the lack of leadership by both the management and the Board, but I feel it has a place in our collective community. Many do not. I think Michael Hall will add a dynamic to the Club that has been lacking, but only time will tell. If you do not want to join, that is your decision. Just keep it to yourself and don’t try to color other people’s opinions. I have lived in Church Hill as long or longer than you have and always try to support our total community. I plan on rejoining, if only to give it a chance. If you don’t, then there are plenty of other places that will gladly accept your support.
Mr. Hartsock: My family member had her wedding there and it was a nice venue, but I think Jean brings up some legitimate points (money is always a legitimate point, rather). Jean is not trying to “color” people’s opinions, as I think we’re all capable of reasonable thinking outside what is posted here. I think the point of this website is for Church Hill residents to express their concerns, just like you, which she did.
Jean,
Your math is off, but not by much. The locker is optional IIRC and I think the assessments may have been just a one year deal.
I’m shocked that this place continues to exist given their complete financial mismanagement though. I’m even more shocked that they can attract talent on the level of Chef Hall for what seems like a part time gig. Must be some deep pockets willing to keep funding this…
Flair ? Flare.
That is all.
they are not interchangeable.
@6 – it’s not a typo, he actually plans to use roadside signaling devices in his cooking!
Mr. Hartsock
This is an institution in Church Hill that has run it’s course.
I have done a few Weddings at the 2300 and they were quite nice except for the excessive restrictions.
You bring up mismanagement. Embezzelment of close to $75000.00 for a business with no assets ( the buildings are not owned by the club, but leased ) would put others out of business. In discussions with several long time former members of the 2300 club several items came to light ( besides the embezzelment issue. )
The strong arm tactics of constant pressure for existing members to bring in new members didn’t sit well with my old friends. When they would tell the person pressuring them that they did not feel comfortable recruiting new members and did not feel it their duty to do so, they were ignored. The other issue that didn”t go down well were large , new assesments that the membership did not approve. They are of course, no longer members.
Before you blast back at me, please remember that you can’t fix what you sweep under the carpet. I refer you to post # 5,6 &8.
Mr. Hartsock, very well said.
@Jean…was it a group or one individual who allegedly embezzled these funds from the club?
The 2300 Club is a wonderful place and I am excited about Chef Hall!
Jean,
By all means, if you and your cadre of whispering members that no longer belong to anything think it’s run it’s course then shut ‘er down. Is there anything else on your list of businesses or groups that don’t please you that you’d like to banish?
Thanks Bill. Well said.
We were members years ago, and we brought groups of friends there many times for dinner. I loved it, but we didn’t go there enough to justify the expense so it seemed like wasted money to us. I wish there were a way to go to dinner there without being a member, but I understand that doesn’t fit the business model.
I was a member there for quite a while and wish them nothing but the best. I stopped being a member a while back for a number of reasons but mostly because I didn’t see the benefit of paying monthly dues and a food minimum just for the privilege of eating there. There really were not many other benefits. There are a number of truly outstanding restaurants in Richmond that don’t charge monthly dues and a food minimum to dine there. Additionally, the food wasn’t exactly fine dining. It’s wasn’t McDonald’s but not fine dining either. Service was truly lacking.
While I’m sure Michael will elevate the level of food (he does know what he’s doing), I only hope that there will be a focus on the service as well as service is an extremely important part of a fine dining classification.
I have to wonder, though, how they are paying for all this (Michael, the renovations, etc.) when they are already strapped pretty tightly for cash.
Thanks Bill and well said.
#9
Ms. McDaniel,
“blast” you?
#13 AKA chpnfan
My “cadre of whispering members” don’t feel it necessary to whisper. They, as I , speak openly! And they, like I, have every right to voice an opinion and join in a discussion.
You are correct in that I tend to object to hiding or polishing over poor behavior. I reminds me of this little story.
A well known Sourthern family with an inflated sense of self importance and standing in the community had a cousin that was hanged for horse theift. After the story was polished by this family, it was presented that they had a distinguished relative that while being honored by a crowd, the stage collapsed and he was unfortunately killed.
Has anyone seen the study from the University of
Manitoba that says people who troll the internet
making mean comments are not so nice people
in their day to day life?
Queen Mum… you made me use the Google 🙂
http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/climate_desk/2014/02/internet_troll_personality_study_machiavellianism_narcissism_psychopathy.html
The article – http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0191886914000324
I haven’t seen anything on here that resembles “trolling” per se. Plenty of often spirited debate to be sure but there’s a big difference between debate and trolling as the study points out.
Is someone with the user name “Queen Mum” really the right person to be casting stones about narcissistic behavior indicators?
Wake me up when prohibition is back in effect. Until then I see no need. I didn’t pay for the opportunity to make friends (i.e., greek life) in college & I don’t need to pay for the opportunity to pay for food & drink (i.e., 2300 club) in my adult life. To those that do want to, though, more power to you. be cool, babies.
Alex
Apparently if one says something on CHPN that others don’t like, there is a psychiatrist on standby to give an instant on line diagnosis.
It’s quick, cheap and full of self-righteous anonomous accuracy. Last weeks pronouncement was Sociopath and this week it’s Narcissistic behavior indicators.
A far better practice and lacking from most here….
“One of the nicest things you can do is to speak kind words about someone behind his or her back.”
~ Molly Friedenfeld, The Book of Simple Human Truths
CHPNfan
When “Queen Mum” was hospitalized not long ago, her neighbors rallied . She spent a long time in the hospital with life threatening issues. She and her family was fed and looked after. I was on the front line of this effort and under the same circumstances, would be again.
Because you hold different opinions from your neighbors, does not mean you are a “mal-content” or any other mental health tag thrown out. This diagnostic word labeling is a knee jerk reaction from those who don’t think anyone has the right to disagree with their point of view. As long as this attitude is closely held, no constructive discussion/dialog is possible and progress is stifled.
Life changes, situations change, people change ( or they could try to ) and adapt to new circumstances.
Here is what I have yet to understand. I called the 2300 club mid-summer of 2013 inquiring about membership, as well as, holding an event there. The young woman who answered the phone could not answer any of my questions. She said she would give me name to someone who could. I never got a call, I left a detailed message. I called and left another message…..I never heard from anyone even after this third phone call. I am confused, if they have been desperate for money, seems to me that having new members who want to use their venue might be the answer. Just saying……..
Zookeeper
It seems attention to detail is an extremely low priority with the 2300 club. How much effort does it take to proof read a news release? A friend of mine wanted to have an anniversary party there and after the fourth call with no result, just said to hell with them.
Perhaps you don’t come from one of “Richmond’s better known families”?
John Whitworth was listed as treasurer in December of 2013 and apparently had not been involved with the club for several years. How long does it take to update your web-site?