A VERY Private Club: New Jersey's Metropolitan Society

December 11, 2006
By George Koodray, Metropolitan Society Board Secretary

You really never could smoke cigars at many establishments - even when they allowed "smoking." That's why, back in July of 1994, thirteen men, not knowing what that evening might ever lead to, got together at a restaurant that permitted dining and cigar smoking in a designated area.

That night the group decided it would meet on the first Wednesday of each month. At the second meeting, the group declared itself "The Metropolitan Cigar Society." Word began to travel and, by late 1996, the group boasted 100 members. Not long after, the group would be forced to cap membership at 125 and had a waiting list. Incidentally, today, more than twelve years later, four of the original thirteen members remain active in the club.

Over the years, Metropolitan Cigar Society members enjoyed a regular diet of quality dinners, that would come with a complimentary cigar, and a variety of events. The club held trap shoots, golf outings, a casino night and annual holiday dinner. Life was good for members, having a private room reserved for them on their regular meeting night. One wouldn't think anyone would have a problem with that, right? Wrong!

In today's America, an America whose policies seem more and more to be crafted by a militant and vociferous few, things would change soon for the club. As 2006 approached, word was building that New Jersey's interim regime had a plan. It was going to ban smoking in all "places of public accommodation."

The Front Door

We've heard a lot about what one can do in "public" places back when public places meant that the government owned them. But today, even though people invest their own hard earned money, such as a restaurant or bar, in which they might decide to allow smoking, those places can now somehow be considered public and subject to laws such as those banning smoking.

But, getting back to New Jersey's ban, in almost his final moments in office, Interim Governor Richard Codey, signed the law in January that prohibited smoking everywhere except casinos. The governor declared that the law was intended to protect employees at establishments which heretofore allowed smoking, except, of course employees at casinos. Casinos could, in fact, continue to allow employees - and there are some 55,000 of them at these facilities - to work where smoking is allowed. Not coincidentally, casinos also contribute some $100 million in taxes to New Jersey. Funny how that worked out.

As board members of the Metropolitan Cigar Society learned more about the new laws, another thing became clear: the club and the camaraderie that was so important to its members for more than twelve years would all be vanquished with the stroke of the governor's pen. That was the greatest single inspiration for the idea that members finding a venue of their own and establish a private club, with no employees, that could keep the members together.

Once they arrived at that option, notion of a private club was off and running. The group's board of directors explored available buildings, locations that would address a number of criteria such as member demographics and travel needs and the design and amenities of such a building. And, the new organization would be called simply "The Metropolitan Society."

The Lounge

In the past, the Metropolitan Cigar Society was primarily a monthly dinner club with the exception of a few occasional activities it would hold, such as golf outings and holiday dinners. But, now, the Club would transition to a very different model, The new business model involved something much different, a daily business, which would require a very different cost structure. And, the board was aware that, for one reason or another, the change in business models might also mean that some people who may have been members in the past might not elect to join the new private club.

But, before the presentation for approval of the plan and commitments to invest was even complete, member hands were being raised throughout the room in resounding approval and the process to transform The Metropolitan Society into a bricks and mortar reality would officially begin. To create the club, members made an initial financial investment, then numerous investments of labor, equipment, supplies and additional monies.

Then the search was on for an ideal location, one that would be first centrally located to the existing membership body, then as a central location for new members going forward, in general. Before they went very far, it turned out one property, which was owned by the father of one of the club's members, fit the bill perfectly. At about 4200 square feet, it presented an ideal venue for monthly dinners and a lounge, game room and other accommodations that the board identified as being important to its new identity. Unfortunately, the building they chose required that it be gutted down to its cinderblock walls before the build out could begin.

In the earlier part of 2006, armed with the specs of the property, a suite in a commercial park, board members began to create and pore over a variety of proposals. "We wanted to create what people feel when they think of 'The Metropolitan Society,'" explained Dan McCarthy, president of the club. "Our club and name conjure images of an old fashioned upscale gentleman's club, although we have had female members going back to the very beginning. That throwback look and feel is what we wanted to capture in our design."

The Game Room

So, the members set out to stay true to that spirit and undertook construction of the club. Today, a walk through the Fairfield, New Jersey facility makes it clear that they succeeded, from the dental chair rails and ceiling molding to it's rich tobacco-leafed carpeting and elegant humidor, which sits behind the door with a huge glass oval insert.

"This is our home away from home," said Jeff Mortman, a board member, who embraced the idea of a private club in the earliest stage of rumors about the possibility of a smoking ban. "I've felt there'd be a market for such a club," he explained. "And, for a club with a long and rich history like ours, we knew we would be well on our way."

And, that tradition was critical. By the time the club opened its doors for the very first time - an unexpected grand opening a month earlier in May, not June of 2006, the club opened to a roster of 90 members, with many of its regular members transitioning to the new club, but also a number of new members who had only discovered the club in the months during which construction was underway. The new members more than offset the handful of people who opted not to join the newer club, something that the board expected since a few members were only casual cigar smokers.

But, The Metropolitan Society, while tailored to accommodate cigar lovers of all stripes, is especially suited for the real cigar aficionado. Today, just a few months after its grand opening, the club boasts 110 members and many more are expected to flock to its friendly confines as blustery weather approaches in New Jersey. Sitting on a deck or patio for about an hour just won't be quite as easy for the next six months, so a cigar club, a VERY private cigar club is just the right medicine.

The Locker Room (nearing completion)

Access to the club comes with key cards that are programmed according to member types. "Platinum" members have 24 hour access, seven days a week, all year long for only $300 annually. "Associate" members have generous access during week, which encompasses the times members will want to hold business lunches, see sporting events and spin down on weekends. Preferred and common members are equity owners who originally invested in the business. Equity interests are no longer available to members.

Whatever your membership, once you gain access through the gold lettered glass door, you're immediately impressed as you walk through the marble tiled foyer as you enter the club. First stop is a 1000 plus square foot lounge, complete with flat plasma television. Some members just collapse into the comfortable chairs in the lounge, while others like to collect with three others into a small nookish "quiet room."

On the other side of the lounge is a nearly 800 square foot game room where a pool table, pool rack, dual six player poker tables and another wall-mounted flat plasma television entertain those who'd like to do more. The 400 square foot humidor, which will afford 190 lockers to members is adjacent to the game room.

A hallway connects the game room to the club's dining room, a generous 1500 plus square foot area which accommodates 100 for its monthly dinners. And, when it comes to dinner guests, the club has enjoyed many, from some of the major names in the cigar and adult beverage industries.

In just the first few months since opening, the club has been visited by JR Cigar's Lew Rothman, General Cigar, Famous Cigar, Partida Tequila, and local beer brewer Cricket Hill. Visitors drop in armed with samples and, with a very captive and targeted audience, often provide for fun and lively nights.

So, for a club that looks at a future with its own digs now and one in which members can get together anytime and not just one night a month, not a bad start at all. But, you'd expect as much from the nation's oldest private, non-commercial cigar club.

Learn more about The Metropolitan Society. Check us out at www.metrocigar.com

George Koodray is board secretary at The Metropolitan Society. He is a communications professional of more than 20 years in broadcast journalism and corporate public relations. Of equal importance, George lately prefers a fine Dominican-Nicaraguan blend, preferably in a well-constructed torpedo.