KCRag Forum

moosnsqrl wrote: The food operations were sadly not patronized by many members at the time - maybe that explains why I liked it - we were often the only diners/revelers.

Usually clubs require members to spend a certain amount of money for food service each month.

mlind wrote: Usually clubs require members to spend a certain amount of money for food service each month.

I have no doubt they were being billed for a minimum quarterly or monthly - but a dead dining room is a dead dining room. Not very convivial.

The old Kansas city club had a restaurant on the top floor, when it was first opened it had an open roof. A restaurant on the 3rd floor also.
A pool on the 12th floor and a track on 11th floor.
About 50 hotel rooms for traveling members.
I did many weddings in those old kitchens. Very nice building, a lot of history.
I spent a few years at the University club, Bob use to work there.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Berdella
the old University club had squash courts, two where operational when I was there. There where a few in the sub-basement also.
The University club had one of the first liquor licenses issued after prohibition.
Most club charge a monthly minimum food charge.
When I was there the University club only had about 200 members, most over the age of 90(joking) I believe they had one female and it was the only female to have been allowed to join ever.
I know in the late 90's the KC Club offered 50 dollar memberships.
I would have imagined all that has changed.
The club I'm at now it 70,000 to join, a monthly fee depending on your age and tenure, 850 a month in food and 5000 a year assessments.

I recall at one time there was talk of converting the Mark Twain tower into apartments. Under that scenario, the pool and basketball court indoors would be a great amenity.

Actually, I think the downtown YMCA would be better in the Mark Twain tower than on Quality Hill, since it would offer the pool and basketball court in addition to the exercise facilities.

FangKC wrote: I recall at one time there was talk of converting the Mark Twain tower into apartments. Under that scenario, the pool and basketball court indoors would be a great amenity.

Actually, I think the downtown YMCA would be better in the Mark Twain tower than on Quality Hill, since it would offer the pool and basketball court in addition to the exercise facilities.

NY Timely...
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/27/reale ... ng.html?hp

FangKC wrote: I recall at one time there was talk of converting the Mark Twain tower into apartments. Under that scenario, the pool and basketball court indoors would be a great amenity.

Actually, I think the downtown YMCA would be better in the Mark Twain tower than on Quality Hill, since it would offer the pool and basketball court in addition to the exercise facilities.

Mark Twin building should become a 5 star hotel in a development that includes a high end shopping district along Baltimore.

None of Mark Twain's health club is usable.  It's currently vacant and mothballed.  The pool is in decent shape, but the pool area is marginal at best due to the former heavy humidity in the area....floors buckling and lots of paint peeling.  The basketball court is in bad condition as well...lots of moisture damage.  The locker rooms are gutted and of little use.  It would be nice, but would take a miracle to bring this facility back.

I think one of the main reasons MT hasn't been developed is that in the past tax abatement was obtained for the building....as part of that agreement, it was agreed that the building ownership would install a fire sprinkler system. This has never occurred and is estimated at $1m to $2m.  Office spaces in the building are marginal, but all windows would need to be replaced as part of any renovation.  The views from the upper floors are spectacular.  Parking could be obtained adjacent to the north with a direct access to the building.

Wasn't the old Playboy club in the building?  Anyone got any info on it?

The pool at the old KC Club:  my cousin got ringworm, supposedly by leaning back on a seat at a NKC movie theater.  Part of his treatment was to swim in the pool.  I think it had something to do with the chlorine. 

This was in the 1950's and I still never lean back on a seat in a movie theater.

zonk wrote: Wasn't the old Playboy club in the building?  Anyone got any info on it?

I asked about that a few years ago and got some info: http://forum.kcrag.com/index.php?action ... ic=14054.0

oops....I should have done a quick search!  thx...!

All the feedback is great thanks, so there are now pools within downtown then open to the public? 

Thinking I might check out the Westin once it gets a little warmer as I am pretty sure they take local memberships.  Or UMKC but pretty good drive from the RM.

North Kansas City Community Center has a pool and much closer than UMKC

http://www.nkccc.org/

Don't forget the Aguirre Center in the Westside.  They have crap hours, though, and I'm not sure if they rope off lanes for workouts.  It is dirt cheap, however.

zonk wrote: Wasn't the old Playboy club in the building?  Anyone got any info on it?

Yes, the Playboy Club was there in the early 70's.  Don't remember the specific start and end dates.

heatherkay wrote: North Kansas City Community Center has a pool and much closer than UMKC

http://www.nkccc.org/

NKKC looks great, overrun with kids though?

I have no idea -- I would imagine yes and no, depending on when you're there.  It's a really nice facility paid for with the city's casino money.  They only have 5000 residents and lots of corporate tax money, and they were looking for somewhere to spend it.

yea that makes sense.  Going in the AM weekdays probably helps.

The Pitch reports that the Kansas City Club has closed, disbanded, and the building will be sold.

http://www.pitch.com/FastPitch/archives ... s-for-sale

Though I was never a member, I went on a tour of it once. Cool place. I'm sad to see that it closed. I wish someone would reopen it as a less banker/lawyer-only sort of place.

this thread was started by anniewarbucks. oh, the good ol' days... when people paid lots of money to attend private clubs with mediocre services.