A Supper Club in German Village? Why not!

There is no denying that Hamilton Ohio’s German Village is growing with great momentum. Since the beginning of the 21^st century, folks have been cleaning up the streets and returning the historical structures back to the days when they were the celebration of living in this noble city. There has been no harder working entrepreneur restoring these properties than Mr. Bill Wilks, who proudly calls this his home.

In a recent conversation with Mr. Wilks, I asked him about his vision for the Village. His answer came as no surprise. “Once upon a time, German Village was the place to go for a great dinner and entertainment. They came from everywhere. We even had famous people that made German Village their destination!”  Who, we asked. “Well “That Girl”. I believe her name is Marlo Thomas.”  

Mr. Wilks is relentless and understands that for this village to surge, we all have to be united with this effort. Historic preservation is important to him, impressing that this must a purpose of how we take this challenge on.  In addition, we must be careful to design an entertainment district that will empower and add much value to the area, by drawing in people from everywhere. 

Recognizing that German Village’s North Third Street Plaza has been funded and re-designed by the City of Hamilton to accommodate a thriving entertainment district, Mr. Wilks is very confident and optimistic that some of his vacant business spaces will soon lease. In addition, he is motivated that Hamilton’s German Village community members are putting together an informational session on February 19^th to draw attention to the little diamond that German Village is.

Hamilton's German Village Plaza is converting to a destinational Entertainment District.

“What would you like to see go into your large retail space on North Third Street’s Plaza,” we asked. Mr. Wilks stated he would like to see the return of the "Supper Club".  A Supper Club, he continued, is where people came for the evening in stayed there for hours listening and dancing to live music, eating a great meal and drinking a cocktail. He remarked, “Those were the days and there is no reason we could not return that concept and form of entertainment to our community.” 

According to Wikipdia, Supper Clubs "were considered a destination where patrons would spend the whole evening, from cocktail hour to nightclub-style entertainment after dinner. Featuring a casual and relaxed atmosphere, they are now usually just restaurants rather than the all-night entertainment destinations of the past.”  In its golden age from the ‘40s to ‘60s, the supper club was a destination whose holy trinity was drinks, dinner and dancing. The “three D’s” offered a languorous, evening-long experience where nothing was hurried and everything was good.

... And they seem to be coming back. Wisconsin is so dedicated to this concept, they actually are marketing them as one of their cultural highlights! Called the "Supper Club State", this recognition originally appeared in the Summer 2009 edition of Wisconsin People and Ideas, the quarterly magazine of the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters. 

The Supper of Club, of days gone by, was the destination to go to for the holy trinity of drinks, dinner and dancing!

Can this Bogart-Styled classical entertainment concept come back? Mr. Wilks believes it can and one particular available space on the Plaza can accommodate this. The property has multiple rooms that offers a range of atmospheres to satisfy most customers.  For instance there is a secluded courtyard, situated away from the music that is being played in the adjoining bar that holds a large stage for performing talent. The live music room even has a humongous sound system and a stage that is ready to accommodate to any genre of music.  Upstairs a private room offers another spot for 20-25 persons revealing a magnificent view of German Village. In addition, all spaces show off the vintage details of decades gone by with original brick walls, fireplaces and woodwork throughout. Taking a quick look this could also be a great Speak Easy hang out! 

Available Property for a Supper Club in Hamilton German Village!
This property will be available to be shown on February 19th as part of German Village's Merchants Symposium!

Can the supper club come back as a dynamic entertainment option to Hamilton Ohio? The proper Supper Club is enjoying a renaissance across the USA, and why not here? Nostalgic devotees are opening a new generation of approachable, fabulously leisurely entertainment projects. Mr. Wilks (and I) are convinced Hamilton's German Village can return to the good old days, with its perfect infrastructure and space to accommodate this concept. 

For more information, please plan on participating in German Village's Information Symposium on February 19th from 3pm to 7pm in the Carriage House Community Center on Village Street. Here you will be able to tour Mr. Wilk's property and an assortment of other available properties that the German Village has to offer for smart investors! For more information, please go to http://GermanVillageMerchants.com.