[SINGAPORE] Private club 1880 will reopen in August, run by the same team that used to work there, but almost certainly under a new name that will be decided later. The Business Times can also confirm that the 2,000-plus current members of the Singapore club, which abruptly closed recently, will be offered the option of transferring their memberships to the new club, with the joining fee waived.
BT earlier reported that 1880’s staff had made an offer to buy the club’s assets, with support and backing from its landlord, RB Corp – a member of property investment and development firm RB Capital Group. The group’s flagship development at Robertson Quay is where the 22,000-square-foot 1880 was located.
After the offer lapsed, the 60-plus strong team decided to move forward with RB Corp to open a new club at the same premises after a refresh. BT understands that the staff will be partners in the new business and enjoy profit-sharing.
“The staff of 1880 have been through a lot over the last few months,” an RB Corp representative told BT when contacted. “As landlords, we believe in each one of them who made the former club a home for many.”
A spokesperson for the new club said that should 1880’s members choose to transfer their membership, they need only continue paying the same monthly subscription fee – which is about S$245 – as before. “For members who have paid their subscription fees in advance, there will be a subscription-free period of up to three months,” she said, adding that going forward, the criteria for new joiners will be higher, as the club will be seeking “quality over quantity”.
Tsoler Jekalian, 1880’s former general manager, said the team is now busy gearing up for the new club’s opening.
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“Honestly, I love the club, the team, so if there’s any way I can help make this work again, that’s what I’d do, especially since the club members have also been so supportive,” she told BT. “We’ve created such a beautiful community, we can’t just let it die like that.”
Jekalian was one of the Singapore club’s staff who relocated to Hong Kong to launch a branch there. The Hong Kong club suddenly closed on May 30, just seven months after opening in the territory. She also helped train a team for 1880’s Bali beachside hotel that never opened.
Also excited about making a comeback was Colin Buchan, who will return to his role as executive chef of the club.
“I’m relieved and raring to go,” said Buchan. “We need to do something special for the members who were disappointed. We want to give them the hospitality, graciousness and love that we gave them before. So we’re working to bring something unique and great. That’s all I can say right now.”
What he did reveal was that the new club may open a second dining concept in addition to the restaurant, bar, spa and co-working space that 1880 used to offer.
The club was founded in 2017 by Canadian entrepreneur Marc Nicholson, who announced its closure on Jun 17 and put it into provisional liquidation. The local business was understood to be profitable, but the club got into debt after aggressively expanding to Hong Kong and Bali.
The new business will not involve the three co-founders of 1880 – Nicholson, his wife and the club’s chief executive officer Jean Low, and chairman Luke Jones.
Meanwhile, the new club’s spokesperson said that 1880’s members who want to transfer their membership can e-mail membership@former1880.com or message it via WhatsApp at 8227-3708.
