Not being raised in Birmingham, I knew nothing about The Club, until recently when we were treated to a nice lunch out at this swanky place. Situated high up on Red Mountain overlooking downtown, The Club is a paragon of prestige and old-Southern traditions. The sort of place I didn’t grow up going to. So how did we end up at this place? Well, that’s a whole ‘nuther story all its own.
Meet Mr. Jack. One of my readers (and now friends) Kaye from KK’s Creations (who also did the giveaway with me at Engraved Euniques), lives in TX and she had told me that her father-in-law, Jack, lives here in Birmingham and has for many, many years. Since 1935 we found out. That’s certainly a long time. Kaye mentioned that she would love for me to meet Mr. Jack and that since he and his wife were moving to a new garden home, could perhaps use my decorating help. So, I called up Mr. Jack and we talked on the phone. He invited us to lunch and this is where he took us. Mr. Jack is 99 years old, which is remarkable in itself. He’s so spry, witty, and personable and we had a delightful time having lunch with him and listening to his very interesting life story. He still drives, but we drove to The Club.
Oh, and the best part is, when I first talked to Mr. Jack on the phone, I asked him if he knew my husband’s grandfather, also named Pete. He did, they were friends for many years, in Kiawanis together and had a lot of friends in common, which was really cool. They were very close to the same age. Pappy passed away a little over a year ago at the age of 97.
Now, apparently the club was built in the 1950’s. Can you tell that from this sign. 🙂 You can imagine just from the shape of the building what it looks like inside. This place would be a great movie set. A throw-back to simpler days, a dinner club, a place to play cards, a place to dine and dance. Like stepping back in time to the 1960’s.
So there you have The Club. Oh, and they pronounce it THE Club, like V Club, that’s how it sounds when you hear it. I had to laugh at that. I was calling it Tha Club, but apparently that is not the way to say it. A couple of my friends who had been there before also told me that and I noticed that’s the way Mr. Jack said it. And another thing, you have to wear a coat and tie for lunch to sit in the special section. Needless to say, we were escorted to a nice section, just not the best for the viewing. But, that was OK, it was great anyway. There was a ladies fashion show going on when we arrived and I didn’t take any pics of that or the inside. They might not have wanted their picture on my blog. So, we had a terrific lunch, with the best orange rolls I’ve ever tasted in my life. I had 2 of them and was raving over how good they were and Mr. Jack had the waiter bring me a whole pile of them in a to-go box before we left. Oh yeah!
We ate on them for about 3 days. They were great with my morning coffee. Just got a link for the recipe for these fabulous rolls, if you’d like to try them at home. I think I might have to break down and actually cook something with yeast now. I usually avoid cooking anything with yeast at home, just cause I have never done it.
After lunch we walked out to the large patio and took in the enormous view of the city from this prime location.
Birmingham has a beautiful downtown.
And there’s a great angle of Vulcan (hello heiny!), our tribute to the steel industry high atop Red Mountain. There are many radio and TV towers up here too since this is such a high altitude.
We heard they have done extensive remodeling in recent years to bring it up to date. I didn’t take pics inside, but it’s very nice. Ladies were sitting around tables playing bridge that afternoon.
I really enjoyed seeing it. Hopefully, we’ll go back to THE Club another time.
Kaye shared this pic on her blog of Mr. Jack and offspring. She calls this pic the 4 Jacks. All 4 named Jack, 4 generations. I think this is the sweetest pic. They all look alike!
Mr. Jack still works and has multiple engineering degrees. Graduated from the University of Alabama (Roll Tide!) and still draws and works with his son in town. Now, that is remarkable! We all could only hope to still be as active as he is at that age.
So, if you get a chance to have lunch with a 99 year old, do it. These wise old souls are a wealth of knowledge and history and we’d all be smart to listen to them. Kaye said she will invite us to Mr. Jack’s 100th birthday party and I’m looking forward to that next January.
Hi Rhoda, I had so much fun at your thrifty party…only wish I had more cool stuff to bring. Maybe next time!
I enjoyed reading about The Club…and I’m so glad you informed everyone about the pronunciation!! I have been there a handful of times (wedding showers, high school reunion, and a dinner or two). It is a nice bit of our history here in B’ham.
Thank you for sharing the good side of B’ham’s past. We seem to usually get only bad press, but it really is a great place to live!
Would love to get together with you and other B’ham bloggers some time…sounds like a lot of fun!
Blessings, Robin
This is my first time commenting (I adore your blog!), but I wanted to share a bit of The Club trivia…did you happen to go into the main dining area? The lighted floor in there is the inspiration for the iconic dance floor in “Saturday Night Fever”. John Badham is a Birmingham native–there’s even a framed poster on the left as you enter.
The wonderful thing about The Club is that it is definitely a time capsule. It has looked the same way since my grandparents went up there to dance in the ’50s, and it will probably look the same someday when my grandchildren take me lunch there for my 99th birthday!
And yes…the orange rolls are addicting. I could go for some right now!
That is so sweet!
Orange rolls sound delicious.
Hello,
Just discovered your blog and I love it. This post about Mr. Jack and THE Club is wonderful. I love going to places like that where you feel like you are stepping back in time. Love the picture of the 4 Jacks, too. Thanks for sharing.
Sounds like a great outing. Great photos – thanks for sharing.
Glenda
Hi Rhoda,
Thank you so very much for visiting my blog and your kind invite. I will most definitly join in on a party or two very soon!
What a wonderful looking place “The Club” is.
It looks so nostalgic and alot of fun.
My sister lives in B’mingham and is a teacher at VHHS. They just adore the city and the downtown are is so nice.
Blogland is a small place sometimes isn’t it?
I look forward to getting to know you better.
Have a good evening.
~Melissa 🙂
I did it! Remember the spray paint I bought after reading your post? I tackled my project last night. Come check out my pics, if you’d like to see how they turned out.
Well there must be something special in the B’ham water…sign me up for a few bottles (cases!)! 🙂
How nice that you got to visit The Club with Mr. Jack. And the photo of the Four Jacks is just…awesome. What a lucky family.
Oh, Rhoda, I love this post! I lived in Birmingham for several years (in Liberty Park), and I just loved “The Club.” We were not members, but several friends who were members took us there. I always thought it was like stepping onto a Hollywood movie set. And I loved how people pronounced it “Thee Club.” Thank you for the connection to my old hometown. 🙂
Susan, thanks for commenting. We were in the main dining area & the fashion show was on the round dance floor. I didn't know about the Sat. Night Fever part though, that's really interesting! Loved the place.
That was such a sweet story. I bet Mr. Jack enjoyed dining with you and your hubby. What an inspiration-99 years old-wow!
Pat in Chicago
P.S. I always love reading your blog Rhoda. You ALWAYS have something great to blog about. Keep up the good work.
* I just FELL IN LOVE w/ Mr. Jack! (And I SO miss my dear Grampa & Dad). Next time you see this precious, intriguing man, will you please give him a GR888, BIG, HEALTHY n' HAPPY HUG from me (AND my family?!) all the way from Arizona?????~~~
Thanks for the UPPER!!!!
Love,
Linda *
Loved the story about Mr Jack.
Best orange rolls ever!!
Robin it would be great to get
together with other B’ham folks,
can I come even if I don’t have
my own blog? I love reading them!
Do you know about the Ann George
books that are about B’ham and
surrounding areas, great reads,
mystery books, funny, one about
The Club and orange rolls and
Vulcan’s Behind Mooning Homewood.
How fun that must have been. I looked up the rolls and found a recipe. You can make them at home:
http://www.recipezaar.com/The-Club-Orange-Rolls-315803
Rhoda, I loved reading about Jack… what an inspiration especially after I just attended a seminar on nutrition, exercise, anti-aging! Thanks for the photos of The Club …and the orange rolls and the view of Birmingham.
Also, thanks for visting my blog and commenting on my post.
I’m with linda, in that I’ve fallen for Mr. Jack!! haha…what a sweetheart of a man. I love stories like this…and what a treat for ya’ll!!
Suzanne
What a precious story…..and such a beautiful opportunity. Just to be a fly on the wall to hear all those wonderful stories!!
Hugs~T
Wonderful story, Rhoda! And what a dear, sweet man. It makes me miss all of the seniors in my life SO much. I have always loved being around older people, and Mr. Jack looks like a doll. Glad you got to meet him and have lunch at THE Club.
XO,
Sheila 🙂
Rhoda,
I loved reading about the lunch with Mr. Jack at The Club. He looks and sounds like a wonderful man. The picture of the four “Jack’s” is incredible, they look so much alike!!
You can’t go wrong having a conversation with someone older, they have so much to give that we sometimes overlook in our frantic lives. I was once “best friends” with a 76 year old man and I have never learned more from anyone since.
Thanks for sharing this with us!
xoxo
Jane
Sure wish I could see the interior of THE Club! And, I just love talking with the elderly. They always have such neat ways of talking and phrasing things! Not to mention, the best stories!