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.
Rhoda…what a wonderful story! I truly admire Mr. Jack…if we could only stay that active is right! I truly admire someone who keeps their mind active and going…no matter the age! Thanks for sharing the pics…I especially love the one of the 4 Jacks. 🙂
Susan
Awww… Mr. Jack is precious. It’s so sweet that he had the waiter bring you a box of orange rolls to go. What a great new friend!
Been to THE Club on several occasions. When my sister’s MIL lived in Mountain Brook, we were treated to dinner there on several occasions and her SIL had her wedding reception there as well. Sister still belongs and they take her MIL there on occasion. Glad they told you about the emphasis on “THE” Club!
Do read the Anne George books, you’ll get a hoot out of them and especially the “hiney” on the Vulcan.
I hope I find the time to visit before the summer ends….if things don’t slow down for me, I’m going to start charging for my time and services! (ha)
Judy
You Southerns have it all. Great tasting food, intriguing people and of course great hospitality.
Thank you for including us in your lunch date.
Sounds like a yummy time with great company!
How amazing is that, still driving, working, and worrying about his surroundings. . .I love that he is still so active, that really isn’t the norm for most soon to be centurions. . .I will have to try out your recipe too, thanks for sharing!
Rhoda,
What a great story. I know Kaye personaly, I am also from that small town and she is a class act! There are few hearts as good as Kaye’s.
What a fun and memorable story, what an honor to have such an amazing afternoon with such great people.
Thanks for your blog, I really enjoy it!
Thanks again,
Ashley
I'm so glad ya'll are enjoying this story. It was too good not to tell!
Nancy & Judy, I have read Ann George's book, at least one of them. It was funny to hear the B'ham references & Vulcan.
What a delightful story, and you definitely need to bake the orange rolls at home. Working with yeast isn’t difficult. Power tools, which don’t phase you, scare me, but yeast, no biggie! 🙂
Thanks for sharing this story and pictures! He is one of the most ‘gentle’ men I’ve ever known and he does have the memory to tell all about his 99+ years of life and loves telling them!
Thanks for sharing your time with him. He enjoyed getting to know you and your husband so much as I hope to have that same opportunity one of these days.
Blessings always,
Kaye
Matthew 21:22
What a great story. The pic of the Jacks is cute. The pics of B’ham brought back memories. We haven’t been back in over a year. . . everyone wants to come visit us instead. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Very cool! I love architect dating back to the 50’s. I’m sure “The Club” was fantastic and a neat experience. The orange rolls look delish. Mr. Jack sounds like an interesting man and by his picture you can see he has a kind spirit. I love the picture of four generations together.
I enjoy spending time with my elders. I once chatted with an elderly man at a restaurant years back. He was a survivor of the USS Indianapolis. It was one of the most fascinating conversations I’ve had in my entire life.
Glad you had a wonderful time!
How fun that you got to meet Mr. Jack! I’ve never met him but heard all about him from Mr. Jack Jr. when we stayed with him and Kaye last month. LOVE the picture of the 4 Jacks!
Mr. Jack sure doesn’t look like he is 99! He is amazing! Did you happen to ask him his secret for longevity?
We lived on Red Mountain many years ago when my husband was a student at Samford.
Ahhh memories…Thanks for sharing! I miss that big city! I remember going to see Vuclan several times and even seeing the fireworks around him years and years ago (when I was a little girl).
Awesome post! I loved the pictures. I had lunch with a 98 year old on Sunday. My Nannie celebrated her 98th birthday last week, and like Mr. Jack, she is still on the move. They should meet up. 😉 THE Club looks fantastic. 🙂
What an awesome day that must have been. Mr. Jack looks great and I would have never guessed he was 99! Go Mr. Jack!
I love this post. LOVE it. I wish my granddaddy had lived to be 100 (May 9th he would have been 100…he died in 1995). I know I would enjoy a talk with Mr. Jack, too.
And that picture is so great! They do all look alike! : )
Hi, I’m not sure how I stumbled across your blog, but I sure love it. I am amazed at how a can of paint can make something drab into fab.
I’ve never been to The Club, but have friends who have. They rave about the orange rolls, but have never brought me any! Thanks for posting pics of The Club.
I need to go to yard sales with you! 🙂
We love The Club. D-FIL took DH there for lunch not long ago. Our after dinner rehearsal was there.
Back when Ed's mother was alive and we went there all the time. There was an elderly couple who were there every Friday night. We called them "Fred & Ginger" because they stayed on the dance floor almost the whole time and they danced so beautifully. We have not seen them in years. Come to think of it, I do not think I have been there in a year or two. (FIL will generously loan us his membership from time to time.)
Glad you got to go there and hope you get to go again! Evening is a great time to go as well.