The view from the Metropolitan Club
By Vicki Prichard
NKyTribune reporter
As city skyline views go, it’s hard to beat the commanding perspective from the Metropolitan Club.
Since 1991, when the club was founded, its windows have been a veritable lens on the ebb and flow of change and growth on both sides of the Ohio River.
Corporex founder and CEO, Bill Butler, founder of the Metropolitan Club, says when the club was founded its mission was “two-fold.”
Bill Butler, Corporex founder and CEO
“First, it was meant to be a place where Northern Kentuckians of all professions could come together for the unity and common purposes within the community of Northern Kentucky,” says Butler. “Equally it was intended to serve to unify the Cincinnati professionals and executives with the Northern Kentucky folks, again for the good of the whole, for the benefits of regionalism. The theme we adopted was “Bridge the Bridges.””
Now, as the Metropolitan Club celebrates its 25th anniversary as one of the region’s more prestigious clubs, there is a focus on new goals.
“Fast Forward to today, the club is revisiting its mission in light of the magnitude of change that has occurred in society over the past 25 years, and is focused on new and higher goals which continue to be for the benefit of the community in addition to serving its members,” says Butler.
Daniel Bockrath, club president, has his eye on the next 25 years and the array of possibilities. Posh and panoramic, this urban club is not your parents’ country club.
Industries and innovations
Bockrath, who was one of the founding publishers of CityBeat, an independent local arts and issues publication covering Cincinnati, understands evolving industries; as such, he’s well-poised to tell the club’s story and reach an audience of new members who are looking for an urban club setting.
“The private club industry has gone through changes,” says Bockrath. “Just like media, there was a need to evolve and innovate the traditional business model.”
Among the changes are dispelling the perception of the club as a stuffy business setting. Bockrath says when he heard the club was looking for a president he had preconceived notions himself about the club versus the reality of the club.
Metropolitan Club President, Daniel Bockrath
“As I learned more about the club – its history of inclusiveness and diversity, and being a welcoming place, its charitable mission – it opened my eyes and I thought this actually can really be something,” says Bockrath. “There’s a lack of awareness about this place in the community and I want to help tell that story.”
Bockrath is ready to reach out to the next generation of membership, one, he says, that’s probably never heard of the club. And he’s on a bit of a “crusade,” he says.
Virtual space, with virtually the best views
In association with the 25th anniversary, Bockrath says they will reach out to entrepreneurs, millennial business owners that are downtown and and in Over the Rhine, and let them know if they need a place to connect with people, and grow and develop their professional network, the Metropolitan Club is the urban business venue available to them.
“Part of my philosophy is this is co-work space, in a manner of speaking,” says Bockrath. “Maybe it’s the ultimate alternative workspace. Imagine this is the view from your office.”
He points out that many young business leaders work from home, working in a virtual world and using co-work space, but might be hosting business meetings in coffee shops or breweries.
“I think it’s kind of a new concept to that industry because they’re fast-paced, they’re going all the time, but there’s something to be said about having a go-to place, where you know you’ve got to impress an investor or close the deal,” says Bockrath. “Do I want to do that over a beer, or do I want to do that at my city club?”
Bockrath says he hopes that people who understand the concept of a country club out in the suburbs, which is generally social with a business component by way of business deals on the golf course, will, by comparison, see the Metropolitan Club as their ‘city’ club.
“We’re primarily business centric but we have a really strong social piece of what we do with our programming and events, and our central amenity is a penthouse level restaurant with amazing cuisine and the best view of the city. I think young business leaders in particular, once they get their head around that, say, ‘my parents belong to the country club, I want to belong to the city club.’”
Uniquely committed
Through creative programming – club-within-club events, a speaker series, and food and drink events – Bockrath will pour new energy into the club as it moves forward. But in the meantime, there will be celebrating. The 25th Anniversary Silver Soiree will take place on Saturday November 5, from 6 pm to midnight.
“It’s a celebration of the 25 years of the existence of the Met Club. We’re doing it in a really big, fun and inspiring way,” says Bockrath. “Our executive chef put together a pretty inspired menu built around the various seasons and we’ll have food and beverage stations throughout the club, along with drinks and music.”
The club’s chef, Kelsey Yerger, has been with the club for 25 years, as has pianist Drew Hauck. Bockrath reflects on the uniqueness of maintaining that talent for decades.
The Metropolitan Club celebrates its 25th Anniversary
“I think it’s the club’s commitment to quality and excellence,” says Bockrath. “One of the things we hang our hat on is the quality of our cuisine. The level of achievement is consistently excellent and we’re right up there with the best restaurants in the city.”
Bridging and building communities
As the Metropolitan Club has prospered, so to has the community.
Part of what ties the club and community together, says Bockrath, is the involvement of two local nonprofits – BeConcerned and the Life Learning Center.
Over the years, as the club prospered, so to did the community. Butler has been a key figure in that generosity and its impact.
“As time progressed, and the club prospered, I contributed my original ownership of the club to charities as a way to enhance the impact of the Club on the community and for the membership to have a sense of ownership and purpose, satisfaction in their contribution,” says Butler.
He says the club has served to instill a sense of pride for the community at large, making major financial contributions over the years, likely in excess of $2 million to various causes, including the Olympics, Greater Cincinnati Foundation, Arts Wave for smaller venues such as the Carnegie and BeCon.
“One of my proud moments was when I was honored with the Metropolitan Award, along with icons of our Greater Cincinnati community,” says Butler.
Bockrath says, from what he understands about the private club industry, that philanthropic commitment is “highly unusual.”
“I think, in large part, its Bill’s gift to the community. He’s certainly done a lot for Covington with the development here with the RiverCenter, The Ascent, and his involvement with local charities,” says Bockrath. “So, this was kind of a way to link the two pieces together, so as to have the linking membership activities of the club help fund these two organizations.”
Sweeping views from the Met Club
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You might also be interesting in this NKyTribune story on Chef Kelsey Yerger, long-time chef at the Met Club.
