Dallas-based 55 Seventy plans to open a one-of-a-kind wine-centric members club at a to-be-announced location in River Oaks.  

With a recent rise in the popularity of closed-door dining and socializing, a new, futuristic breed of members-only clubs are opening in cities around the country, from Manhattan skyrises to the hills of West Hollywood, and now Houston’s own River Oaks. These selective clubs attract a specific demographic by offering high-end experiences and unique services. Amenities at these clandestine clubhouses may include proprietary tastings, bespoke travel arrangements, omakase dinners, podcast studios, gym facilities and even high-tech poker rooms. While Houston is no stranger to the privatized third space, stalwarts, including the many country clubs around town, face difficulty attracting young, hip, upwardly mobile clientele in search of a more cutting edge, exclusive, social activity space. 

In 2024, Houston saw the opening of the swank Park House on San Felipe, a Soho House-inspired sanctuary which attracts a diverse group of epicureans, creatives, entrepreneurs, business leaders, philanthropists and more. Soon to be a newcomer to this burgeoning scene, North Texas-based 55 Seventy is banking on luring the city’s sophisticated class of wine collectors and culinary enthusiasts, setting itself apart by allowing members not only to store their own wine, but also enjoy it onsite, paired with modern, chef-driven fare.

55 Seventy’s Forthcoming Houston Services 

Named for the ideal temperature and humidity for wine storage, 55 Seventy, owned by Tommy Shuey, is planning a high touch, full-service social and dining club, showcasing a world-class facility with nearly 800 wine lockers, cellars and suites designed to accommodate collections of various sizes. A team of intensely trained sommeliers, led by Corporate Director of Wine and Service Jeff Gregory includes a full-time wine concierge and cellar master. Gregory has an exhaustive resume with stints in the import and distribution side of the wine industry as well as multiple wine director and general manager roles previous to his current position with 55 Seventy. 

Members gain special access to wine brokerage services for allocated labels from hard-to-find producers as well as highly developed programming, including interactive wine classes, demonstrations and pairing dinners. The house cellar list will feature more than 800 rare bottles for restaurant dining without traditional markups. Gregory’s team also plans to offer custom cellar-stocking services to help members design and build a well-rounded collection at home.

The Houston outpost intends to outdo its Dallas counterparts’ highly acclaimed culinary program by staffing a local chef under the direction of culinary director Josh Sutcliff, who moved up from 55 Seventy’s executive chef role and whose previous work includes Halcyon Hotel in Denver and at FT33 in Dallas. “We are keenly aware of Houston’s high culinary bar, and are excited to become a part of the city’s dynamic food scene,” Sutcliff said. “Key to that goal is hiring a talented Houston chef to lead the program and adapt our menu to the unique tastes of the city.” Vision for the food program includes a seasonally changing menu, with offerings for morning coffee, breakfast, lunch and dinner, while featuring multi-course pairings and regularly occurring guest chef dinners.

Cutting-Edge Event Spaces and Global Access  

55 Seventy aims to provide versatile meeting and event spaces tailored for business and social gatherings alike. A standalone demonstration kitchen will serve as a hub for interactive educational food and beverage events. From casual tastings to extensive vertical retrospectives with top estates and domaines, members should expect a calendar filled with memorable and engaging programming.

With a goal of becoming an integral piece in the members-only lifestyle segment, 55 Seventy promises to offer “unmatched access to an elite network of wine collectors, connoisseurs and tastemakers.” The venue maintains four tiers of access — Founders, Executive, Reserve and Social, with initiation fees ranging from $4,000 to $35,000, and monthly dues varying between $300 and $1,000. All memberships include concierge wine service, bottles sold at retail price, complimentary corkage and free weekly “Pop & Pour” wine tastings. Furthermore, card carriers will be granted opportunities to unlock an array of privileges and amenities at more than 40 affiliated worldwide clubs in cities like London, Hong Kong, New York, Dubai and San Francisco.  

The Founder’s Equity Membership will provide privileged access to the Founder’s Lounge and private boardroom, full perks at the Dallas property and walk-in cellar access, in addition to half-priced tastings, meals and event space fees. Once the Founders tiers sell out, 55 Seventy will begin accepting applications for standard memberships.  For more information visit the website.

Alex Gregg