Page 12B - THE CHARLOTTE POST - Thursday, November 7, 1985
Under New Owners
Hbtnic Escdsira* Qub Gddsrates 1st Annivei^aiy
The Excelsior Club, the
Southeast’s oldest social
establishment and believed
to be the only one of its kind
in the country to be de
signated an historic pro
perty, marks its first full
year of operation under
new ownership this month.
The Excelsior Club was
founded in 1944 by the late
Jimmie McKee as a “coun-,
try club” and “social
establishment” for black
professionals who were
locked out of Charlotte’s
social mainstream by se
gregation.
Charlotte businessmen
Ken Koontz and Phil
Hatchett bought the Club
from McKee last Novem
ber. McKee sold the Club to
his “adopted sons” be
cause of his failing health.
While holding true to
their promise of running
the Excelsior Club in the
same style and manner
that made it popular
throughout the South
east and along the East
ern Seaboard, Koontz and
Hatchett have added the
phrase “The Historic
Tradition” to the Club
logas, and successfully
waged a campaign to have
the two-story stucco build
ing at 921 Beatties Ford
Road recommended for de
signation as a local his
toric property.
Koontz and Hatchett
have also expanded the
Club’s membership base to
more than 1,500 members.
“We sought to attract a
younger adult clientele
while also maintaining the
support of those persons
who over the many years
made the Excelsior Club
great,” says Koontz, Presi
dent of HKL, Inc., which is
the holding company that
owns the building and pro
perty.
“My partner, Phil, has
had prior experience in
owning and operating a
Club, and together we
bring separate skills that
complement our operations
of the Excelsior,” Koontz
adds.
“We welcome all groups
be announced later. Mean
while, the plans include
continuing renovation of
the building, which ori
ginally was a two-story
frame house built in 1917.
As a private club, mem
bership to the Excelsior
Club is by invitation or
application. All 1984-85
memberships expired on
November 1, 1985, and
Koontz says new member
ship cards are available for
members who want to re
new their -memberships.
All memberships are $10 a
year.
Koontz and Hatchett say
they are most grateful for
the support they have re
ceived and that they look
forward to serving Char
lotte as owners of the
Excelsior Club tor many
years to come.
PHIL HATeHETT, LEFT, POSES
^With business partner Ken Koontz
and individuals to become
a part of the Excelsior,”
says Hatchett.
“Ken and I believe that
the programs we have add
ed, plus continuing to work
with the business that
Jimmie had already
established over the years
make this a well-rounded
social establishment with
something for everyone,”
concludes Hatchett.
“There are about 15 clubs
and organizations that
meet at the Excelsior Club
weekly or monthly. Our
rates for those meetings
are competitive and per
haps substantially lower
than anywhere else in
town, plus we provide re
freshments,” say^ Koontz.
In addition to the regu
lar meetings, the Excelsior
Club has hosted more than
two dozen wedding re
ceptions over the past year.
Other activities have in
cluded annual club parties,
political receptions and
meetings, and the usual
congenial atmosphere
where friends gather to
relax and talk over the
day’s activities.
The Excelsior continues
its popular “TGIF Affair”
which starts at five o’clock
on Friday evenings. This is
the single most popular
event of the week when
many of Charlotte’s young
professionals gather to cap
off their week of work and
“ring in the weekend.”
“TGIF also offers plenty
opportunities for network
ing among established
residents and provides a
chance for newcomers to
meet the right people who.
in many instances, are able
to help them adjust to this
new environment,” says
Koontz.
The most recent innova
tion is a “Tuesday Shrimp
and Oyster Bar.” Excel
sior members gather about
six o’clock for the
steamed oysters, which are
a favorite of Hatchett’s, the
one who came up with the
idea. Each week the Club
features a “surprise dish.”
The “surprise” so far has
included shrimp creole,
crabs, and frog legs.
The Excelsior plans a
gala anniversary party to
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