Atlanta-based private membership club The Gathering Spot is set to open a new rooftop retreat in West Midtown in the summer of 2025, adding to a national portfolio of pricey members-only clubs.
The Gathering Spot was founded in 2016 by Ryan Wilson and TK Peterson as a private club for “creative thinkers in all industries.” Since then, the company has expanded to over 12,000 members nationwide, with clubs in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.
The “Retreat at Gathering Spot” will open at The Interlock, a mixed-use community in West Midtown. It’s a sprawling 38,000-square-foot location with an additional 20,000 square feet of office space. Co-founder and CEO Ryan Wilson said the company has always been about meaningful connections and making bold ideas come to life.
“With Retreat at The Gathering Spot, we’re expanding that vision — not only providing a dynamic environment for business meetings and networking but also creating a respite from the day-to-day,” Wilson said in a statement. “This space is designed for both productivity and relaxation, where members can seamlessly transition from closing deals to unwinding with friends, engaging in wellness experiences, and enjoying a social retreat that recharges and inspires.”
The new location is even more exclusive than the original Gathering Spot location, which offers several tiers of membership and requires applicants to “request an invitation.” The Retreat will be an invitation-only system only for existing members of the club.
Those who are invited will have access to two full-service restaurants, flexible workspaces, skill workshops, member events, private event space and a rooftop pool.
It comes with a higher price tag than other membership tiers at the Gathering Spot. Currently, the company offers several price levels with varying amenities. The lowest tier, only available to people who live outside of the existing markets, is $300 annually, with a $425 fee for each club visit.
Atlanta, D.C. and L.A. residents have to request a Club Member tier or higher. The Club Member tier is $2,100 annually, and the “Retreat” tier is $3,100 annually. The Retreat will join a growing roster of Atlanta’s members-only social clubs selling exclusivity and amenities.
Commerce Club is the city’s long-standing members club on the 49th floor of 191 Peachtree Street. For 60 years, it has been open to politicians and business leaders with office space, gathering areas, a dining room and a pub.
The club is far cheaper than the pricey Gathering Spot fees. Commerce Club charges a $500 initiation fee and monthly fees ranging from $174 to $280 depending on age and access to the sister Buckhead Club.
In recent years, though, the social club has seen several new additions in Atlanta. Not all have survived. L.O.A. Social Club and Damsel Cabaret both boasted an exclusive membership for paying Atlantans, but the establishments have since shuttered.
FORTH Hotel in Old Fourth Ward opened in the summer of 2024 with its own club called “Club Forth.” With a $2,475 initiation fee and about $300 in monthly costs, individuals get access to a private gym and trainer, spa and wellness treatments, pool access and a private dining room, terrace, bar and lounge.
Some clubs have honed in on certain luxury experiences like wine. In January, Eater Atlanta wrote of the city’s new private luxury wine clubs like The Perlant in Buckhead and The Vine Club. Neither club has revealed exact prices, but they’re not cheap: Annual memberships range from $5,000 to $8,000 with about $2,500 in initiation fees and a stringent interview entry process.
Atlanta’s members-only clubs join a national trend of semi-private spaces, answering a need for community and third spaces. The Retreat will add to the city’s “gathering spots” — for those who get in.
The Retreat will open in the summer of 2025. Company leaders have not given an exact opening date.
I believe that this will become a strategic decision. The Gathering Spot must receive high appreciation if its services meet potential users’ demands.
This is exciting news for The Gathering Spot members! A rooftop retreat in West Midtown sounds like a fantastic addition, especially for “creative thinkers.” It’s impressive how much the club has grown since 2016, now with 12,000+ members and clubs nationwide. Summer 2025 can’t come soon enough!