Clubhouse Experience to Tee Off at Wallstreet Tower Plaza in September

By Kevin Collison

A new “e-tainment” concept called The Clubhouse Experience featuring Topgolf Swing Suites, shuffleboard courts and bistro dining is scheduled to open next month at the WallStreet Tower condo building.

The entertainment and food and beverage concept is planned for the sunken plaza level of the WallStreet, a former 1970s office tower at 11th and Walnut.

It’s a new venture being led by Dave Goebel, former Applebee’s CEO, and Jason Townsend, developer of WallStreet Tower.

Dan Gedman, chief marketing officer, said backers expect to roll out 25- to 50 more Clubhouse Experiences nationwide over the next five years.

“We see tremendous opportunity in e-tainment,” Gedman said. “Young people want to be entertained when they go out.”

The sunken plaza at WallStreet Tower where The Clubhouse Experience is being built.

The Clubhouse Experience will be located in a unique feature of a tower that once housed the Mercantile Bank. The building is cantilevered over a sunken plaza area with 12,000 square feet of interior space and a 3,500 square foot outdoor patio.

While the office tower was renovated into condominiums in 2004, the plaza area was not redeveloped and has been vacant for years.

The Clubhouse Experience will include six golf simulators using Top Golf licensed technology that also can be adapted to a variety of virtual games including hockey, basketball and even dodgeball with zombies.

There also will be two full shuffleboard courts.

Todd Walline will be the chief culinary officer of its food and beverage operation. There will be a 140-seat bistro-style restaurant and a large bar and cocktail area.

The Clubhouse Experience is expected to draw patrons who live and work downtown and around the city. Gedman also said it should be popular with visitors staying at downtown hotels.

WallStreet Tower originally opened in 1974 as the Mercantile Bank building.

The operation plans to run shuttles, an eight-passenger golf cart and six-passenger Polaris ATV, between Clubhouse Experience and downtown hotels.

The operation also is designed to cater to private parties and corporate functions with spaces accommodating groups from six to 200. AV equipment also will be available for meetings.

The hours are expected to be 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays; 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Fridays; 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sundays.

The opening is scheduled for Sept. 20.