City Club completes $2.7 million renovation

A grand 119-year-old Baton Rouge icon has gotten a $2.7 million facelift. The City Club of Baton Rouge, a hallowed downtown hangout for Baton Rouge’s movers and shakers for decades, has just completed a massive renovation—its largest since the club was founded in 1957 in the old post office and federal court building on North Boulevard that was built in 1894. The project began shortly after 78% of the club’s membership gave the go-ahead in June 2011. The downstairs grill and bar has been completely renovated and is adorned with commissioned works of art, including sculptures by Nathan Logsdon, a Baton Rouge skyline painting by Donna West and photographs by C.C. Lockwood. Upstairs, the club added nearly 2,000 square feet—including the Garden Room, with coffered ceilings and large windows, overlooking a new outdoor area reminiscent of a French Quarter patio. The banquet kitchen has been expanded to 860 square feet and can now handle meal preparation for seated dinners of more than 275 people, while the downstairs kitchen continues to serve the regular lunch and dinner crowd. “We are constantly striving to become the premier business and social club of Louisiana,” says Pierre Legrand, City Club’s general manager and chief operating officer. “These renovations are all focused on bringing fantastic service to all areas of the club, as well as allowing our membership to plan any function here knowing we can exceed their expectations.” Business Report has photos and more details in the full story.