Soho House Sets Sights on 139-141 Ludlow St.

For the past few months rumors have been floating around that Soho House, the elite private club, was planning to open a new location on the Lower East Side.  Last month a source told Gothamist that the club and hotel had set its sights on 139-141 Ludlow Street, one of the neighborhood’s most interesting buildings.

Now it’s confirmed. The just-released Community Board 3 agenda for March shows Soho House making a pitch for a liquor license when the “State Liquor Authority” committee convenes March 11.  In recent weeks, club representatives have been making the rounds throughout the LES, putting the word out that they want to be a good neighbor.

Soho House was founded in London almost a decade ago and has spawned nine locations worldwide, including one in the Meatpacking District.  Last summer, CEO Nick Jones talked with the New York Times about efforts to transform the club’s image.   There’s no question Soho House’s arrival on Ludlow Street will make waves — especially following the recent demise of longtime hangouts Pink Pony and Motor City.  The block is obviously primed for an upscale transformation.  A new hotel up the street at 180 Ludlow from the team behind the Bowery Hotel and many other high profile properties, is scheduled to open this spring.

139-141 Ludlow was most recently home to Kleen-Stik Enterprises and was formerly the H. Nieberg Funeral Home.  In December the building sold for $8.7 million to an entity called “139 Ludlow Acquisition LLC.”

 UPDATED 2/28 8:46 a.m. Soho House has, at least for now, withdrawn its community board application.  A spokesperson told Eater last night: “At the moment Soho House doesn’t have anything agreed for the site on Ludlow Street. They are constantly on the look out for sites and opportunities for the group in many locations, including parts of New York.”