Soho House Moving Into Ludlow St. Funeral Home, C.E.O. Sends Letter to Appease Neighbors

Soho House is opening its second Manhattan outpost, and is looking to appease Lower East Side neighbors wary of the private club. Nick Jones, the founder and C.E.O. of Soho House, sent a letter to 2,000 local residents inviting them to a series of open houses at 139 Ludlow Street, the site of an old funeral home that will become the latest satellite of the members-only hangout.

The branch was announced last week, and some members of the community, concerned about the Lower East Side’s glossy transformation into the Meatpacking District (the location of the first New York Soho House) immediately registered complaints. Mr. Jones attempted to lay some of their fears to rest in his letter.

“As you may have heard, Soho House is looking to open a new facility in your neighborhood at 139 Ludlow Street,” Mr. Jones wrote. (The LoDown has the letter in full).”When looking for new locations, we choose areas we believe are centers of creative activity.”

He goes on to write that the original Soho House, which opened in 1995 in London, began “as a place where creative people could meet for an early breakfast.” He goes on to discuss the organizations inclusiveness and invites residents to open houses on March 16th, 17th, 23rd and 24th and April 6th and 7th.