What
is Private Reserve?
By John Eaton
Denver Post Business Writer
Jason Searns is determined to create an island of traditional English civility an decorum in a private club he plans to open in the Cherry Creek shopping area - a place where members can enjoy a cigar, place a wager on a horse, discuss weighty events and enjoy fine dining prepared by a well-known chef.
It will all be quite jolly.
Claiming The Colorado Private Reserve will be the only club like it in the United States, Searns, an attorney, has gathered an illustrious group of founders, including Dan Issel, general manager of the Denver Nuggets. Construction will start Wednesday on the club, described by Searns as "an extraordinary London Club in the heart of Cherry Creek." It will be built at 351 S. Jackson St. on a vacant lot next door to Andre's Restaurant & Confiserie Suisse to the west. Plans call for it to open in April. "This isn't about golf, or a luncheon somewhere. We wanted to create something more comprehensive," Searns said.
He said before he went to law school, he worked on a master's degree in political science in England in the mid-1970's. "During that time, I was a guest in several London private clubs, some dating back 300 or 400 years. And I learned that what I saw in England wasn't consistent with private clubs I saw in the U.S.
"There is a sophistication and tradition at those clubs," he said. "They came to meet and socialize, and I was always impressed with the ammenities they had."
Searns envisions a club - open to both men and women - that will be a mirror-image of those clubs.
He said there was a time when people...
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"We're not trying to re-create the old tradition but, rather, create a new formality with energy." And that formality - naturally, there will be a dress code - will be within the walls of the 16,000 square-foot English Tudor clubhouse.
To be operated by a staff of about 14, including a concierge to handle multiple requests by members, the clubhouse will offer:
*A health club in the basement.
*A first-floor library stocked with books, newspapers and a TV (but with the sound turned off) and along the wall there will be running stock quotes.
*An English Pub with drinks and light meals, also on the first floor. Outside will be an adjacent dining area for use in warm weather. To the rear of the clubhouse will be a billiards room and tables for card games.
*A formal dining room on the second-floor.
"But on the other side of the dining room is the Event Room with cathedral ceilings," Searns said.
"This is where we brought some of the tradition from England," In the Event Room, there will be satellite-broadcast horse and greyhound races.
"The races and betting will be provided by Wembley USA, which
How do you join such a club?
It's complicated. Searns said there is a founders group of 12. That group includes Issel and his wife, Cheri; Mark Jackson, former Bronco and member of the Three Amigos; Dave Preston, former running back; Roger Campbell, president of Kentwood Real Estate, and others active in the Denver business community.
The founders will nominate charter members (20 per founder) to create about 200 charter members. Then those charter members will nominate one or two people as private reserve members. Searns said there will be a small number of corporate memberships. Total memberships will be 600 to 700 and will be capped. After that, new members would come in only through attrition, Searns said.
Membership prices are $6,500 to join, plus $200 per month for charter members; other memberships will be $4,000 plus $150 per month.
So how does one join such a club? Wait to be asked.
