L.A.’s Newest Posh Members’ Club Is for Gearheads
The “Golden Triangle” of Beverly Hills—between Santa Monica Blvd., Wilshire Blvd., and Ca?on Drive—is about to gleam even brighter after today’s grand opening of Gravitas, a members-only social club. The Art Deco–styled, 28,000-foot sanctuary reflects both the region’s glamor and refinement in an environment intended to spark and foster connections.
“Gravitas fills everything that I wanted over the last 30 years, and will do the same over my next 30 years,” says co-founder Brandon Steven, who, along with his brother, have a network of more than 20 car dealerships and 59 health clubs. “I wanted to create a special place to fulfill the needs that I had in my early years starting out in business and with my family,” he tells Robb Report.
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The fact that Steven was born in Kansas and still calls it home is fitting. After all, the first supper club in the country is claimed to have been opened in Beverly Hills, circa 1930s, by a gentleman from Wisconsin (at least according to that state’s tourism bureau). “Midwestern hospitality is not only saying that the client is always right, but truly wanting to serve members with gratitude . . . I sometimes feel that’s lost in the competitive culinary scene of Los Angeles,” Steven explains.
Designed by Kelly Architects, the team behind the Avalon nightclub in Hollywood and Santa Monica‘s Shangri La Hotel, Gravitas greets guests with a vast cocktail lounge dressed in marble and featuring a map of Beverly Hills emblazoned on the expansive floor—all illuminated by natural light when the retractable roof is opened. Although elegant, the décor is complemented with fanciful accents that lend an atmosphere evocative of Alice in Wonderland to the already storybook setting.
What Gravitas hopes will make it truly fabled, though, is chef Preston Madson’s cuisine served in the main dining venue and its ancillary enclave, the Vault. The latter’s name is owed to the fact that the room actually served that very purpose when the location was a bank. Today, it holds a wealth of some of the world’s finest wines on display in temperature-controlled wine safes—also showcased on the second level—that are available to members. As for which bottle will best complement any entrée from Madson’s seasonal menu, sommelier Raphael Guirguis can serve as guide.
The “social” focus of Gravitas carries through to the second floor, which comprises another lounge with a full-service bar. Here, backing the stage for live music is a wall-sized collection of LED screens that can operate independently or combine to present a singular display ideal for, say, Formula 1 or football viewing parties. Additional options for private entertaining are found in a collection of suites that range in focus from business meetings to poker meetups to recording podcasts (yes, there’s a devoted sound studio).
“I want Gravitas to be a place where our members feel welcomed, valued, and excited every time they walk through our doors,” says co-founder Seth Glassman. “When you arrive, members and guests will be greeted by name, their favorite drink will be prepared, and they will be shown to their preferred spot in the club.”
Reportedly, that preferential treatment extends to arrivals and departures with what’s being touted as a “complimentary white-glove chauffeur service within a two-mile radius,” though members farther out can also take advantage of it for a fee. Rather than solely being a passenger, though, members who love to be behind the wheel will soon have a fleet of sports cars, supercars, and luxury vehicles available to them. It’s a way for Steven to share his passion for all things automotive and give back out of appreciation for how far he’s come. “At the time, I couldn’t afford an exotic car,” says Steven, regarding his early days as an entrepreneur. “To have access to any exotic luxury car would have been so incredible.”
That motoring and motorsport provide the subtle subtext to Gravitas will soon come as no surprise to anyone who enters, thanks to the not-so-subtle Formula 1 race car that will be mounted on the ceiling of the Vault in the near future. For now, what drives Steven and Glassman is the finish line immediately in front of them.
“I can’t wait to welcome our members into the space,” says Glassman. “After three years, it feels surreal to think about everyone coming in, ordering food and drinks, and helping create the atmosphere that we’ve been so excited to make a reality . . . it will be incredible to see the club come to life.”
Gravitas is located at 435 N. Camden Drive in Beverly Hills. For membership inquiries, click here.
Click below for more photos of Gravitas.
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