Social Currency with Sammi Cohen Are Membership Clubs Dead?
Sep 19, 2025
Explore the evolution of membership clubs as cultural status symbols, from 17th-century coffee houses to the iconic Soho House. Discover the implications of Soho House's $2.7 billion privatization on traditional exclusivity models. Delve into the rise of hyper-niche communities and the luxury third-space economy, where privacy trumps social media exposure. Sammi shares insights on the shifting landscape of belonging, emphasizing how exclusivity is transforming from velvet ropes to invisible threads.
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Clubs As Modern Status Symbols
- Membership clubs became modern status symbols, blending culture, design, and exclusivity.
- Soho House turned that formula into a global lifestyle brand shaping how people buy belonging.
Exclusivity Doesn't Scale Easily
- Soho House going private highlights flaws in the classic exclusivity-driven business model.
- High-end membership clubs face scaling limits because exclusivity and consistent service are hard to sustain profitably.
Soho House Went Private For $2.7B
- Sammi recounts Soho House's recent $2.7 billion privatization after a difficult public-market run.
- The buyout, led by MCR Hotels with Ashton Kutcher joining the board, shows the company pivoting away from public pressures.