A bold new chapter for connection, collaboration, and culture is taking shape in downtown Grand Rapids, and the Michigan Chronicle will be part of it. Plans were unveiled this week for the Commerce Club, a new private city club designed to bring together business leaders, entrepreneurs, and community influencers from across West Michigan.
The initiative marks a strategic partnership for Real Times Media, the Detroit-based parent company of the Michigan Chronicle, as it expands the paper’s presence on the west side of the state through new storytelling and event opportunities.
RTM CEO and Michigan Chronicle publisher Hiram Jackson, a co-founder and investor in the Commerce Club, said the partnership represents a natural progression for the company’s growth and engagement across Michigan.
“We’ve built relationships in Grand Rapids for years and watched with great admiration the entrepreneurial ethos and underdog mentality of this community,” Jackson said. “When the Commerce Club opportunity arose, we knew it was the time and place to invest in the West side.”
Located in the historic 61 Commerce building, the six-floor, 30,000-square-foot private club will serve as a hub for business, social, and cultural exchange. The Commerce Club’s founders – a diverse group of more than 50 business and civic leaders – envision it as a first-of-its-kind destination in Grand Rapids that offers both professional and lifestyle amenities. Among its planned features are a café and concierge, coworking and conference spaces, event venues, overnight suites, a wellness center, and a lower-level speakeasy, and cigar lounge. Renovations are expected to begin in early 2026, with an opening anticipated before the end of the year.
As part of its partnership, RTM will bring several of its signature programs to the region, including the Michigan Chronicle’s highly regarded Pancakes & Politics series. The event has become a civic institution in Detroit, convening business, political, and community leaders for candid discussions about policy, progress, and equity. By introducing the series to Grand Rapids, RTM aims to create a platform for the west side’s thought leaders to engage in meaningful dialogue about the region’s growth and its connection to Michigan’s broader economy.
“We’ve experienced the best private clubs in the world – from my home Detroit Athletic Club to co-founding the Gathering Spot in Atlanta – and I know the power of impromptu connections and a shared drive to network, build community, and make things happen,” Jackson said. “This will be a win for our RTM audience, our team, and our business alike, and I’m proud to be a founder in this incredible project.”
The partnership also positions RTM to contribute to the Commerce Club’s multimedia and publishing initiatives. The company will provide production and advertising support for the club’s member magazine and its planned podcast and studio operations. For Jackson, it’s another example of how Black-owned media can lead in spaces that bring people together to build community and drive economic opportunity.
For Jackson, the move to engage more deeply in West Michigan is both a business opportunity and a reflection of the Chronicle’s enduring mission to connect communities through storytelling. It also represents another example of how he has consistently pushed the boundaries of what a 20th-century newspaper can become in the 21st century – from expanding digital operations to developing innovative event platforms that bring together leaders from every sector.
The Commerce Club’s founding group includes partners from Rockford Construction, Progressive Companies, Gensler-Chicago, Acrisure, LLYC, and Miller Johnson, among others. Together, they aim to create an inclusive space that reflects the city’s collaborative spirit and growing influence.
“West Michigan is filled with incredible talent and high achievers, but we’re lacking a gathering place – the spot – for like-minded individuals to connect and collaborate,” said Jeff Lambert, chairman of Lambert by LLYC and a co-founder of the Commerce Club.
The club’s organizers say its vision is about more than luxury amenities; it’s about building relationships and creating opportunities for dialogue.
“A private club is more than a gathering place. It serves as a platform for professional and social dialogue and business and economic acceleration,” said Fadwa Hammoud, managing member at Miller Johnson and a founding member of the Commerce Club. “We expect the Commerce Club to become the center-city space for business, culture and community engagement.”
Phase One of the project will include a ground-floor café and concierge called “Opening Bell,” a second-floor event space called “The Mint,” coworking and studio spaces on the third floor, and private member suites and lounges throughout the building.
Phase Two of the Club will include outdoor and rooftop space and a full-service restaurant, as well as other amenities fueled by the needs and desires of its Founders and members. Commerce Club memberships will be structured into two tiers: Founders and Members. The Founders group includes equity ownership and exclusive Club features, and will direct the Club’s future, shaping its direction and legacy from the start. The second tier, a general membership level, will be accessible only by referral from a Founding Member with a membership cap in years one and two.
According to the Club Benchmarking and Club Management Association of America’s 2023 Economic Impact Report, private clubs have seen a resurgence in popularity nationwide. Membership demand has doubled since 2019, with many clubs now maintaining waiting lists. The report notes that millennials have driven much of that growth, lowering the average member age to 42.
“Grand Rapids’ business community has always been based on trusted relationships,” said Shane Napper, CEO of Rockford Construction and a founding member. “As our city grows, it is critical for us to have more places to gather, connect, share ideas and plan for the future with an expanding group of business leaders.”
As renovations prepare to begin in early 2026, anticipation is already building for what the Commerce Club — and the Michigan Chronicle’s new presence in West Michigan — will bring to the state’s growing network of leaders.
For more information about the Commerce Club or membership opportunities, visit www.CommerceClub.cc
