The people who control most of this city are creating a private club in downtown Grand Rapids that will provide opportunities to talk about ways to expand their wealth

On Monday, Crain’s Grand Rapids Business reported that there are pans for a new private business club in downtown Grand Rapids, with the focus centering around business leaders and community leaders to connect and conspire to shape Grand Rapids in such a way that benefits their interests.

One could easily argue that this already happens, at least the part where business leaders and community leaders figure out ways to get the public to pay for projects that the private sector comes up with. This is certainly what Grand Action 2.0 has been doing in recent years with the outdoor amphitheater project and the soccer stadium, which I have written about extensively.

What is different about what this business club, according to Jeff Lambert, the Executive Chairman of Lambert LLYC, is that Grand Rapids business leaders will now have a place designed specifically for ways for people to connect and conspire with likeminded people to expand their wealth. https://lambert.com/team/jeff-lambert/

Lambert was quoted in the article as saying:

“We have grown into this opportunity to launch a private club. Ten years ago, it wouldn’t have worked because we weren’t far enough along in our evolution of the city. We think the time is perfect, and there’s also a broader trend nationally of mid-sized cities opening up clubs for that same reason.” 

The Commerce Club that Lambert envisions will be at the five-story building at 61 Commerce Ave. SW in downtown Grand Rapids. The club will feature a cafe, restaurant, an event venue, concierge services for members, offices, conference and coworking space, an executive gym and wellness center, a speakeasy and cigar lounge, and 18 fourth- and fifth-floor suites that members can lease or buy for overnight stays. As of right now, the annual cost of membership will be $5,000, plus a minimum spending amount. Membership, according to the Crain’s article, will also be limited to 250 people, at least at the beginning.

Ok, so while nearly half of the population in Grand Rapids is living paycheck to paycheck and while local politicians keep providing millions in public funds for private projects, members of the Capitalist Class in Grand Rapids will be able to join the Commerce Club for the stated purpose of connecting with other members of the Capitalist Class and so-called community leaders to come up with new ways to grow their already excessive wealth. These business leaders will be able to conjure new ways to use public funds for projects to increase their wealth at the Commerce Club in either the wellness center or speakeasy and cigar lounge, then take credit for making Grand Rapids a destination city for tourists.

Lastly, it is important to note that, according to the Crain’s article, the founding partners of the Commerce Club include LLYC, Rockford Construction, Progressive Companies, design firm Gensler-Chicago, Acrisure LLC, and law firm Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey PLC. These founding partners are also connected to local groups like the West Michigan Policy Forum, the Right Place Inc. Grand Action 2.0 and the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce, thus representing once more the incestuous and interlocking systems of power in this city.