New members-only social club “The Lake” set to debut in River North this fall

For those looking for an exclusive home away from home in downtown, look no further than “The Lake,” Chicago’s newest members-only social club coming to the heart of River North.

According to Crain's Chicago Business, The Lake will be a private, business and social hub located on the site of two adjacent lots at 720 N. Wells and 207 W. Superior St., with an expected debut this fall.

Developers are progressing with a holistic rebuild of the site, which saw them receive permits to demolish the existing buildings that are being replaced by a 5-story, 26-square-foot townhome inspiration that will house The Lake.

According to the project's LinkedIn, the club is expected to be outfitted with a variety of amenities for its members, including three distinct restaurants: a French Bistro, A British/American restaurant, and an Italian Trattoria, as well as two cocktail bars, a members' wine cellar, a roof terrace, three guest rooms and a spa.

The project is being led by Topography Hospitality, a Chicago-based group that specializes in luxury hotels and resorts. 

Read more on Chicago Star:

• Luxury eatery ARLA to open in Chicago’s Gold Coast summer 2026

• Chicago's gig economy is reshaping how locals think about income

• 'Going Bacharach' brings timeless hits to Chicago’s Apollo Theater

Conceptually in the vein of other luxury lodges such as the University Club or SoHo House, The Lake hopes to find a niche within the private club market, positioning itself as a lifestyle clubhouse rather than a vibrant late-night party mecca, a path some contemporaries have taken in recent years. 

Nuveen, one of the capital backers funding the project, described the new club on their website as “intending to provide an upscale yet unpretentious member-only destination to foster community while preserving the neighborhood’s rich architectural history and supporting the local economy.”

However, the project has come with some complications and pushback, specifically back in 2024 when the permits to demolish the existing building at 720 N. Wells were approved. 

According to the Chicago Tribune, the historic building that was torn down to make way for The Lake was a 152-year-old, brick and cast iron building dating back to 1872, when it was just the seventh structure to receive a building permit for reconstruction in the wake of the Great Chicago Fire. The location was originally storefronts and offices before being reborn in 1988 as the trendy “Cairo” nightclub. 

In 2012, the site was purchased by Tribune culinary critic Phil Vettel, who transformed it into the upscale “Boarding House” restaurant, which occupied the space until 2018. Since then, the site had sat vacant as developers and community leaders deliberated on what to do next with the location.

As the historic location changes faces once again, The Lake hopes to be an exciting new addition to both the River North Neighborhood and Chicago’s private social club scene.