How The Gathering Spot has become an influential civic hub in Atlanta
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The Gathering Spot CEO and co-founder Ryan Wilson onstage during Brothas and Brews: Black Men's Town Hall in Atlanta. Photo: Courtesy of Julia Beverly/Getty Images
When CEO and co-founder Ryan Wilson opened The Gathering Spot's first location in Atlanta in 2016, he envisioned the members-only social club being more than a place where you can meet your next LinkedIn connection.
- He also felt it was TGS' responsibility to educate members about the political, business and social issues that could affect their lives.
Why it matters: Nine years later, that vision has cemented TGS' role as the go-to civic hub for politicians to discuss issues affecting their constituents and for stakeholders to educate members about local elections.
- "As a membership club, we protect that experience," he told Axios, "but there are some conversations that, to me, transcend that context, and we have a responsibility to make sure everybody is hearing what's going on."
Driving the news: TGS opened its second Atlanta location in July. Dubbed the Retreat by The Gathering Spot, the members-only venue is on the rooftop in the former WeWork space at the Interlock.
- The space is around 60,000 square feet, compared to 20,000 at its flagship location on Northyards Boulevard.
- The Retreat boasts two restaurants, a workspace and private event space, and a pool and lounge.
- Members must apply for an invitation; Wilson said there are 135 founding members and about 1,000 on the waitlist.
What they're saying: "I do genuinely believe that when it's all said and done, the conversations that have happened and will continue to happen here are moving the needle ... politically," Wilson, an Atlanta resident, said.
- TGS has hosted fireside chats with Mayor Andre Dickens and Committee For a Better Atlanta's candidate forums for City Council and mayoral races.
- "I can't think of a political event we've done where we have not made sure that community stakeholders have a seat at the table," Wilson said.
Flashback: Over the years, TGS has hosted events featuring high-profile politicians, such as former President Biden, former Vice President Kamala Harris, Sen. Jon Ossoff and former state House Minority Leader and two-time gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams.
Context: Wilson was a campaign surrogate for Abrams and Harris, and co-chairs Dickens' reelection campaign.
By the numbers: TGS has more than 11,000 members nationally, about 4,500 of whom are in Atlanta (membership tiers are available).
- It has one location each in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles and is constructing another location in Houston.
- TGS also has membership communities in New York, Chicago, Detroit, Houston and Charlotte. In those cities, people gather for events, but don't have a brick-and-mortar TGS location.
The big picture: Tiffany Callaway Ferrell, club member and co-chair of the Committee for a Better Atlanta, told Axios TGS is an "ideal setting to engage our voters and candidates on issues that really, really matter to our city."
- Tharon Johnson, a Democratic political strategist who is also a founding member and investor of the Retreat, told Axios TGS' authenticity allows people to show up and be themselves.
- "Come as you are and have robust conversations about life, politics, entrepreneurship, politics, arts and culture," said Johnson, who is also a member of the original TGS location.
The bottom line: Wilson said he plans to lean into TGS' mission not just to inform and educate, but to clearly communicate to politicians what their members expect from them.
- "Part of what we should be doing is setting the table for what we expect to see [and] what we're hopeful for," he said.