Michael Jordan-backed private club expands before Sarasota debut
- Mark Parker
- 17 hours ago
- 3 min read
A luxurious private club and restaurant co-founded by basketball icon Michael Jordan is proving to be a slam dunk, as 1000 North is already expanding in downtown Sarasota before opening its doors.
Under construction on the ground floor of the BLVD tower at 520 N. Tamiami Trail, 1000 North’s celebrity backers also include golf legend Ernie Els, tennis star Serena Williams, and prominent broadcasters Ahmad Rashad and Bryant Gumbel. While the members-only club will not welcome guests until October, the development team recently closed on an adjacent property to the east, according to Chief Operating Officer Alex Elshimy.
Elshimy said the parcel, at 1290 Boulevard of the Arts, will help 1000 North accommodate a somewhat surprising clamoring for $6,000 annual memberships. The acquisition will add 10,500 square feet to the club’s previously planned 13,000-square-foot location.
“This additional space was not part of the original plan, but became a strategic opportunity to accommodate the club’s rapid membership growth and evolving demand,” Elshimy told Power Broker Magazine.
“Membership is more than access - it is an entry into a refined private community built around exceptional hospitality, meaningful connections, and elevated living.”
The flagship 1000 North location opened in Jupiter in 2017. Jordan lives nearby in Palm Beach County.
However, the global superstar serves as a founding member and silent investor in the ultra-exclusive brand rather than a spokesperson. Jordan became familiar with Sarasota in 1994 during spring training with the Chicago White Sox as part of his short-lived foray into professional baseball.
When asked if Jordan would make appearances at 1000 North, Elshimy coyly replied that “given his involvement and enthusiasm for the project, it’s certainly something members are looking forward to.”
Access and immersion are part of the ambience at 1000 North. A Concierge will assist members beyond the club by providing "privileged access to premier dining, cultural and social experiences, and bespoke travel worldwide,” according to its website.
Additional services include chauffeured rides to and from the club and arrangements for private yachts and jets. “This offering represents one of the most exclusive lifestyle and social club experiences in Sarasota,” Elshimy said.
The club will feature French tableside service - a choreographed display where dishes are finished and assembled next to diners. Members can expect a menu that focuses on prime steaks, seafood, seasonal ingredients, and vintage wines from a private cellar.
Located in Sarasota’s Arts District, 1000 North will offer private dining rooms, a wine lounge, a larger cocktail lounge upstairs, and personalized wine and liquor lockers. Membership also includes “thought-provoking talks, intimate salons, a lively piano bar, and culinary collaborations,” the website states.
Members will see lighting that evolves throughout the day, a quartzite bar top with green veining, and 2.1 miles of walnut millwork - “equal to the distance from the club’s doors to St. Armands Circle,” according to a recent press release.
The club will also feature a fully embedded sound system with no visible speakers. A Bluetooth system that accommodates up to 2,000 devices will allow guests to pair their earbuds with televisions.
Backup internet and generators will ensure members never lose connectivity, and that wine rooms maintain an ideal temperature in any weather. Elshimy said the experience will deliver “lasting value and distinction.”
The project’s development team, led by Kevin Daves, is still finalizing a total cost estimate, Elshimy said. He also noted that expanding north of Sarasota, including to Tampa Bay, “remains a possibility as the club grows.”
For now, Elshimy said 1000 North welcomes membership inquiries from residents of St. Petersburg and Tampa. For more information, visit the website here.
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