Arrow Swim Club in Northern Liberties in Photos: No Need to Hit The Beach This Summer
The Chelsea Pool, The Borgata Pool, now you can add The Arrow Swim Club Pool to the list of hot, happening, cool off scenes to be seen at day or night.
Unlike the Atlantic City Pools, Arrow Swim Club is an exclusive membership only pool and will cost you $1,000 to join; Not too pricey if you compare it to a weekend stay in AC at either the Borgata or Chelsea.
Last week I met with Nicole Cashman, of Cashman & Associates, who with developer Bart Blatstein of Tower Investments is partnering on the project, at Stephen Starr’s latest gem Dandelion, and she told me about the new project. She filled me in on a few tidbits here.
The first thing I wanted to know about was the hours: Sunday thru Thursday will see earlier closing hours, but Friday and Saturday nights the pool will be opened til Midnight. It’s not a nightclub, Nicole told me, it’s a place to swim and socialize, but there will be music.
Everyday in fact their will be music, including DJ sets. No doubt we will see international DJ sensation Nigel Richards, who has been dating Nicole Cashman for nearly a year. PS Earlier last week I mentioned that Matthew Izzo’s store in The White Building at 105 South 12th Street, will be selling Nigel’s clothing brand 611 Lifestyle inside his store. Look for the store opening this week. A lot more will be revealed at the kick-off celebration party March 3 where potential members can find out more about the club, see the layout, more information on the cabana’s and sign up for a summer they won’t forget where there will be
monthly member only parties, movie nights, movie screenings, yoga on the side deck, cocktail parties, private cabanas equipped with cable, PlayStation and Blu-ray players; there’s a snack bar and an the on-site restaurant. A fire-pit lounge; and all those fun things you remember as a kid when you belonged to a swim club, but now it’s adult time as the minimum age for this club is 21. There’s no kiddie pool. Opening date is May 1. Pool has already been dug, it’s 4 1/2 feet deep, no diving please.
(Top pix Brownstoner who also has a story of the property last August)
SWEET! A pool for yuppies only! NoLibs families and kids? Why cater to them? Thanks bunches. Maybe you could add free Jager shots and rename it The Princeton II?
$1,000 per year might make sense for an indoor pool, but outdoor? That's a lot to pay for a swim club where you can't use the pool when it rains, snows or gets cold.
Why cater to them? The same reason NoLibs gentrified to begin with – because there is a market. I'm ok with the "yuppies only" pool. There is already a community pool in the neighborhood. As a single, childless, young adult, I'm not dying to spend my free time with other people's kids. Summer fun is not just for families, you know.
What happened to the idea the NLNA had for building a swim club between 4th and Lawrence Streets?
$1,000 year is a bargain. Not having a place to take my kids is a problem. Guess I'll leave them by the fire hydrant with the nanny.
Extremely poor business decision to exclude the families of Northern Liberties, who comprise a large portion of the neighborhood. I'm certain that many of us would have joined.
nortern libertians, you can join, just your kids can't
This looks totally awesome, A thousand dollars isn't that much and I will be joining this pool!
That's not a poor business decision at all it's called target marketing. I have a kid but I wouldn't take her to the bar or club in the neighborhood, because it's not designed for her. Just as a single male or female won't look to say a little gym or other kid specific businesses.
Seems the issue is that someone hops on creating something similar for families.
There should be a discount for couples.
$1000 for an open air pool with DJs? awesome. that price will keep all the PBR piss out of the water. sadly, i won't bother with this place.
also, i heard the first people allowed to apply will be "hand picked." gosh, bart's involved…i wonder who'll make that call…
my guess is that $1000 tag lasts a month or two and then it dips WAY down.
I am joining the pool specifically because kids are banned. Nobody wants your kids at their pool while their trying to drink and tan. beat it!
Oh they're saying it will be like the Hamptons and St. Barts…but I suspect it'll be more like the Guido Beach in Margate!
It's obvious that with the Cashman PR machine involved this is angling as a place to be seen and network with the young uppercrust of wannabe philly debutantes, and that group doesn't have to live anywhere near NoLibs to be willing to drop $1000 for this privilege. With this exclusive invite only kickoff and that members will be "hand picked" means the first question you'll be asked while sitting poolside is "who do YOU know to get in here?"
I'd love for this to fall flat and then be opened up to the masses a little more. Unfortunately I'm pretty sure the targeted demographic will eat this thing up. So for those who apply without that exclusive invite, good luck getting past the membership committee screening! Personally I think I'd rather enjoy the skyline view from my G-Ho roofdeck in a kiddie pool while my girlfriend and her pals sunbathe topless.
That's what happens when you have kids, stay home and raise your kids. Singles lets rock this summer. Cheap people who don't want ot spend cash stay in old city. cheap ass, same people who don't want to pay 10 bucks to get into a club.
Awesome!! This is going to be such a great spot this summer!! I CAN NOT WAIT!!!!
i am veryyy excited to be a part of this. seriously who wants to be sitting poolside with a bunch of screaming, splashing kids…uh yeah sounds relaxing and inviting to me not!!! i think this is the best concept i've heard in a while and the point here has been proven, those who are complaining about no kids are EXACTLY the people we DON'T want here…i rest my case!!
Its kind of silly to build a pool with a facade and no roof. The design is nice but I'll never get to go because I am a parent. So when this makes some money Bart can you build me a indoor pool thats family friendly with a water park for the kids? I'll pay that money or maybe all the parents can get together and buy the rec center when their funding dries up. I'll do some bake sales to fundraise and my children can sell lemonade.
cmon this is so philly! no kids, ridiculous…im headed to the white sandy beaches for $1000 where there is no excluding people, races…get over yourself and leave the 80's social status club thing behind. cmon, this is philly guys…nolibs for that matter. i thought you wanted to have a real neighborhood downtown feel mr. b?….not CLUBMED???!! i wish you would reconsider and have it available to families 1 or 2 days…i think its a huge mistake but best of luck bro
I think it's a great idea to make this an adult oasis in Philly. The 21+ is possibly the ownership taking liability into account.
However I think basing the membership on credit worthiness and possibly education level is a mistake. This will exclude many good people who stepped in and made this neighborhood attractive when it was no where near attractive who may not hold an MBA and may be rebuilding lumpy credit due to the economy. Those are the same people who will keep it going and who will bring in new membership.
I'm with another poster in that I too would like to see a couples membership. I'd also like to see a neighborhood membership.
Parents – why must everything be "for the children"? Frankly if I'm going to spend $1,000 a year ($200 mo. considering the season is 5 months) I want to not worry about your child crying, screaming, running around and possibly being hurt on my time (which is my dime).
Umm, I don't know of many people with kids living in the Piazza right next door; seems to me they're filling a void in the market. Parents stop complaining, we childless people have a right to a life too, and we have money to spend.
Enjoy the zoo.
Oh and you CAN take your kids, as long as they are 21+.
See, kids included!
Check out 5/14/11 for the Arrow Swim Club opening night photos on PhillyChitChat.com
Here is my thing…I like that children are not permitted and the price isn't so bad. However, if you are a guest you can only come 5 times regardless if it is with different members. So If I want to bring my same friend six times at $20-$40 each time there should be no issue. Additionally, the 4.5' pool is ridiculous. Just because I am almost 30 doesn't mean I don't like to swim! Pools should be fun. I don't want to go to a wading pool where you hardly ever get your hair wet.