NORTHEAST OHIO Membership falls at business clubs

Akron City Club prepares to close as the Youngstown Club struggles.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Akron City Club was born in an era when industrial barons ruled the city, wining and dining while making big money deals.
Its closing comes in a period of brown bag lunches and layoffs, when a teleconference or an e-mail replaces a 90-minute lunch meeting.
The Akron City Club seems to be the victim of a changed business climate.
The 88-year-old institution will close at the end of the year because of declining membership and mounting debt. It's down to 703 members from 1,597 just six years ago.
Board member David Osterland said the club, located on the top floor of the Bank One Building downtown, provides a quiet place for people to dine, conduct business and socialize.
But Osterland said not only is membership down, those who have stayed with the club don't use it as often.
Time constraints keep people from having lunch meetings like they used to, said Jim Bennett, senior managing director at the Cleveland-based public relations firm Dix & amp; Eaton.
"There is no time for leisure and collegial activities over lunch," Bennett said. "Unless there is a clear and specific purpose, you're unlikely to say, 'Let's go to lunch and spend and hour and a half catching up."'
Bennett's lunchtime habits are typical of many working people.
"I get a scoop of tuna on lettuce from the food court and it takes me about two minutes to eat," he said. "I've just got so much to do, I view [lunch] as an intrusion."
Youngstown Club
Like the Akron City Club, the Youngstown Club is struggling against declining membership in a tough economic environment.
General manager Stacey Renszel said membership at the club is down to 235 members from a peak of more than 700 in the late 1980s.
She said many companies have tightened expense accounts and are unwilling to pay $150-a-month membership dues. Those who do talk business over lunch often choose less expensive restaurants.
"When I talk to young businessmen and women, they're running out to the fast food places," Renszel said.
Like the Akron City Club, the 101-year-old Youngstown Club was the place to do business when industry was thriving.
"We're in a situation where times aren't as good as they were before," said Tony Kos, an associate professor at the Williamson College of Business Administration at Youngstown State. "Usually, dining clubs are a reflection of what's going on in terms of corporate activity."
To bring in new members, Renszel said the Youngstown Club opened to the public for a week. The club also has events like "Jimmy Buffett night" to attract young people.
City Club of Cleveland
But not all city clubs are losing members.
The City Club of Cleveland has nearly 1,400 members after falling below 1,000 five years ago.
It has a national reputation as a forum of free speech, having hosted several sitting presidents and other prominent speakers.