The Athletic Club of Columbus

I recently attended a wedding /​reception that was hosted at the Athletic Club of Columbus. So, my review is more about the venue as I am not a member of the club. I am unable to comment on prices as well. However, the event itself was wonderful done. The Athletic Club handled the entire event. It was nice to have everything in one location. The valets in front of the Athletic Club were only for members of the club. The valets were gracious to provide directions and recommendations of where we could park close by.
The event started with a social gathering, including hor’d ourves and an open bar. Wait staff circulated the gathering offering tasty morsels. There were actually two bars. As the line was long, it was pointed out that there was a back bar that helped the flow of the lines. Wait staff also circulated offering wine to help ease the lines. There was a decorated chalk board that laid out the sequence of the evening’s event. The Athletic Club staff helped escort the gathering throughout the night.
The wedding was held in a rustic long room. The wedding service was performed in front of an ornate fireplace with candles throughout the dark wood paneled room. The wedding was beautifully orchestrated. The dinner reception was a sit-​down dinner in an adjacent room. The wedding party’s table was actually central to all the other tables, instead of at the front of the room which was a really nice touch. Dinner itself was handled by the club as well. Food was served warm and quite delicious. Everyone commented on how well their meals were.
After the dinner, there was typical dancing and celebration through the evening. Could not have been a more delightful and romantic evening. Kudo’s to the Athletic Club in hosting the event.

Well, it’s nice to meet you too, Athletic Club of Columbus!
My work buddies and I had the pleasure of attending an event here… when I heard the words, «Athletic Club», this was not quite what I imagined. The place is beautiful.
I didn’t see the entire facility but where I did go — was awesome. Our event space was for dining and the bar/​bowling area. Everyone had an amazing time in the space, staff were super friendly and helpful and the food was amazing.
If you are looking to host an event for a large group — you can’t go wrong with the Athletic Club.

This swanky establishment caters to the upper crust of Columbus but has avoided the traps of the country clubs of yesteryear. They’ve managed to maintain reasonable prices while having a decent food menu for both lunch and dinner.
Drink-​wise, they heavily feature Ohio craft products. While the menu itself does not take chances, the support of the local economy shows a pride in product selection.
The Athletic Club manages to remain relevant in an era where such facilities have largely disappeared and it is because they have kept up with the times. You get a local food and drink experience, quality service and an unrushed, private atmosphere.

Great meal! Great place to take friends for an enjoyable and memorable evening of fine dining!
Food, wine and fun!
Good for a romantic evening on a date or with friends!
Highly recommend it!

I have frequented the Athletic Club for fundraisers and luncheons many times, and each time has been a pleasure. The employees are at the peak of their profession, treating all guests with the utmost respect and cordiality. The interior of the building speaks of decorous and honorable history, with impressive architectural detail and ubitquitous regalness. The Athletic Club is impeccably clean and adorned with lush furniture. You’d assume you were the first person to step foot inside.
The second floor offers rooms for diverse occasions. I have socialized with public officials in the smaller, intimate rooms; I have also indulged in fancy lunches to discuss scientific matters of importance in their larger dining area. The Athletic Club serves a variety of purposes, but above all, offering a cozy, yet venerable place to gather. Finger food and/​or lunches have always accompanied its functions. Being that the AC often emphasizes discussion and networking, food is presented as an accoutrement, rather than the highlight, of the events. The servers do their part to supply, but not call attention to, the food. Lunch is obviously more formal, and the food is delicious.

The ACC is truly a landmark of Columbus. Not only is it an awesome social club, but an incredible venue for hosting events. My husband and I had our wedding reception here and everything was incredible. From the food to the staff, everyone made our night extremely special. This place is one of the best places for networking and socializing, and the membership opportunity here is a solid value.

From the recently graduated young professional to the retired couple who loves fine dining, the Athletic Club of Columbus has something for everyone. Not just a gym, but a private club that has a gym as part of its many features. Three restaurants, a basketball court, steam room, sauna, hot-​tub, swimming pool, meeting facility, banquet room, wedding facility, bowling alley, squash courts and much, much more!
There are a limited number of memberships available and the value is too good to pass up. Spouses and live-​in partners are added to your membership at no extra charge — a value that can’t be matched.

The other reviews seem to miss the point that this is a social club (think country club minus the golf course). Members understand the true extent of the service offering, and those who have randomly attended an event are ill informed.

I’ve been putting off writing this review because there are just so many aspects to «the Club.» I find myself here frequently, not only because I’m a member but just in the usual course of business. Awards dinners, receptions, profession-​related cocktail hours and the like.
FOOD — Anyone can come in here and have a meal, you don’t have to be a member. It’s pretty old school. There’s officially three «restaurants» but pretty much the same holds true for all (there’s a casual lunch counter upstairs, a casual tavern area, and the more formal dining room). The menu, the décor, the service: all old man style. I don’t mind that. There’s plenty of other places to go for hippitude. For the most part, I find the dishes to be prepared very well. Traditional, but good execution. There’s a decent rotating list of seasonal specialties, as well as just «for fun» items like a different gourmet hotdog served each day for a week.
ATHLETICS — Here’s where I’d give the ACC a 2-​star review. Maybe 3. This is the best gym within my traffic pattern, so it IS my gym, but… everything’s a little outdated. In good repair and clean, for the most part, but old. When I first joined (not even a year ago), I felt like there were more group fitness classes. There’s plenty of spin classes available at different times, but not much variety otherwise. The good news is that it’s never packed. Exclusivity has its perks.
For spin, you need to call very early in the morning on the previous day to reserve your spot. If you don’t show, they charge your account. It’s good to keep people accountable, but I’m already paying so much for my membership, it feels a little… I dunno, rude? Space is very limited in the classes (which is why they need to hold people accountable to their reservations). I wish they’d get a bigger spinning studio. This one is small, dark, no windows, and gets very humid mid-​ride (and stinky).
EVENTS — The ballrooms upstairs are gorgeous. I love being in the heart of the city, in one of these ballrooms, and just feeling really connected to Columbus. I suppose this should be in the «Food» portion of the review, but the food at large-​scale events is phenomenal. I’ve never seen any catering company or event space do food for a large group the way the ACC does. Elaborate seafood platters (on carved ice shelves), creative action stations, or just elegantly appointed hors d’oeuvres tables… the fruit is always ripe and fresh, the offerings broad and delicious.
MEMBERSHIP — The ACC is like a country club, but in the middle of the city (and without a golf course, though you can get that with their ties to the Columbus Country Club out on Broad). There’s tons of events for members. One of my favorites was when the Club had its 100^th birthday… oh, the food! the entertainment! The Christmas cocktail party is also a fun time. As a single professional gal living so close to downtown, I’ve really enjoyed this aspect. Still, sometimes I feel a little bit nickle-​and-​dimed, especially when I’m already paying so much monthly. Lockers are extra, for example. But, they do have a laundry service (for an additional fee)! The staff is very friendly and will quickly learn your name if you are a member. Other members are likewise interested in chatting, mingling, and networking. It’s more than a gym, where people just work out and leave. People are members here because they’re interested in meeting other members.
There’s so much more to reflect on, but I’ll try to keep this review as short as possible… if you are considering becoming a member and want to ask any questions, feel free to message me here on Unilocal!
The bottom line is that this is a luxe, if a little aged, respite in the middle of Columbus. Stop in to feel connected to the city and its history.

The Athletic Club of Columbus is a true gem in Columbus. I have been a member for a number of years and continue to be proud of our club. Everyone is welcome and everyone is treated like a member of the family. This is true for members, staff and guests.
The staff is fantastic and everyone remembers your name. The food and wine selections are excellent. Workout facilities and trainers are unparalleled, bar none.
It’s rare to find a business that has been around for a hundred years in the same building for the same purpose. The ACC takes pride in this and celebrates its rich history while evolving for the next generation. This year, 2012, the ACC celebrates its 100^th year!
If anyone is interested in being a guest or in becoming a member, please let me know.
A true landmark of Columbus!

Love THE ACC! I was a member here up until this past September. I no longer work or study downtown and the trek from Dublin is just not convenient for me. I found myself slowly getting fatter and fatter as the days went by because I would dread having to drive downtown «just to work out.» So, I ended up joining Lifetime in Dublin which is nice, but absolutely sucks in comparison to the Club. The ACC is nice, and may seem exclusive, but it’s far from pretentious.
The ACC is located in a beautiful turn of the century building, and the Club is actually having it’s Centennial celebration this year, which I’m sad to say I’m going to miss since I’m no longer a member. The service here is simply impeccable in every way. This is something you’ll only find at a truly private club – one where you are voted into the ranks as opposed to the commercialized madhouse that I work out at now up in Dublin. Surprisingly, throughout the years I was a member the clientele slowly got younger and younger. There were some big membership drives, and contests to recruit new members that ended up attracting a lot of young professionals. If I ever move back downtown or am forced against my will to work downtown again I will probably reactivate my membership for a small fee because this place is truly that great.
There are actually 3 restaurants: the Grill Room, Buckeye Room and Carmichaels. The Grill Room is the formal one which requires a jacket, Carmichaels is the one with the big bar and the Buckeye Room is upstairs and open on weekdays for quick, casual lunches. I always dined at Carmichaels – it was such a great relaxing bar and the food is awesome. Lots of TVs, and surprisingly cheap drink prices for a downtown location. The regular bartender who was working there when I left was named Lee and he was awesome – knew everyone by name and really took care of people. They serve a wide range of American food that is average priced and everything is superb.
Workout Facilities: The facilities here are older, but this place is rarely crowded which is great. The machines are new, but the place doesn’t sparkle – I liked that though cause I love historic buildings. They have your typical machines, free weights, spinning room, etc. A perk I liked was free coffee and tea, newspapers, and free flavored water which would change daily – sometimes lemon, orange, lime, cucumber, or whatever fruit they would immerse in the glass cooler of ice water on the fourth floor workout area. This was great for workout induced cotton mouth. They also had chilled towels which were great for intense workouts. By and far my favorite perk was the FREE LAUNDRY SERVICE that came with having a locker. You get a bag with your number on it, toss your clothes in the laundry bag, and the clean clothes are put in your locker by the time you return for your next workout. This is great because you can work out on a whim and never have to deal with an annoying gym bag. There’s also a large pool, hot tub, tanning, beautiful gym, steam rooms, etc. And, to top it off, they have all of the toiletries you need right in the locker room so you don’t have to worry about brining your own, along with towels and wash cloths.
Other stuff: They have a bowling alley that runs underneath Broad Street and has not been «redone» for about 50 years making it awesomely vintage, but well taken care of. There’s also a library which is great for a quiet meeting or to chill at the library bar on a snowy day sipping a fine scotch and discussing scholarly topics. There’s a barbershop, but I never used it for obvious reasons. Great meeting rooms and a beautiful ballroom. There are also guest/​hotel rooms on the top floor that can be reserved for people or clients visiting you from out of town at an amazing rate that trumps any area hotels. Plus, your visitors get all the ACC perks during their stay.
There is also valet parking between 5 – 9 everyday which is nice because parking is an issue here. There’s one lot for the ACC that is located across the street and behind the Columbus Club. What sucks is that they rent it out to commuters during the day and members can’t use it until after 4pm on weekdays. So, unless you already work downtown or live close, you are kind of SOL as far as parking goes if you want a morning or early afternoon workout.
Oh yeah, there are reciprocal clubs you can visit, and the recent merger with Columbus Country Club which is a huge bonus and you can add a golf membership to your ACC membership for a small fee. And on and on.
Loved my time here. You totally get what you pay for :-)

An old building with classical architecture and spaces throughout. You can picture some of the more upscale events that were probably held here in years past. It shows some age these days though. For the event I attended, there was not enough bar staff manning the bar so lines were outrageous, despite speaking with the event planners and learning that they had been assured this would not happen. The coat check was free, which was a bonus. Also, when we went down for some drinks in the club bar, they were unable to make a bloody mary? I can’t remember what they were missing, but that’s a classic drink. How do you run out? Overall a very decent place, with a pretty elegant feel, but that can be completely lost depending on the type of event.

I’m not a member so I can’t attest to rates and/​or the actual «athletic» facilities. What I can assure you of, however, is the beauty this place provides for a stellar event and the hospitality of the staff.
I’ve been here on a number of occasions — all for breakfasts, brunches, lunches, meetings or concerts — and each time I force myself to take a step back and marvel at its classiness.
The room upstairs is the real masterpiece and a top priority if you ever get a tour or have to book a real nice event in the heart of downtown. Catering and cocktail service is also available (and they work with LOCAL VENDORS!!)
The staff, too, is always a real treat and makes you note that they seem to take a real pride in their jobs.
Parking is quite possibly one of the worst aspects of coming to the Athletic Club — but if you’re lucky you can find surrounding meter parking, or there is a lot across the street that’s usually open at least during the day.
I do want to check out their athletic facilities at some point though. A friend is a member here and quite likes all of the amenities — and never has to fight to use the equipment even during peak hours. Something that’s all too common for me at my gym.

I’ve been here for four separate and distinct occasions. The first time had to do with something around Easter — like an egg drop. I won a pair of their athletic shorts and they’re awesome. I wear them often in the summer for working out. We also got a tour of the place — ya know to entice us to enroll. My second time here was for my second year law school prom. It was a great classy place for the occasion and everyone enjoyed themselves. However, we weren’t allowed to return for future years (supposedly) due to people going to the basement to uhhh get their groove on, if you catch my drift. We had h’orduerves served — which for the most part they all sucked EXCEPT the mashed potato bar. The mashed potato bar includes 3 types of mashed taters, including sweet potato, and at least 6 toppings and you get to put it all in a fancy martini glass. It’s awesome. This was actually one of the deciding factors for my then roommate (and fellow classmate) and her fiancé who was there that night to host their wedding reception the following year here. Enter the following year, September 2011, and my third time to ACC. Luckily, the cocktail hour for the wedding had much better h’orduerves than at our prom. To give you an idea of the types of foods you can get from their catering include: bacon wrapped scallops (amazing), Caribbean jerk chicken (spicy), fancy shrimpies on fancy crackers (good), and I can’t remember the other ones we had but everyone LOVED it all. For dinner entrees they have selections like salmon, filet mignon, and stuffed chicken breast that comes with asparagus and mashed potatoes. They set out the mashed potato bar around 10pm. They do a great job catering large events. Also, their bartenders for events are professional, knowledgeable, and very nice. They’ll take the time to make you fun drinks based on what they have available/​was selected for the open bar. The venue can be rented out to midnight — not sure if they will let you go any later. But a reception lasting till midnight is awesome. And last but not least, this venue is gorgeous. No need to bring in flowers, tacky seat covers, or other decorations. It’s pretty much all already here. Look up the pictures of the ballroom online to see for yourself. My fourth time here was between my second and third times here for a luncheon/​speaking event thing. Sandwiches were good and quite large. Came with a side of pasta as well. I know there’s a separate restaurant located inside, but none of the events I attended were there. They were all in the second floor ballroom. I also cannot comment on actually working out here, but they are capable of hosting lovely events.
I should note that for the wedding reception (and maybe even for our prom) valet was free and you were allowed to leave your car overnight — you just had to pick up your keys by 10 or 10:30. You do not have to be a member to eat at the restaurant inside nor do you have to be a member to have an event like a wedding reception here — but I am sure it comes w/​a hefty price tag!

Oh, The Athletic Club. I probably never would have even known about its existence if I hadn’t been here for banquets for work. That’s the problem with it, I think that most people don’t even know that it exists. But The Athletic Club prides itself on being exclusive, so they must prefer it that way. You can find the old brick building by its blue awning facing Broad St.
My co-​workers and I used to joke that old-​timey Monopoly men were the only people who had anything to do with this place. The reason why is because it’s so over-​the-​top fancy and memberships are quite expensive. They’re so expensive I don’t even know how much they cost. But on the website it says that to apply for a membership, you fill out an application, get a sponsor, and you need three references from current club members. Then your application is submitted to the Board of Directors for approval. What? That’s a lot of work, and apparently they like to keep this place among friends, because if you don’t know anyone there, how could you get in?
So how the heck did I get in there? Well, I went every week. The Athletic Club has banquet rooms for events and forums, so if you’re invited to one of those, you can get in the club. Just for your event. But aside from that, I’ve had a chance to explore the building over the past few years. It’s very old, built in the early 1900’s, I believe, and quite outdated. It’s such a pretty building, but almost too much so. It’s kind of gaudy, to be honest. Everything is here is so ornamented. But they’ve got everything. There are hotel rooms, a gym, a barber shop, a swimming pool, a bowling alley, a restaurant, a bar, and there are even fitness classes. Sometimes in the evening there are wine tasting parties and things like that, too. It sounds like a membership would be pretty fun if you get to do all these things! But I have no idea if you’d have to pay extra for things like the hotel stays. I would imagine you do.
It’s really kind of a neat idea. Everything’s all together in one place. But it’s not very welcoming since it’s so exclusive. And I’m pretty sure that if you want to use the gym or anything, you have to be a member. The good thing is that if you’re a member, your whole family is included in the membership. But the location is a bit questionable. I mean, it’s perfect for those members who work downtown since it’s right at Broad and 3^rd, but if you’re driving… downtown parking. There isn’t a lot of great options, but apparently they have a parking lot across the street. But you have to pay during the day. I think after rush hour it’s free. I’ve always walked here from work.
So when I’ve been here, it’s been in the afternoons for luncheons. The main ballroom is all decorated and the tables are all set up, but oh my gosh, the chairs. They are like this shiny gold bamboo things — it’s hard to explain. They are hideous. But everything else is quite lovely. Since I’ve been going here for so long, I’ve becoming acquainted with the wait staff. They are the nicest and most helpful people. In fact, when I stopped working downtown, I realized that the staff here was one of the things I’d miss most. So if you ever come here for anything, at least be assured that you’ll be taken care of and treated very kindly. *sigh* I miss those guys.
Anyway, the food is good. They would serve us everything from steak to chicken to lasagna to salmon, the list goes on. Everything was quite good, especially their salads and rolls! And sometimes they would serve dessert, usually chocolate cake or lemon merengue pie. The menu was different every week and after you’d sit at the table, where you’d find your water and iced tea and side salad, the wait staff would bring out your hot meal to your table. Then, after lunch was over, you just got up and left and the wait staff would wait until people were gone and start cleaning up the room.
The reason I’m only giving the ACC 3 stars is because of the ridiculous membership process. If the public had a more realistic access to visit here, I would like it a lot better. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t even get in the door. To be honest, I’m not sure how they screen people. I’ve always just been able to walk right in. But there is a restaurant on the ground floor, and I think that anyone can go to that. I’ve eaten there before and it’s quite nice. If you’re so inclined to go in there and check out the swimming pool, see what happens. They might not even stop you. They have a lifeguard in there, but I’m not sure they check names. Maybe they aren’t as strict as they appear, and if that’s the case, this place is getting a better rating!
The people working at the front desk when you come in the door can be a bit stuffy. It just depends on who it is. It definitely feels like a rich, snobby, exclusive club in there, with the exception of the coolest wait staff ever. If you’re in the downtown area and you’re super bored, maybe walk in and check out the lobby at least.