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Famous chef Jean-Georges is opening a members-only club where Spice Market used to be

Will the Meatpacking District become cool again?

Anna Rahmanan
Written by
Anna Rahmanan
Senior National News Editor
Spice Market
Photograph: Flickr
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In the early-to-mid-2000s, what was then the equivalent of today's influencer crowd would gather at one restaurant above all others: chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten's Spice Market in the Meatpacking District. 

Serving lychee martinis and the sort of Asian-inspired food that had yet to drench the city's entire culinary purview, Spice Market eventually closed in 2016, to the consternation of the high-end crowd that enjoyed weekly standing reservations on site.

Nearly a decade later, Vongerichten is ready to use the space at 403 West 13th Street by Greenwich Street again, this time launching a private club dubbed Chez Margaux that, according to Eater, includes "a restaurant that serves modern French cuisine, private dining areas, a library, a lounge with a Japanese-inspired menu and space for caviar service and late-night bites that transitions to Gaux Gaux, an after 10pm club."

No word yet on when the club will open but New Yorkers with a flair for the fancy can already apply for membership right here.

Unlike other area clubs like Zero Bond, the pricing model at Chez Margaux actually takes into account lifestyle differences. According to a brochure that's posted online, the UN membership applies to folks 21 to 31 years old and includes a $1,000 fee in addition to $1,800 in annual dues.

Membership DEUX, on the other hand, applies to people who are 32 or older. The option consists of a $2,000 initiation fee followed by $2,6000 in annual dues.

The above-mentioned brochure also includes a slew of sketched renderings that convey a vibe reminiscent of all things Vongerichten: think rouge curtains, carpets and couches, a golden bar and a private dining room with a lush banquette.

According to Eater, members will have to abide by a number of rules: no iPad or laptops are allowed on premise, photos can't be taken and guests will have to follow a dress code that prohibits them from wearing sandals, flip flops, ripped jeans or baseball hats.

Taking all into account, we have one question in mind: is the Meatpacking District about to become cool again?

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