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“Don’tmentiontheelephant inthe
room,”ScottSartianosaysona Friday
inMarch,standingonthecarpentry-
litteredmainfloorofZeroBond,his
newprivatemembers’club.
The pachydermin question is a
large,stainless-steelstatue,whichan
artistfriendjustdroppedoff.Itsfuture
seemsuncertain.Althoughnotwithout
panache,it’smaybeatoddswiththe
mutedgraysandgreensofthespace
takingshapearoundit.
“Icallit ‘NewYorkdark,’” Sartiano,
45,saysofthecolorscheme.He’srelax-
ingina velvetarmchair,wearingsuede
LoroPianaloafersanda blackJohn
Varvatosjacketcoveredinwhitehair
fromthethreerescuedogswhoshare
his Flatiron District apartment with his
wife, Allie, and their 2-year-old son.
As soon as the hammering stops (and
cityquarantininglifts),Sartianoaims
forZeroBondtobea refugewherean
invitation-only downtown elite can come
to get away from the hoi polloi.
For this select smattering of artistic
types, pro athletes, and figures from
the business and entertainment worlds,
there will be places to eat and hold dis-
creet meetings. A bar offers escape, and
there’s a roof space to soak up the sun.
The other, metaphorical elephant
in the room is Soho House. Founded in
London in 1995, it now has more than
two dozen locations in nine countries.
Its success has fueled a boom in private
members’ clubs, which were once asso-
ciated with fusty patricians but are now
modern hubs for young, affluent, and
creative professionals.
Is Zero Bond, which is named after
the address of the multi-tenant building
it occupies, merely an imitator?
“Soho House is an incredible busi-
ness, but the audience I’m going
for wants something different,”
Sartianosays.“Myplaceisa bitmore
community-based, a smaller audience.”
Zero Bond members will have access
to 20,000 square feet over two floors
and the roof deck, and dining options
will include a grill room, an omakase
bar, and a cafe. Sartiano is especially
proud of the “bump outs” on the sushi
counter, designed so groups of three canPRIVATECLUBS BloombergPursuits March 30, 2020Nightlife wizard Scott Sartiano conjures
up an exclusive members’ club for when we’re
finally done with distancing
By Ben Widdicombe
Photograph by Laurel GolioThe New
Hanging Out
Sartiano