What Headliners Club does

The Headliners Club is a historic private-member club located on the 21st floor of the Procore Tower in downtown Austin, Texas, founded in 1935 by Charles E. Green, the long-time Executive Editor of the Austin American-Statesman. Originally housed in the Driskill Hotel and later the Westgate Building near the Texas Capitol, the club has occupied its current location since relocating to the 35th-tallest building in Austin, where it operates panoramic views of the city and Hill Country. The club offers fine dining in the Press Box Bar and Members' Dining Room, multiple private event rooms (Granger Suite, Capitol Lounge, McBee, Brown, Read, Nash, Green), and reciprocal access to 20+ partner clubs across Texas, the Northeast, Southeast, Northwest, and London.

Membership is invitation-only and requires sponsorship by two members in good standing, producing a curated network of Austin business leaders, journalists, civic leaders, and professionals from academia, law, politics, medicine, sports, and the arts. The club generates revenue from three primary streams: recurring annual membership dues, on-site dining and bar services, and event hosting and catering for weddings, corporate functions, and private celebrations. The membership base spans third- and fourth-generation Austinites and transplants, reinforcing the club's role as a heritage institution within the city's professional community.

The club is governed by a Board of Trustees led by Chairman Meade Bauer and President Wick Alexander and is affiliated with the Headliners Foundation of Texas, a non-profit created in 1983 to promote journalism excellence. Distribution is entirely relationship-based, with no paid advertising or public retail access. As of 2025, the club is undergoing a major renovation designed by Michael Hsu Office of Architecture with White Construction as general contractor, intended to refresh member-facing spaces while preserving the institution's legacy.

Name

Headliners Club

Legal name

The Headliners Club

Website

https://headlinersclub.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1935

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Headliners Club is a historic, invitation-only private-member club in downtown Austin, Texas, founded in 1935, serving Austin's business, journalism, and civic leaders with fine dining, private event spaces, and reciprocal access to 20+ partner clubs across the U.S. and London.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Membership Club

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (711310), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty Membership Clubs (Category-Focused) (CRAEADAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conference & Convention Center Catering (THAHAKAB), Convention & Exhibition Centers (Public Convention Centers, Civic Centers) (THAHAAAA)

Keywords

• Private member club
• Fine dining services
• Private event venue
• Professional networking club
• Reciprocal club access

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Private membership club generates primary revenue from annual membership fees charged to members who gain access to dining facilities, private event spaces, reciprocal club network, and exclusive club events.
2. Fine Dining and Bar Services: Revenue from on-site dining in the Press Box Bar, Members' Dining Room, and private dining rooms. Offerings include à la carte lunch and dinner menus, banquet menus for events, and bar services.
3. Event Hosting and Catering: Revenue from hosting private events including meetings, weddings, anniversaries, celebrations, and corporate gatherings with customized menus and event planning services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Headliners Club is a historic, invitation-only private-member club located on the 21st floor of the Procore Tower in downtown Austin, Texas. It provides vetted members with fine dining, private event spaces, banquet catering, bar services, and a reciprocal club network across the U.S. and Europe. Founded in 1935 by Charles E. Green to bring together newsmakers and storytellers, the club serves as a sophisticated venue for business, civic, media, and professional gatherings.

Product overview

The Headliners Club is a historic private-member club that operates as a single unified hospitality offering rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core product is the membership club itself, providing fine dining services, private event spaces (including the Press Box Bar, Granger Suite, Capitol Lounge, McBee Rooms, Brown Room, Read Rooms, Nash Room, and Green Room), and reciprocal club access privileges. The club also publishes the Headlines Newsletter and is affiliated with the Headliners Foundation of Texas, a non-profit journalism foundation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Michael Hsu Office of ArchitecturecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAward-winning Austin-based architecture firm led the extensive renovation and redesign project for the Headliners Club. The design celebrates the club's strong legacy while providing improved spaces for members to gather and cultivate connections.
• White ConstructioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFounded in 1971, White Construction serves as the general contractor for the Headliners Club renovation project. Remains a family business offering principal involvement in every project with notable projects including Whole Foods Markets, GSD&M, Dell Children's Medical Center, and restoration of Texas Governor's Mansion.
• Petroleum Club of Fort WorthminorOthersTexas-based reciprocal club partner providing access to Headliners Club members visiting Fort Worth.
• Petroleum Club of HoustonminorOthersTexas-based reciprocal club partner providing access to Headliners Club members visiting Houston.
• Petroleum Club of MidlandminorOthersTexas-based reciprocal club partner providing access to Headliners Club members visiting Midland.
• Crescent Club, DallasminorOthersDallas-based reciprocal club partner.
• Park City Club, DallasminorOthersDallas-based reciprocal club partner.
• Centre Club, San AntoniominorOthersSan Antonio-based reciprocal club partner.
• The Fort Worth ClubminorOthersFort Worth-based reciprocal club partner.
• Commodore Perry Estate AustinminorOthersReciprocal partner offering special rates for overnight accommodations only at the Auberge Resorts property.
• Metropolitan Club, New York CityminorOthersNortheast reciprocal club partner in New York City.
• Harvard Club of BostonminorOthersNortheast reciprocal club partner in Boston.
• The National Press Club, Washington D.C.minorOthersNortheast reciprocal club partner with strong journalism heritage alignment to Headliners Club's founding mission.
• The Union League of PhiladelphiaminorOthersNortheast reciprocal club partner in Philadelphia.
• National Liberal Club, LondonminorOthersInternational reciprocal club partner in London, England.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Harvard Club of Boston: Northeast reciprocal partner running an exclusive private club model with fine dining, lodging, and professional networking for academic/business leaders.
• The Union League of Philadelphia: Historic Philadelphia private member club and reciprocal partner of Headliners Club. Operates with similar member-gated dining, event hosting, and civic mission framing.
• National Press Club: Washington D.C. journalism-heritage private member club and reciprocal partner of Headliners Club. Closest analog in terms of journalism-founder identity and mission alignment.
• The Fort Worth Club: Historic Texas private member club and reciprocal partner of Headliners. Similar 19th/20th-century heritage, member-gated dining, and event-hosting operations.
• Centre Club San Antonio: Texas-based reciprocal partner providing Headliners members access to fine dining and event spaces in San Antonio under the same private-club operating model.
• Crescent Club Dallas: Texas-based reciprocal partner offering premium private dining, event spaces, and reciprocal club access for Dallas business leaders — same operating model as Headliners.
• Austin Club: Historic Austin private member club offering dining, event spaces, and reciprocal network access. Most direct geographic competitor with overlapping professional/business member base in downtown Austin.
• Petroleum Club of Houston: Texas-based private business club and active reciprocal partner of Headliners Club. Same membership model (dues + dining + event hosting), serving energy and professional leaders in Houston.
• Metropolitan Club of New York: Northeast reciprocal partner operating an exclusive private business/social club model with fine dining and event spaces for NYC professional leaders.
• Petroleum Club of Fort Worth: Reciprocal club partner of Headliners Club operating a similar business/civic membership model with fine dining and event hosting in Fort Worth, Texas.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HeadlinersClubATX
• Instagraminstagram.com/headlinersclubatx

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Headliners Club