Menomonee Club

What Menomonee Club does

The Menomonee Club is a 501c3 nonprofit community recreation center founded in 1946 in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood, serving families, youth, adults, and seniors on Chicago's north side. It operates two purpose-built facilities: the Drucker Center in Lincoln Park (acquired 2004 with a major gift from the Drucker Family Foundation) and the historic Clubhouse in Old Town (acquired 1950), the latter of which was converted in 2024 back to its original use as a two-lane bowling alley branded The Bader Family Alumni Lanes. The Drucker Center houses two gyms, two performing arts studios, a fencing gym, a dedicated judo dojo, and multipurpose rooms available for rent.

Programming spans core and partner offerings across martial arts (judo, taekwondo), fencing, bowling, dance, theatre, chess, and STEM, plus seasonal summer camps and after-school enrichment. The judo program — designated the first Paralympic Judo National Training Center by USA Judo in 2012 — has produced more than 150 national and international medals since 1997 and the Club's first Olympian (Nefeli Papadakis, Tokyo 2021). Programs are delivered directly and through long-standing partners including Windy City Fencing, Revolution Taekwondo, RetroActive Sports, Chess4Life, Play-Well TEKnologies, Stages Chicago, and Chicago Children's Theatre.

The revenue model combines annual memberships ($80 individual / $140 family, with $45 per-class discount), recurring 14-week session class fees (typically $273–$430 per session), weeklong summer camps ($65–$515 depending on program), pay-as-you-go facility and bowling rentals ($35–$150/hour), and donations including a share of Old Town Art Fair proceeds from the Old Town Triangle Association. The Club distributes through in-person and online registration via dashplatform.com, email newsletter, social media (Facebook, Instagram), and community/word-of-mouth referrals, and offers need-based financial assistance. Governance rests with a 14-member Board of Directors and a small core staff led by Executive Director Terence Marling (since October 2024) and long-tenured Program Director Erica Greiner (since 1996).

Name

Menomonee Club

Legal name

Menomonee Club for Boys and Girls

Website

https://www.menomoneeclub.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Menomonee Club is a 501c3 nonprofit community recreation center founded in 1946 in Chicago, operating two facilities in Old Town and Lincoln Park that deliver martial arts, fencing, bowling, dance, theatre, STEM, and summer camp programs to youth, adults, and seniors across Chicago's north side.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Recreation Services

NAICS

Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Multi-Sport Camps (General Athletics, Summer Camps) (MPAKAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports) (EDAMALAA), Club Sports Programs (EDALAIAB), Performing Arts Camps (Theater, Musical Theater, Dance) (EDAMALAI)

Keywords

• Community recreation programs
• Youth sports training
• Martial arts classes
• Summer day camps
• Facility rentals

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership valid for one calendar year (12 months) from registration date. Individual membership $80, family membership $140. Members receive $45 off every class and discounted bowling rentals.
2. Program and Class Fees: Fees vary by program with member and non-member pricing. Examples: Taekwondo $273-$347.75 (members) / $321.75-$430.50 (non-members); Judo $273-$364 (members); Fencing classes $308-$360.50 (non-members).
3. Summer Camp Fees: Weeklong camps in June, July, and August with varying prices by program type. Chess camps $395-$440; RetroActive Sports camps $470-$515; Fencing camps $280-$325.
4. Bowling Lane Rentals: Private rental of two-lane bowling alley and multipurpose room. $125/hour for members, $150/hour for non-members. Includes bowling shoes and ramps.
5. Room and Facility Rentals: Drucker Center rooms for rent including full-size gyms, dance studios, multipurpose rooms, and small theatre space. Studios and multipurpose rooms average $35/hour; gyms average $95/hour; party rentals $200 for 2 hours.
6. Donations and Fundraising: Annual Fund donations, program sponsorships, special events, and Friends of Menomonee membership. Last year gave away over $13,000 in financial assistance scholarships.
7. Old Town Art Fair Proceeds: A major source of support from proceeds of the Old Town Art Fair, sponsored by the Old Town Triangle Association, held the second weekend of June each year - the oldest outdoor juried art fair in the country.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Menomonee Club is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community recreation center that delivers a broad portfolio of youth and adult programs, including judo, fencing, taekwondo, sports, dance, theatre, chess, STEM/LEGO, and other enrichment classes, plus weeklong summer camps, an annual membership program, room and facility rentals, and bowling alley rentals at its two Chicago facilities (Drucker Center in Lincoln Park and the Clubhouse in Old Town). Funding is supported by membership dues, program fees, donations, fundraising, and proceeds from the Old Town Art Fair.

Product overview

The Menomonee Club is a community recreation center offering a diverse portfolio of programs and facilities for children, adults, and families in Chicago. The organization operates two main facilities: the Drucker Center in Lincoln Park (with gyms, studios, and a dojo) and the Clubhouse in Old Town (featuring The Bader Family Alumni Lanes bowling alley). Programs include core offerings like Judo and direct classes, alongside partner programs such as Windy City Fencing, Revolution Taekwondo, RetroActive Sports, Chess4Life, and Play-Well LEGO camps. Additional partner programs cover theatre (Stages Chicago, Chicago Children's Theatre), dance (various cultural academies), and STEM (Kids STEM Studio). The Club also offers annual memberships with class discounts, facility room rentals, and financial assistance for families in need.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Judo Program Flagship judo instruction for ages 4 and up with Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced levels. The Club's Judo Program has produced 150+ National and International medals since 1997 and serves as the first Paralympic Judo National Training Center, offering inclusive programming for athletes with disabilities.
• Windy City Fencing Fencing instruction from ages 5 to adult with beginner, intermediate, and advanced classes plus Bronze, Silver, and Gold competitive teams. Led by former Olympian Tsanko Hantov and described as the most successful fencing club in the Midwest, with National medals in all age categories for over 15 years.
• Revolution Taekwondo

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 150 National and International medals since 1997, with more than 80 percent of Judo competitors medaling
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RetroActive SportscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Founded by JB Schuck in 2009, RetroActive Sports provides classic games and sports programming for kids ages 7-12. JB began working at Menomonee in 1999 and formed what is now RetroActive Sports to bring back classic games that have disappeared from contemporary playgrounds.
• Windy City FencingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2003Windy City Fencing has been a partner with The Menomonee Club since 2003. Led by former Olympian Tsanko Hantov, it provides fencing training from ages 5-adult with beginner, intermediate, and advanced classes, plus Bronze, Silver, and Gold competitive teams. It is the most successful fencing club in the Midwest and top USA fencing club, bringing home National medals in all age categories for over 15 years.
• Old Town Triangle AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1950Old Town Triangle Association formed in 1948 to preserve and improve the neighborhood. They created the Old Town Art Fair in June 1950, which evolved into a nationally-known event held the second weekend of June each year - the oldest outdoor juried art fair in the country. The fair is run entirely by volunteers from the Old Town Triangle Association and The Menomonee Club, and its proceeds are a major source of support for the club.
• Play-Well TEKnologiesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvides LEGO STEM programming for day off camps and fall programs at the Drucker Center. Uses tens of thousands of LEGO parts to teach real-world concepts in physics, engineering, and architecture.
• Chess4LifeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChess4Life provides chess camps and classes at The Menomonee Club. Offers engaging chess instruction with skill-grouped lessons for brand new to tournament players, focused on developing focus, sportsmanship, and strategic thinking.
• Revolution TaekwondominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRevolution Taekwondo partners with Menomonee to provide Olympic and Traditional Taekwondo instruction for boys and girls ages 6 and up. Led by Master Krasimir Rusev, 5th Dan, with USA Taekwondo National Team coaching experience.
• Stages ChicagominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTheatre camps partner providing performing arts experiences for children and families. Founded in 2016, dedicated to bringing highest quality, developmentally appropriate performing arts programming.
• Chicago Children's TheatreminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner theatre organization that aspires to enrich the community through diverse and significant theatrical and educational programming.
• A.B.L.E. TheatreminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChicago nonprofit that creates theatre and film for, with, and by individuals ages 13 and up with Down Syndrome and other intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• Kids STEM StudiominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvides hands-on STEM camps and programs that engage students at every level, sparks creativity, and develops critical thinking skills.
• Shirley Ryan AbilityLabminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as community partner, likely related to adaptive sports and rehabilitation programming supporting the Paralympic Judo program.
• Noble Network of Charter SchoolsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as community partner, providing recreational programming connections to Noble schools students.
• British School of Chicago - Lincoln ParkminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as community partner with parking validation arrangement. Located near the Drucker Center at Blackhawk/Dayton.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago: Large nonprofit membership-based organization offering fitness, sports, swim, and youth programming across Chicago. Highly comparable business model (annual memberships + program fees + donations) serving families with children, with broader geographic reach than Menomonee.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago: Network of nonprofit community youth centers providing sports, recreation, and enrichment programming for Chicago children and teens. Closely comparable mission ('keeping children off the streets'), membership/fee revenue mix, and youth programming focus.
• JCC Chicago (Jewish Community Centers): Nonprofit community center offering membership-based fitness, sports, swim, arts, and youth programming across multiple Chicago locations. Closely aligned membership + programming model with comparable member demographics.
• Hubbard Street Dance Chicago: Chicago dance education and performance organization where Menomonee's new Executive Director previously served. Overlaps on youth dance programming and the broader performing-arts enrichment segment Menomonee offers through Stages Chicago and other partners.
• Chicago Children's Theatre: Chicago nonprofit producing theatre programming for young audiences and families. Direct comparable for Menomonee's theatre partner programming (Stages Chicago) and shares the family/youth arts education customer base.
• Lakeshore Sport & Fitness: Premium Chicago fitness and recreational sports club offering memberships, classes, and youth programming in Lincoln Park. Comparable membership-driven recreation club model operating in the same neighborhood, with broader facilities but more upscale positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Chicago Park District: Municipal operator of recreation centers, sports leagues, camps, and enrichment programs across Chicago. Offers overlapping programming (sports, camps, arts) at subsidized rates, representing the most direct competitive alternative for Chicago families.

Regional players

• Old Town School of Folk Music: Chicago nonprofit music and arts education institution in the same Old Town neighborhood, offering classes, camps, and performances for all ages. Comparable community-rooted nonprofit arts education model targeting families in the same geography.

Emerging players

• Windy City Fencing: Top Midwest fencing club that has partnered with Menomonee since 2003. Direct competitor in the fencing program segment but also a current partner — relevant for understanding the competitive set Menomonee's judo/fencing moat competes within.
• 826 Chicago: Chicago nonprofit providing youth writing, tutoring, and enrichment programming. Comparable nonprofit enrichment model targeting children/families in Chicago, representing the broader education-and-enrichment nonprofit competitive landscape.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/Menomonee-Club-for-Boys-and-Girls/113458902021202
• Instagraminstagram.com/themenomoneeclub
• Xx.com/MenomoneeClub
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/menomonee-club

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Menomonee Club