‘Social darts’ concept Flight Club to open global flagship in landmark NYC building
A new eatertainment destination is expanding across the United States.
Global social entertainment operator State of Play Hospitality has signed a lease to open Flight Club, billed as an “upscale technology-enabled social darts concept" at 31 Union Square West in New York City. It will be State of Play’s first venue in Manhattan, its ninth lease for Flight Club in North America and a global flagship.
State of Play unveiled the first Flight Club in the United States, under license, in the downtown Loop area of Chicago in 2018, followed by locations in Boston, Houston, Atlanta, Las Vegas and Denver. Additional venues are set to open later this year in Washington D.C. and Philadelphia.
Scheduled to open in late 2025, the New York City Flight Club will be located in a 10,700-sq.-ft. former bank, spanning both the ground floor and basement with an outside patio. The Renaissance Revival-styled building, which most recently housed the Blue Water Grill restaurant, was built in 1902-1903. It was designated a city landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1988 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.
Inspired by the rich heritage of darts from British pubs and Victorian fairgrounds, Flight Club has updated the traditional game with technology that provides automated scoring and various multiplayer games for all group sizes. It also features “upscale” food and craft cocktails.
“We've been looking for the right real estate opportunity to land Flight Club in New York for over five years, and this site has the potential to be a genuine landmark for the city and the Group,” stated Toby Harris, CEO of State of Play Hospitality. “Both 31 Union Square as a building and the stunning split level Flight Club space are as close to the physical brief for the brand that we could wish for.”
Flight Club was founded in London in 2015. It has more than 20 locations worldwide.