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Old club could be revived with a grant

Barbara J. Perenic Northwestern High School senior Christian Wright stands next to the logo he designed for the Lagonda Club. Staff photo by Barbara J. Perenic

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By Tom Stafford, Staff Writer Updated 10:45 AM Saturday, March 20, 2010

SPRINGFIELD — Art Wilson needs help to get a $250,000 Pepsi Refresh Grant so he can convert the ground floor of the historic Lagonda Club into a gathering spot for youth.

Beginning April 1, people can cast votes for the project daily at refresheverything.com, a Pepsi Web site. Each month this year, the company will award grants of $250,000, $50,000, $25,000 and $5,000 based on projects that qualify and are top vote-getters.

“We’re proposing to do a youth- and events-oriented community club here, membership only,” Wilson said.

Previously involved in developing the former Ruby Tuesday’s in the old Heaume Hotel, current home of Buffalo Wild Wings (BW3), Wilson said he and his wife bought the Lagonda Club in 1988 “when times were a little better.

“I’ve not seen anything that would warrant going full bore at this in the 20 years we’ve owned it, except right now,” he said.

Wilson plans to leave the brick and stone interior walls on the ground floor bare. A large wooden bar would be added, brass surrounds put on decorative pillars and “weirdities and oddities” would create an edgy feel.

Wilson called open areas on the first floor “a wonderful space for gathering” and said a walk-in cooler could accommodate catering.

Artist renderings of the proposed interior can be seen at www.clublagonda.com .

Completed in 1894 as the home of an exclusive men’s social club, the Lagonda Club later was home to the Springfield Chamber of Commerce.

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