Evan Mock and Badius Photo Courtesy: BFA
Hosted by Richie Akiva, Ron Burkle and Soho House creator Nick Jones, The Membership Club and Hotel Impressed the Most Impressionable of New Yorkers
Richie Akiva, the top name at the helm of global hospitality and A-list parties for well over a decade, hosted the soft grand opening of his latest endeavor, The Ned NoMad, where he has teamed up on the NY membership hotel brand. Serving as face, Akiva will be spearheading the New York property inclusive of all things – entertainment lineup, VIP clientele and membership program – working closely with the operations team. Akiva hosted the opening with long-time friends, Soho House and The Ned owners Ron Burkle and Nick Jones.
VIPs including Maxwell, Julia Fox in a black leather catsuit, Anne V., Gigi Hadid, Chantal Jeffries, Miguel, Robin Thicke, Ryan Eggold, Evan Mock, Darya Hope Pishevar, Dominique Silver, Marta Pozzan, Giuseppe Giofre, Georgia Sinclair, Rosie Perez, Michael Cayre, Patrick Finnegan, Noah Tepperberg and Melissa Wood, plus a bevy of fabulous models, and notable New Yorkers across all genres were in attendance throughout the night.
There is no coveted party happening in NYC these days, or globally for that matter, that Akiva does not seem to be the host of. His vision for an epic evening, especially in New York City, is unmatched.
Following a multi-course 350 person sit down dinner, and a show-stopping performance by Sister Sledge who had the entire party crowd on their feet dancing, Robin Thicke serenaded the crowd in the upstairs members club level during the afterparty with a multi-song set, joined by Miguel who wowed the room with a few songs, followed by a few late-night songs from Badius. The dinner which was spread through Cecconi’s, Little Ned and the membership dining rooms such as The Library, and featured entrees like butter spaghetti with caviar, lobster spaghetti, mouth-watering stacked kobe burgers and filet mignon with spinach, followed by extravagant desserts such as layered ice cream sundaes, chocolate chip cookie pies and tiramisu.
Earlier in the night, as the doors opened to the high-energy evening, guests were flooded with passed hors d’oeuvres ranging from gourmet baby frankfurters topped with dijon mustard to haloumi cheese bites. Mixology offerings by white glove servers of every signature The Ned cocktail on the menu from spicy palomas to cucumber martinis to preview plus champagne coupes for days, greeting guests at every turn. It was a lavish affair, of utmost class, and reflective of a 1920s prohibition thematic. Music played the entire night, welcoming guests properly to The Ned NoMad in style.
Located at 1170 Broadway in the heart of New York City, The Ned NoMad features Cecconi’s, a modern-day classic Italian restaurant, and Little Ned, a 1920’s style bar with New American cuisine featuring time-honored staples and classic cocktails, plus a members-only club area featuring various cocktail bars, sitting areas and dining rooms, such as “The Library,” ”The Atrium Stage,” a rooftop bar and terrace, “The Magic Room” and “The Dining Room.” The hotel features 167 guest bedrooms with a nod to 1920’s glamour. Membership to Ned’s Clubs globally is included with a Ned NoMad membership.
The Story of The Ned NoMad: Five years after launching The Ned London, we are proud to be opening The Ned NoMad in New York. We’re excited to be here. In the 1920s the Midland Bank was one of the largest and most powerful in the world.To celebrate its achievements, the bank wanted a new London headquarters – a building that would stand out from the straight-laced Victorian architecture of The City. There was only one person to turn to: Sir Edwin Landseer Lutyens, known to friends and family as ‘Ned.’ Lutyens, who was an architect for the rich and famous, spent the next four years drafting a vast 29,450sqm Grade-I listed building, designed to convey the impression of dependability and security demanded by a bank. The Midland Bank was later bought by HSBC, which remained in the building until 2007 when it relocated to a new head office in Canary Wharf. Five years later, in 2012, Ron Burkle fell in love with the space and saw an opportunity to create a new approach to hospitality. He set about transforming the building into The Ned. The Ned includes private members’ club Ned’s Club and a private events floor, alongside ten restaurants and 250 bedrooms which are available to the public. The opening of The Ned in 2017 was one of London’s most ambitious hotel launches in recent decades, with a team working tirelessly for five years to repurpose the iconic building and make it relevant once again.
Today the property has 250 bedrooms, 10 restaurants, 17 bars, a range of men’s and women’s grooming services and ‘Ned’s Club’, where members have access to a rooftop pool, a state-of-the-art gym, spa, hammam and late-night lounge bar created in the bank’s original vault. Located in The Johnston Building, named after the original owner, Caroline A. Johnston, the space was previously the NoMad Hotel in Manhattan. The property includes ‘Ned’s Club’ – a member’s club including access to a rooftop bar and terrace restaurant, as well as 167 bedrooms and a Cecconi’s restaurant. Built in 1903 as a store and office, the limestone façade and original architectural features will be honored, with interiors designed and directed by the Soho House Design team, inspired by the existing Beaux-Arts style. thened.com/nomad
