Happy 50th Anniversary to Midtown!
Oct 16, 2020
Written by Midtown CEO, Steven Schwartz
Today marks the 50th anniversary of the grand opening of Midtown Tennis Club in Chicago! What started for my dad as three years of plans, setbacks, and achievements became a dream come true at 8am on October 16, 1970, when we opened our doors as the world’s largest indoor tennis club. Midtown was in business.
It has been a great ride ever since. From day one we set a high standard for what a tennis club could be.
Billie Jean King said, “Midtown is the yardstick against which all other clubs should be measured.”Arthur Ashe said, “Midtown is the most color-blind club in the country.”Today, Philip Mills (the owner of the largest global group exercise programming company) calls Midtown Chicago, “the best club in the world.”
These compliments speak to the vision we had, coupled with the talented, dedicated team of associates we were fortunate to attract and retain.
Midtown developed many innovations in tennis court design and teaching that are now considered standard practice. We focused on lessons, leagues, and the social side of the game. With Tennis in No Time, we launched over 100,000 new tennis players.
Midtown has been the meeting place of hundreds of couples, the weekly anchor for thousands of tennis and exercise friendships, and a welcoming place for members to socialize and support their healthy habits.
We have grown over the last 50 years. What started as one club is now eight Midtowns, as well as 24 more facilities we manage for others. We have also reinvented ourselves. Our tennis clubs became fitness and tennis clubs, then lifestyle clubs with the addition of other sports, pools cafes and more. Now, we are pioneering the “luxury sports resort” with our Hotel at Midtown Chicago.
This, though, is a strange time to be celebrating. We had hoped to have a series of parties and events to mark this occasion, but with a focus on your safety, capacity restrictions, and social distancing, now is not the right time. We have decided to push back our 50th year celebration until late next year…when 51 will be the new 50!
I would like to thank you, our members, and our fellow associates, both current and past, for making these 50 years special. What started with my grandfather and father is now being carried on by my son and me. Working across generations to build Midtown has been an honor and privilege. We look forward to our next 50 years and the ability to be a central and pivotal part of your life.