Nina Compton Plans Ambitious Members-Only Club For New Orleans

And yes, NFTs are involved

Nina Compton
Chef Nina Compton attends the American Express' SAVOR & SOUL": ESSENCE™ Festival Edition - Day 1 on July 01, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Josh Brasted/Getty Images for American Express

If you’ve ever thought about joining a members-only club, this is a point in time where there’s no shortage of options. But within the sphere of private clubs, there are different specialities and focuses to be found. That makes sense; someone might prefer a club with a focus on interior spaces for meetings, while someone else could opt for an automotive-centered club.

And while New Orleans’s ShaSha Lounge Social Aid + Pleasure Club hasn’t opened its doors yet — it’s set for a 2023 opening — it seems safe to say that it’ll attract a crowd of potential members who crave good food.

An article at Broken Palate describes the space as “a membership-based cocktail experience and lounge” — and offers a sense of what to expect. James Beard Award-winning chef Nina Compton and her husband Larry Miller are behind the idea; as per Eater’s report, it’ll be their third New Orleans establishment.

The other contributors involved with the project also bring an impressive list of credentials with them. Broken Palate’s report notes that the likes of Stephanie Izard and Marc Forgione are also involved with the project.

Prospective members will be able to join via the purchase of an NFT — making ShaSha Lounge one of a growing number of members-only clubs to embrace this technology. The club will be donating a portion of its revenue to disaster relief efforts in the region. It’s an interesting blend of technology, cuisine and social responsibility — and we’ll see how well it all clicks into place next year.

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