A networking business is opening its first Houston location after years of programming targeting the Bayou City.
Atlanta-based The Gathering Spot announced in March that Houston would be its fourth physical location. However, TGS told the Houston Business Journal the location will open next spring. The project is in the design phase, said Ryan Wilson, a co-founder and CEO at TGS.
“We've always known that The Gathering Spot is not just about the physical locations but the vibrant community that forms within and around them,” Wilson told the HBJ via an emailed statement. “Our community in Houston is already thriving, and we're actively engaging with members through virtual and events in the meantime. We can't wait to add a physical space to complement and enhance the strong connections and programming we're already developing in Houston.”
The Gathering Spot is private membership club that serves as an event and coworking hub targeted at Black entrepreneurs and creatives. TGS has physical locations in Los Angeles; Washington, D.C.; and Atlanta. In addition to Houston, the hub also has four other communities in locations that do not have physical spaces yet: New York City; Chicago; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Detroit.
TGS said it has over 12,000 members nationwide as of the end of March, and Wilson confirmed that its Houston community has over 500 members.
Wilson could not disclose the Houston club’s location but said that member accessibility and cultural significance played a part in the site selection. While TGS welcomes members from any industry, Wilson said he was looking at several specific sectors in the Bayou City that he wanted to connect with the organization’s member base.
“Houston is known for its strong presence in sectors like energy, health care, technology, and the arts, among others.,” Wilson said. “We see immense value in bringing individuals from these varied backgrounds into the same space, encouraging dialogue, collaboration, and mutual support.”
TGS’s presence could bring much-needed activity to areas of Houston hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic. The Downtown Vitality Index, published by HBJ parent company American City Business Journals, found that cell phone activity in Houston’s downtown is 64% of its pre-pandemic level, the worst of all of Texas’ major cities. The city also faces issues with older properties being unable to attract tenants, leading to vacant office space.
The TGS announcement comes less than a year after the club agreed to a settlement with Atlanta-based banking services platform Greenwood Financial Services last July. Greenwood had reached a deal to acquire TGS, but the two companies filed lawsuits against each other. TGS alleged Greenwood had failed to make necessary payments, while Greenwood said TGS had misrepresented the value of its business.
According to reporting from the Atlanta Business Chronicle, a sister publication of the HBJ, financial terms of the settlement were not disclosed, but TGS continues to operate as an independent subsidiary of Greenwood.
Wilson co-founded TGS with TK Petersen in 2016 near Georgia Tech University. According to Crunchbase, the company has raised $5 million at a seed valuation.
