Photo Credit: Tory Williams
The Wing, a New York-based female networking club, is officially open for business on the west coast. It’s first California location debuted earlier this week in downtown San Francisco on the corner of Sansome and Bush Streets. “We are thrilled to welcome a new community to The Wing with the opening of our San Francisco location,” Audrey Gelman, the co-founder, and CEO of The Wing said in an email. “We’re hopeful that The Wing will be a positive force to lift up members from diverse backgrounds, and a place where they can foster important relationships, connections, and ideas.”
Photo Credit: Tory Williams
The all-girls club is an 8,000 square-foot space with a cafe and bar, showers, lockers, conference rooms, phone booths, library, lactation room, beauty room, and main room. Members can use The Wing as an office space, a place to host meetings, or to hang out and meet like-minded ladies. No detail was overlooked, and everything about The Wing is female-centric. Architect Alda Ly stripped away the ceiling and uncovered original window features that date back to 1912. Chiara de Rege did the interior design, a Pinterest perfect mixture of pastels, geometric tiles, and mid-century modern furniture.
Photo Credit: Tory Williams
“The center main room, which is the heart of the space, is grounded by the Raf Simmons sofas and a vintage Sputnik light,” De Rege said in an email. “I am a nut for Cristina Celestino designs. I love her pair of mustard slipper chairs, with the carpeted base, and earring backings. They are jewels for the San Francisco members to enjoy. Finally, I think the cafe is such a cool and intimate space. We made a small aesthetic departure from other locations by integrating more textures and patterns. For example, our banquette is backed in that great pattern instead of the solids we typically use.”
Photo Credit: Tory Williams
Lolita Cros curated the artwork. She worked with some of SF’s top galleries—Jessica Silverman Gallery, Fraenkel Gallery and Minnesota Street Project–to showcase the work of female artists like Judy Chicago, Maria Capron, and Cait Molloy. Following The Wing’s mission to support all things women, all of the pieces are for sale.
Photo Credit: Tory Williams
There is a sense of empowerment to the space: one of the conference rooms is named after Christine Blasey Ford, the candy-colored phone booths are named after fictional females who are inspiring and outspoken (like Elaine Benes from Seinfeld), and women authored all of the books (which are arranged in a rainbow on one side of the main room).
Photo Credit: Kassie Borreson
The Wing’s culinary director Dani Dillon conceived the menu for the all-day cafe which features ingredients from local female-lead companies—“Wing Woman” is what the list refers to them as. People like Elisabeth Prueitt of Tartine and Sue Conley and Peggy Smith of Cowgirl Creamery are highlighted. There are snacks (hummus, French fries), bowls (Fork the Patriarchy features freekeh, greens, poached eggs, avocado, and aji verde sauce), sandwiches, egg dishes, and toast. Coffee, tea, juice, beer, cider, low ABV cocktails, and wine (made by female winemakers) are also available.
Photo Credit: Tory Williams
Interested in joining? Unfortunately, The Wing already has a massive wait-list. Members must have similar values that align with The Wing’s mission of lifting up women. To apply, prospective members have to provide specific examples of how they have promoted or supported the advancement of women. Not everyone is accepted. The Wing hopes to ensure that a wide variety of females from all backgrounds and professions are represented in its membership. The Wing members have access to the club and exclusive events like an upcoming Chanel pop-up, Eva Chen book reading, and Nancy Pelosi discussion.
