Taxi Club building up for sale

The building housing Sydney’s iconic Taxi Club is up for sale, but the club has no plans to move from the location and will seek a creative leaseback arrangement from the successful buyer.

City Commercial Property recently announced the building was for sale by tender — the second time in two years the building has been put on the market.

“In 2010 we had a member of the community come forward who had offered to lend the club money and we decided that rather than sell the property, we would pursue that,” secretary and club general manager Michelle Mancini told the Star Observer.

“We got to the point of exchanging contracts and this person disappeared and has been uncontactable ever since. That deal didn’t go through so in the meantime we were trying to sort out what else we could do.

Looking at the finances, we resolved to put the property back on the market.”

In negotiating a leaseback arrangement, the club was looking to stay at the site for as long as possible.

“The board decided to do it through the tender process,” Mancini said.

“We’ve been taking about a three by three lease, we’ve been talking to another person about what could be a longer lease, so we’re pretty flexible. We’re open to whatever is best to keep us here.

“We’re hoping this sale will secure the future of the club for many years to come.”

In late 2009 the Taxi Club became the only GLBTI registered club in Australia, having run continuously on the site since it opened as Grosvenors Club in 1956.

Mancini said it was that club status that made it stand out as a venue.

“We have to give back more to members in terms of prizes and benefits — birthday specials, points on their members’ cards, cheaper drinks and value-for-money meals and we always try to support the community as far as charities and community groups are concerned,” she said.

“A lot of groups use our nightclub facilities as a meeting room.”

During Sydney Pride Festival’s final week, members and guests will be treated to Sandy Bottom in her Aloha cabaret show on June 24. Dinner and show costs $40, with $5 from each ticket going to the club’s Community Chest to be distributed among three charities.