The long-awaited Biba Social private club in West Palm Beach finally is set to open in January.
The private, members-only club is in the now-shuttered Hotel Biba, formerly the Mount Vernon Motor Lodge. The 320 Belvedere Road property is just east of South Dixie Highway, south of downtown.
The nearly 1-acre property, built in the "Bermuda vernacular" architecture, was designed by the architect Belford Shoumate. The site, which opened in 1941, also is among the first motor lodges built in the United States and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
The property's latest owner, Elizabeth Rad Elghanayan, has embarked on a years-long effort to turn the property into a private club.
Private clubs are a new perk planned for West Palm Beach's
increasingly affluent community. In addition to Biba Social,three other clubs are in the works in the downtown.
The members-only Biba Social club originally was set to open in the fall of 2024, then the fall of 2025. Construction delays pushed the opening date to early 2026, then further delays moved a planned opening to the fall of 2026.
Now the project is slated to open sometime in January, as the winter tourist season ramps into high gear across Palm Beach County.
Details about the private club
When it opens, Biba Social will feature dining and drinking options, a small hotel for members and a swimming pool, all set amid a retreat inspired by the French Riviera.
The property's 26 hotel rooms include nine listed as suites.
Elghanayan, the property's owner and developer, said she was excited by the club's "meticulous restoration" of the historic property.
The private members club will feature two distinctive dining concepts, including the U.S. debut of the MayaBay collection. Monaco-based MayaBay Restaurant Group is opening its first Thai-Japanese restaurant in the United States at Biba Social.
Biba Social will feature outdoor spaces encompassing the Palm Court, pool and rooftop; settings for private gatherings and events; as well as the restored historic hotel accommodations.
Although Elghanayan acknowledged "it's been a long road," she said she was looking forward to seeing her plan finally come to fruition.
➤EXCLUSIVE real estate news: Sign up for The Dirt newsletter
“Biba has been a deeply personal vision, thoughtfully considered in every detail," Elghanayan said. "We have remained steadfast in creating something truly distinctive and intentional. We look forward to sharing this extraordinary property with our members in January."
Elghanayan is manager of Palm Beach-based Corrado Properties, which owns and develops boutique luxury hotels and resorts, including the Sorrel River Ranch Resort and Spa in Moab, Utah.
Elghanayan bought Hotel Biba through an affiliate, Royal Palm WPB Hospitality, in late 2020 for $4.5 million, according to Palm Beach County property records.
Why West Palm Beach is attracting private clubs
Private club operators say the city's increasingly affluent population is creating interest in private spaces where people can gather away from crowds and the stress of competing with the public for dinner reservations.
Like other new private clubs planned in the downtown, Biba Social's membership will include residents of both West Palm Beach and Palm Beach. But Biba Social officials also say they expect to draw members coming from all over the world, too, making the club global in nature.
Biba Social officials don't disclose membership fees, but people familiar with the club said most memberships cost at least $50,000. Would-be members can apply starting Nov. 1.
Due to the delayed openings, some early members soured on the club and asked for their money back, people familiar with the club said. But that has opened spaces for new members wishing to join the club, backers stated.
More private clubs coming to Palm Beach County
Biba Social isn't the only private club coming to West Palm Beach, or the county.
Just to the club's north, in the heart of downtown, the Bellini Rooftop Lounge is set to open in late 2027 at 320 Lakeview Ave. The club is part of the 27-story Mr. C Hotel & Residences being built by Terra Group and the Morrison family in partnership with members of the famed Cipriani family.
In addition, the Related Ross firm in West Palm Beach and Leisure Resorts LLC of Hartford, Connecticut, are working on a joint venture to build a private club next to the Palm Harbor Marina along North Flagler Drive. No timetable for the club's development is available yet.
Another private membership club could be tucked into a planned condominium at 201 and 203 Arkona Court, just east of Olive Avenue near theNorton Museum of Art.
The new private club will be a place where residents, and members of the public, including students from nearby Palm Beach Atlantic University, will be able to gather for art and other cultural activities, according to Rob Frisbie.
Frisbie is managing partner of Easton Street Capital, which wants to build the 16-unit luxury condo. In addition to paid memberships, Frisbie said the plan is to offer free memberships to different non-profit organizations throughout the city.
Farther south, a private club planned for the heart of downtown Boca Raton also is coming.
The Sanborn, recently approved by the city of Boca Raton, will be in an eight-story building at 100 N.E. 1st Avenue.
The club will feature a speakeasy, a cigar lounge, a game room and a rooftop pool deck. Silverstein Hospitality is developing the restaurants and the bars. Further details aren't yet available, but the club is expected to take about two years to complete.
Alexandra Clough is a business writer at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at aclough@pbpost.com. X: @acloughpbp. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Biba Social private club eyes January opening in West Palm | Exclusive
