Tower Club to close indefinitely

Last edited 1:38 p.m., March 7, 2017

The members-only Tower Club on the 21st and 22nd floors of Hammons Tower will not be accepting reservations beyond June 3, and the future of operations is unclear.

Sheri Smith, a spokeswoman for John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts, said the 901 St. Louis St. restaurant plans to close due to a need for improvements in “kitchen equipment, such as coolers, freezers and burners, along with flooring.” The club is owned by The Tower Club of Springfield Inc., which has board members listed as Jacquie Dowdy, CEO of JQH Hotels, and Greggory Groves, the company's general counsel, according to a Missouri secretary of state filing.

“The dining areas also are being reviewed for cosmetic updates,” Smith said.

Smith said once the scope and costs of the improvements are assessed, a decision will be made about the future of the club. The organization currently is gathering bids for facility improvements, and no reopening date has been set.

Smith declined to disclose the number of employees working at The Tower Club. Positions include management and administrative jobs, a chef, salespeople, culinary and kitchen support, and banquet workers.

“While an appropriate course of action for The Tower Club is being determined, facility management will be available to assist associates with leveraging potential career opportunities in the community,” Smith said.

The club that opened nearly 30 years ago sits atop the tallest building in Springfield. The 22-story office building was completed in 1987 by John Q. Hammons.