The return of the Wausau Club
A project ten years in the making is about to be unveiled
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David Hummer still gets messages asking if anything is going to happen with the old Wausau Club.
It’s befuddling. After the old Wausau Club’s first floor has served as the home of the Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art, which has essentially put Wausau on the map in the art world — it’s a stunning question.
But today he is embracing the name for the new project on the second floor. That project is one that has been ten years in the making.
On Wednesday, Jan. 14, Hummer will reveal the new version of the Wausau Club on the second floor of the building: An events space aiming to be one of the most prestigious in town, as well as a community space for all to enjoy.
Re-opening The Wausau Club
The Wausau Club existed for nearly a century before sitting dormant for many years. The club was a premier destination for Wausau’s elite. The club opened in 1902 and served as a hub of business development and high society until its closing in 2004.
The building sat dormant for years, and saw several proposals that ultimately fell through before Hummer pitched the idea in 2016 to the city’s Economic Development Committee.
Hummer developed the first floor into a museum with an exhibit juried by Alyssa Monks, one of the top artists in the country (Hummer tells me she is has been named the top 16 painter of our lifetime.)
But re-opening the top floor, which includes a large ballroom, as an event space was always part of the long-term plan. The idea is that the event space would help fund the museum. The Community Foundation was on board with the plan.
Then COVID reared itself, and with it came supply chain shocks and a skyrocketing in building costs. Construction inflation is always higher than regular inflation. And the foundations in town all needed to shift focus to direct human need.
Hummer estimates the renovation cost triple what it would have when he first envisioned the project. Opportunities for grants became available about a year and a half ago and that helped get the project going again.
But, costs were still kept to $1.3 million, for an 8,000-square-foot space, thanks to some workers who believed in his project, Hummer told The Wausonian. He cites contractors from Integrity Fire Protection, Lyon Heating and Cooling, and Rib Falls Electric as giving him a good deal because they believe in the project. He also worked with independent contractors directly to help keep costs down.
Hummer said he wanted to respect the historic nature of the building. The triple-arch bar back, for instance, was built by a craftsman in Chicago out of tiger oak for far less than he would have paid for a refurbished orginal. The design is a cross between two different turn-of-the-century styles.
“I wanted to treat this building with the respect that it deserves,” Hummer says.
Hummer put in all new HVAC and electrical, and brand new stage curtains. The original hardwood floors were refinished. It now has air conditioning for the first time.
Hummer says he worked with Joe Pepowski from The Mint to build a catering room that would be ideal for caterers, ensuring the best experience as they serve guests. The Wausau Club will have its own preferred list of caterers to help ensure quality, Hummer explains.
A little something for everyone
Make no mistake. The Wausau Club as an events space isn’t meant to be affordable. It’ll be the most elite and most expensive space in all of Marathon County — and probably the surrounding counties, Hummer tells The Wausonian.
“There’s a reason for that,” Hummer says. “There’s nothing like it. When people experience it they will see there is nothing like it. And just like the Wausau Club always was, there are inherent bragging rights for being able to afford to have your event up there.”
But that doesn’t mean the public will be shut out. There will be plenty of events planned that are meant to be accessible to the public.
Executive Director of Events and Programming Heather Becker says they are already programming a series of events, including jazz nights, big band nights and other ticketed events. They’ve already been hosting music Mondays, a singing circle and sound baths. There is even a Masquerade Ball set for October.
“The goal is to use that space seven days per week,” Hummer says, and there will “always be something going on. … It’s very community driven.”
Meanwhile, Hummer and Becker say they’re already taking bookings for 2026 and 2027. Hummer says those interested in booking an event or wedding might want to talk to Becker now, because in the early days they can “work with people” on price because they want to get the first couple of years booked up. There won’t be any discounting in the future.
The Wausau Club is located at 309 McClellan Street in Wausau. It will hold a ribbon cutting on Jan. 14. Those who want to keep up to date on the Wausau Club’s events should follow the Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art’s Facebook page.
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