from: The Business Ledger - March 11, 2002

Dining club offers outlet for busy professionals

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  By Cathy Szmurlo

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Busy, single professionals who don't like the bar scene and who believe there are few avenues available to them to meet that special someone have found viable alternatives.

One of those is Delightful Dining, a west suburban dining club for single professionals that offers a low-pressure way to meet new friends, find romance or just try a new restaurant.

Brooke McClurg started Delightful Dining to offer a special outlet for busy single professionals.

Club member Brooke McClurg acquired the club last June from the previous owners.

"I believed in the concept and I thought it was a worthwhile venture. It's a better option for singles than what's out there now," said McClurg.

McClurg stresses that the club is not a dating service.

"The purpose of a dating service is to go and be fixed up with someone. Even though the main goal of a lot of our people is to meet someone, we don't hold ourselves out as a dating service. We're a social, dining club."

"But people do meet and go out and lots of them come back."

McClurg organizes bi-monthly events at a variety of area restaurants, with other activities like Drury Lane shows, boat cruises, dances and bowling nights added here and there.

"All our members are professionals in their 30s, 40s or 50s. We have about 150 active members right now," McClurg said. "There are people who have recently relocated here and some that just want to try new restaurants," she said.

Curious prospective members can visit the club's Web site at www.delightfuldining.com. To join, members fill out a short questionnaire to determine their age and interests.

Membership is limited to singles in professional occupations. The questions asked include date of birth, degrees earned, colleges attended, and favorite cuisine. New members can check off their interests among the forty listed on the web site, ranging from music to travel to football.

The site outlines upcoming events, fees and frequently asked questions. Photos are also posted from past events. Member and guest letters and messages offer positive feedback on the events.

Although McClurg can't say how many marriages have occurred since she acquired the club, a page lists several past engagements and marriages among the club members during it's four-year existence.

Between 30 and 35 people typically attend an event, McClurg said. Assigned seating is usually introduced during a pre-dinner reception. "I try to get to know people beforehand and to seat them with someone different all the time." Dinner and sometimes dancing follows.

McClurg arrives about an hour ahead of time to arrange place card and set up nametags. A candy rose placed at his or her place setting identifies a new member.

Event prices range from $35 to $95, depending on the type of restaurant or event it is. McClurg said members should make reservations for an event in advance although last minute additions are usually accommodated. They are free to attend any number of the events in a given year.

"Some people go to every one and others pick and choose. All our members are very busy people and some do a lot of traveling."

McClurg often gets ideas for event locations from members. "I try to mix up events—make some less expensive and others more expensive."

Yearly membership is $98. "Guests can attend for the event cost plus $30. People can do this one time to try it out," she said.

As for the future, McClurg says she has no plans to make any drastic changes.

Although there have been offers to franchise the business or set up a north suburban branch, she says she has no interest in expanding right now.

"I like the club as it is. I'm hoping to make the membership grow," McClurg said. "The club has been very successful and it caters to a good group of people. Every week we get one or two new members.

"I want to see what the future holds."

QUICK FACTS Delightful Dining Inc. 551 Roosevelt Road, #318 Glen Ellyn, Ill. 60137 Phone: 630-545-9377 Fax: 630-545-9388 E-mail: brooke@delightfuldining.com Web site: www.delightfuldining.com Owner: Brooke McClurg

(Article re-printed from the Business Ledger, March 11, 2002 - Photo by Dietrich Wolffram)


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