People’s Debuts in New York City
Introduction
For New Yorkers, entering a dilapidated façade into a candlelit club is a rite of passage. When it comes to cool factor, unmarked exteriors are superlative, coteries draped in banquets within the humming walls, and outside crowds of clamoring bodies a necessary evil. People’s, the gallery and club that owners Margot Hauer-King and Emmet McDermott officially unveiled to the Greenwich Village social scene on Dec. 16, hits each mark with intention.
The Space
The space, currently masked by a construction gate at the front of a half-abandoned townhouse, unfolds in layers. First, it’s warm. A glowing red vestibule just large enough for about four people, including two hosts, a list, and their stand, softens the fibers of one’s being, especially on nights (like that of Dec. 11) that whipped cold and wet. Through a curtain, the next two rooms are richly outfitted—curtained in deep purple with velvety lounges, a slim bar illuminated by a roaring fire and an eye-catching work by Aglaé Bassens called "Catty catty," part of People’s debut exhibit of five artists, to change quarterly. This windowless progression of plum and rouge culminates in a church-like gallery room twice the height of its moody predecessors.
The Art
Natural light pours from a grand pyramid skylight onto the creamy walls, which play host to the majority of the installation, with works by Preslav Kostov, Jiang Cheng, Emma Kohlmann, and Amie Dicke. Guests are positioned at petite tables opposite each other, with one chocolatey brown booth curved around the walls, broken up only for an entryway and the second, larger bar along the back wall. The center is open, with plenty of room for the server to sing along to Mariah Carey’s "Fantasy" as she surveys empty cocktail glasses at the start of the evening.
Food and Drink
From December 10 to 12, Hauer-King and McDermott invited friends, family, and press to preview the space over champagne, martinis, pickled crudités, lemon-zested Castelvetrano olives, fans of magenta endive with a luscious blue cheese-flecked dip like a deconstructed wedge, and caviar. My decadent spirit would have indulged in the burger, but the flameless kitchen had not yet reached full function. Considering Elizabeth Street Hospitality, the team behind Michelin-starred Musket Room and Raf’s, developed the food menu for People’s, I trust it will deliver hot plates (and other kitsch bites like Banoffee pie) effectively.
The Unofficial Late-Night Scene
The week prior, beginning December 3, when Hauer-King and McDermott poured their first drink in the softer yet less subdued of two soft openings, People’s was packed. By the weekend, word of its unofficial late-night scene spread, including to Suki Waterhouse and Robert Pattinson, who DeuxMoi spotted dipping into the club Saturday night.
The Visionaries
"It’s definitely a baptism by fire to open something with a community that is so ready to go. There was nothing ‘soft’ about our opening," Hauer-King told Observer. "We have an absolutely rock star team that hit the ground running and delivered the People’s experience with aplomb from the very start."
Conclusion
People’s is Hauer-King and McDermott’s first-ever hospitality venture. McDermott is a journalist and film producer, who was formerly a news editor at The Hollywood Reporter. He’s worked on projects like Netflix’s "White Hot: The Rise & Fall of Abercrombie & Fitch" and Hulu’s "Queenmaker: The Making of an It Girl."
Q&A
Q: What inspired the name "People’s"?
A: The name "People’s" is a reference to the People’s Art Guild, a fairly radical artists’ cooperative founded in 1915. The guild provided an alternative to fine art galleries by exhibiting avant-garde and modern art to the settlement houses and tenements in the Lower East Side. It aimed to enrich the lives of both immigrants and artists through connection and access.
Q: What is the inspiration behind the art exhibited at People’s?
A: The owners work closely with curator Anne Parke to showcase emerging artists that support People’s past and present, deeply rooted in community and storytelling. Prices are not listed, and if patrons are interested in a piece, they will be given Parke’s info so they can speak directly about the purchasing process.
Q: What is the vibe of the space?
A: The space is warm, with a glowing red vestibule, richly outfitted rooms, and a church-like gallery room. The center is open, with plenty of room for the server to sing along to Mariah Carey’s "Fantasy" as she surveys empty cocktail glasses at the start of the evening.
Q: What is the food and drink menu like?
A: People’s offers a range of options, including champagne, martinis, pickled crudités, and caviar. The flameless kitchen had not yet reached full function, but considering Elizabeth Street Hospitality, the team behind Michelin-starred Musket Room and Raf’s, developed the food menu for People’s, I trust it will deliver hot plates (and other kitsch bites like Banoffee pie) effectively.
