Learn About The Bungalow Club on Saturday

Plans for a new supper, sports and social club in downtown Exeter are being unveiled on Saturday.

The Bungalow Club will be built at 9 Franklin St., a back-lot parcel adjacent to the Blue Moon Restaurant where Al’s Auto Body used to store its vehicles.

Exeter resident Kathleen Mahoney owns the property and says she is excited to build “a beautiful clubhouse where people can gather, dine, play, exercise, get away and be inspired.”

The Bungalow Club is a member-owned equity club where members will enjoy food, drinks, an exercise room, large porches, game room, live music, and a full calendar of opportunities to try new things and meet interesting people. Members will have access to a private pocket park on the Exeter River across the street where they can launch kayaks and enjoy the bucolic vista.

Says Mahoney, “It’s all about an engaged way of living. We aim to create a welcoming clubhouse where people can relax or be active, entertain family, friends, and colleagues, and stay mentally and physically vibrant.”

Twenty-three founding members have kicked off the membership drive and a maximum of 175 Inaugural Memberships will be sold in this second phase, which closes Dec. 1. Members pay a one-time fee along with club dues and a quarterly food/beverage minimum. As an equity club, the members will own the clubhouse and its assets, and elect a board of directors to set club policies. Members may choose to sell their share in the future.

An architectural rendering by Jeff Demers Design shows a distinctive 5,900 square foot shingle style clubhouse with wide porches and three privately owned apartment condos upstairs. The Bungalow Club sits in the center of the new neighborhood called “Porches at Exeter,” which features 11 cottage town homes along the river and the three flats above the Clubhouse.

Kath Gallant, owner of the popular Blue Moon Evolution Restaurant, is thrilled with the upcoming improvements next door.

Says Gallant, “We welcome the Bungalow Club as neighbors. We believe the new club and homes will bring much needed new life and energy to our corner of town.” Exeter’s Economic Development Director Darren Winham agrees. He says, “The project is a great fit for the Franklin Street location and will be a big boost for our downtown. The Bungalow Club will draw people to the area and I anticipate it will be a wonderful addition to the Exeter Community.”

Open house on Oct. 10

Curious residents are encouraged to stop by an Open House at the future site of the Bungalow Club on 9 Franklin Street from 3-5 p.m. on October 10. Kathleen Mahoney will be on hand to review the plans and answer questions. Individual appointments are available by calling 603-777-6443 or visit porchesatexeter.com.

Kathleen Mahoney is a businesswoman and entrepreneur who grew up on the Seacoast. She attended Winnacunnet High School and Phillips Exeter Academy. She graduated from Princeton University and received an MBA from Stanford University. Mahoney started and ran a mail-order catalogue for 14 years in San Francisco and has lived in Exeter with her husband and three teenage boys for the past four years. Her professional life most recently has centered on creating events and places where people come together and find community.