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When Tammy Ly showed a spacious, commercial space in downtown Syracuse to one of her real estate clients, she noticed how often the tenants living above were ordering food.

The venue didn’t work for her client, but the Liverpool native and “The Bachelor” alumna saw something else. It seemed like just the right fit for the social club and gathering place Ly had long envisioned for Syracuse.

“I wanted to create a space that gives a foundation for where people can meet and build meaningful relationships,” Ly said. “It’s for someone who yearns for more out of life and knows that human connection is a stepping stone to a better and more achievable life.”

Ly launched “The Society” in August. It’s a social club-inspired cafe and community event space with two optional membership tiers.

Exclusive social clubs like Soho House and Zero Bond have high fees and membership restrictions like age, occupation and net worth. Ly wanted The Society to have a high-end feel and be a place for everyone to connect, but without a mandatory membership or other barriers.

The Society aims to have something for everybody, from permanent jewelry events and coffee tastings to career advice sessions and academic lectures, often partnering with local businesses and organizations.

Between her travels back and forth from Syracuse to Los Angeles, Ly said she noticed Syracuse was missing authentic ways to meet people. Ly belongs to two different social clubs in LA. Her vision for The Society was to bring LA to Syracuse.

To bring the LA feel, The Society sells Erewhon cloudlike smoothies reminiscent of Hollywood. Like Erewhon and Hailey Bieber’s viral $17 Strawberry Glaze Skin Smoothie, The Society’s $16 Strawberry Cloud smoothie contains the same ingredients like sea moss, coconut cream, Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides, strawberry puree, or glaze, and exhibits the same rosy hue.

“I feel like all of us are just so familiar with needing an alcoholic drink in our hand to be social,” Ly said. “I want to move away from that culture.”

“The Bachelor” alumna Tammy Ly founded The Society to provide a communal space for the community. Though they offer grab-and-go items, she hopes customers stay a while, spending time in the space and connecting with others. Joe Zhao | Senior Staff Photographer

Monthly memberships to The Society start at $60 for the Community membership and $150 a month for the VIP Founder’s membership.

Perks include access to The Society during member-only hours, discounted or free entry to events, early RSVP to public events, early access or free limited edition beverages and one free drip coffee each day.

Ly understands membership fees and beverage prices aren’t realistic for everyone, but she wants The Society to be approachable for all. Anyone can occupy the space, connect to the Wi-Fi network or buy a treat, she said.

Even without a membership, Olena Staut visits The Society several times a week when she grabs her coffee in between rounds as a nurse practitioner.

As a previous resident of the apartment complex above The Society, Staut said that she wishes she still lived there so she could get their coffee more often. She appreciates The Society’s ambiance and welcoming nature.

“It’s hard to meet people in Syracuse, especially when you’re a little older,” Staut said. “What sets them apart is the socialization idea created for socializing and meeting people and having a space for people to come together, whether it’s with friends or by yourself.”

Ly didn’t want to bring the feel of quick-stop, grab-and-go coffee shops like Blank Street Coffee to Syracuse.

After doing research on specific seating arrangements and storefront layouts, Ly designed The Society in a way that encourages customers to stay for an extended period of time, not just for a brief visit.

All the furniture placements were intended to promote connection among visitors, Ly said. The half-circle smoothie bar aims to encourage conversations between customers without the isolation of separate tables. The ambient lighting feels natural, promoting a cozy workspace, she said.

The branding is intentional, with an overlap on the “O” and “C” to signify the connections that The Society wants to foster.

It feels like you aren’t in downtown Syracuse, Staut said. The Society is experimental, especially for Syracuse, customer Breanna Murdock said; it felt much more relaxed and safe than other spaces.

The Society offers various tiers of membership. Perks include members-only hours, discounted or free entry to events, early access or free limited edition beverages and one free drip coffee each day. Joe Zhao | Senior Staff Photographer

Murdock visited The Society for the first time when she attended an event with the Syracuse Run Club in September. Even after the event ended, she sat on the velour couches with a book, muffin and latte in hand.

Murdock said the memberships make the club feel “luxurious.” Though not a member right now, Murdock said she’d like to pay the monthly fees.

“The pricing is a little bit more up there from other places, but that’s what you get for a central, local space, with a nice area to hang out in,” Murdock said.

Ly wants to make The Society accessible to Syracuse University students. By hosting events in collaboration with different SU campus organizations, like University Girl Magazine, Ly hopes to support and attract students.

Murdock has lived in Baldwinsville for most of her life. She said she was skeptical about finding common spaces and meeting people after college graduation, but the opening of The Society changed that.

In her recurring weekly visits to The Society, Staut said she has learned about the lives of new people. From meeting a visiting doctor to SU students, Staut said she’s built relationships without a membership to The Society.

“The collaborative space for work and socialization is really important for a place like Syracuse,” Staut said. “It has a luxurious vibe that makes me more motivated.”

Whenever she came back from LA, Ly said she dreaded staying for too long, because she could never find a place to connect with clients or old friends that wasn’t built around alcohol. The Society is a way to enhance her relationship with her hometown.

“I asked myself, ‘How can I make this city a little bit more enjoyable?’” Ly said. “So I created The Society.”

Published on October 9, 2025 at 1:56 am
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