By ZEINAB NAJM
Times-Herald Newspapers
DEARBORN — Members of The Fairlane Club, 5000 Fairlane Woods Drive received an unexpected letter May 1 informing them that the athletic services of the facility closed immediately.
The banquet hall and its services will remain open for events.
In the letter signed by the Ebeid family, owners of the club since 2011 when the late former Guardian Industries Chairman Russell Ebeid purchased the facility in a bank auction, an apology for the abrupt closing was given.
“It is with heavy hearts that we regretfully inform you that The Fairlane Club has permanently closed to members, effective today, May 1st 2019,” the letter read. “It was a difficult decision but a necessary one due to the increasing cost of maintaining our aged building.”
Members were given dates and times when they could visit the club to ask questions, have staff assist them in collecting their belongings and have one last look at the “historic and cherished club.”
The members also were informed they could make an appointment in the next two weeks to gather personal belongings from the club if they could not make it this week.
“Again, we apologize for this unfortunate turn of events,” the letter read. “Thank you for being a member. We wish you well. You will be missed.”
According to The Fairlane Club’s website, the facility had over 1,500 family participants, offered a wide variety of amenities in the custom-paneled facility which accommodates weddings, banquets, business conferences and other special events.
The amenities in the 114,500-square-foot building included six indoor tennis courts, seven outdoor clay courts, two racquetball courts, 20,000-square-foot fitness center, indoor basketball and volleyball courts, aerobics and cycling areas, indoor and Olympic-sized outdoor pool, whirlpool, steam and sauna room, spa, barbershop, and lockerrooms for men and women.
During Ebeid’s ownership he implemented a plan to bring the club back from its previous years of neglect, according to the club’s website.
Those steps were to fix the facilities, add additional services, upgrade management, improve accounting system, train employees, attention to detail, develop social activities; and promote the club.
(Zeinab Najm can be reached at [email protected])