They say you shouldn’t mix family with business—but whoever first said that probably didn’t have sisters. Just ask Colleen and Hailey Brooks: the collaborative duo behind Moss, a new private members’ club in Midtown Manhattan. When you arrive at 520 Fifth Avenue, a white stone building with soaring arched windows comes into focus. “Versus the steel glass buildings you commonly find in Midtown, it’s very soft,” Hailey says, curled up in what will soon be the club’s piano lounge. Despite the gentle nods to Art Deco and quintessential New York City architecture, it’s a new build. In fact, it is now the second tallest building on Fifth Avenue after the Empire State Building—and in addition to Moss, it will feature luxury residential and office space. “It’s been a pleasure for Colleen and I to be part of something that really adds to the skyline,” she says.

In recent years, New York City has experienced a boom in private club openings, from San Vicente to Chez Margaux. With Moss, the point of differentiation lies in its mix of offerings. In addition to the expected social and dining outlets (what they bill as ‘Intelligent Leisure’), Moss also includes equally dynamic wellness spaces (or, ‘Physical Culture’). The club—which has a private lobby for member check-ins—stretches across five stories, with two floors dedicated to both of these guiding pillars.

Prior to Moss, Colleen was working in finance and Hailey in trend forecasting. They left their jobs back in 2017 and eventually laid the groundwork for Highcourt Leisure Club, which was set to open in mid-2020. But, as with most business launches during that time, the pandemic thwarted the project. Fast forward five years, however, and the two have only further refined their voice and vision.