Social Club

As the Latin Quarter Showgirls, Inc. wound down, the desire to gather did not. Freed from the demands of nonprofit administration and reunion performances, John Hemmer and Janie Thomas Freed established the Latin Quarter Social Club as a more informal way for the community to stay connected. Annual luncheons brought former performers to New York from across the country for an afternoon of stories, memories, and renewed friendships.

The gatherings began at Kennedy’s, an Irish pub and restaurant in Hell’s Kitchen, and later moved to the Olive Garden in Times Square, located on the former site of the Latin Quarter nightclub. In more recent years, as the group grew smaller due to age, health, and the passing of members, the luncheons found a home at Sardi’s.

Following Sardi’s temporary closure in 2026, the remaining group returns to the former Latin Quarter site at the Olive Garden—bringing a small but meaningful circle of performers back to where many of their friendships began.