Members-only club delivers on grand opening in Fresno. Can we expect more?

The PM Lounge came into Fresno with some lofty designs.

It pitched itself as an upscale dining club, with a Michelin-trained executive chef and a staff working off the Forbes standards of service. It promised curated experiences to some 800 members in its 16,000 square-foot space at Cedar and Nees avenues.

That would include a series of private events (concerts and the like) tailor-made to inspire FOMO (that ol’ fear of missing out).

Prior to its grand opening in November, the exact details of what those events might look like were scarce. But we now know a bit about the scope and scale of what the lounge can deliver.

The grand opening was a red-carpet style event that played out over a span of three days and saw a number of celebrities in attendance.

Shaquille O’Neal and Steve Aoki were there (and performed), but there were also guest appearances from actress Meagan Good and reality star Kendra Wilkinson, and athletes like Jose Ramirez and Lorenzo Neal (to give some hometown love).

“Opening weekend was designed to set the tone,” the lounge said in a statement to The Bee .

Leading up to the opening, some things were officially announced via the lounge’s social channels: O’Neal’s performance as his EDM alter ego DJ Diesel, for example.

But much of it was intentionally kept quiet. That includes the special guest appearances and other performances, which included Aoki ( prior to his show at the Rainbow Ballroom), singer Ben Harper, Michael Huntley (who won season 24 of “The Voice”) and “Voice” contestant Alyssa Witrado of Fresno (per her Instagram).

“We want members to feel excitement every time they walk in because anything is possible,” the lounge said.

How did PM Lounge land Shaq?

The lounge is getting help from a collaboration with Artest Management Group and its owner, former NBA player Metta Sandiford-Artest, aka Metta World Peace.

The lounge was able to land O’Neal as a headliner because of its connection Sandiford-Artest and his connection (and long-time friendship) with Shaq.

Sandiford-Artest’s son, basketballer Ron Artest III, also made an appearance at the grand opening.

The PM Lounge team is currently planning its New Year’s programming, which will include a series of events similar to the grand opening, all playing toward its mission “to consistently bring unforgettable experiences to Fresno.”

Membership opportunities open

JoJo Reyes of Clovis attended two nights of the grand opening. He got in on the list as a guest of a prospective member, a select number of which were given exclusive invites, according to the lounge.

From the moment he entered the space, “I was highly impressed,” Reyes says. “I really was.”

Reyes lives in the neighborhood and says there was some intrigue in what was going into the old Fresh and Easy. “It’s kind of like when new houses go up: You want to see.”

He has joined the interest list to become a member, though he’s only heard suggestions about what the costs might be. The company hasn’t publically shared exact pricing or membership details, but in the past said there will be a monthly fee granting access to the club during business hours (10 a.m. to midnight, daily).

Reyes sees becoming a member the same as being part of a golf course, country club or the Elks Lodge. If The PM Lounge gives him the chance to take his wife for a nice night out, or have an inviting, hassle-free place to take friends from out of town, he’s at an age where he’s willing to pay a bit more for that.

“Absolutely I am.”

It is unclear how many members have already joined, but the lounge had said there was an interest list of 250 and that membership will eventually be capped at 800. While the grand-opening party did include invites for prospective members, future events will be strictly members only.