Founders Club
Blackboard has always been more than a restaurant. It's where friends gather, celebrations happen, traditions begin, and stories are shared.
The Founders Club is for those who want to play a meaningful role in Blackboard's next chapter. Membership is built on recognition, connection, and participation in what comes next for Blackboard.
Dining credit equal to your membership amount is included with every level. Most importantly, membership means becoming part of the inaugural Founders Club Class of 2026-27.
The first class only happens once.
Membership enrollment closes November 15.
Help Shape What's Next
A Message from the Owner
When I took ownership of Blackboard in December 2025, I knew I was stepping into something that already meant a great deal to many people.
Over the past year I've had the privilege of getting to know so many guests, hearing your stories, celebrating milestones with you, and learning what makes Blackboard special.
Every improvement we've made has been guided by one simple goal: creating a place that our community looks forward to visiting, recommending, celebrating in, and sharing with friends and family.
Founders Club is an opportunity for guests who want to be part of that journey.
Thank you for being part of our journey. We're just getting started.
- Jackson Mertes
Why Join Founders Club?
Founders Club is built around a simple idea:
The people who care most about Blackboard should have a way to be recognized.
This is membership in a community of guests who care about where Blackboard is today and where it's headed tomorrow.
As Blackboard evolves, Founders Club will evolve with it.
New experiences, traditions, and opportunities will be shared with the people who were here from the beginning.
The Founders Club Class of 2026-27
The inaugural class will always be the first.
Founders Member
$250
- Recognition on the Founders Club website*
- Founders Updates with Annual Owner's Letter
- $250 Dining Credit included
- Unlimited Memberships available
*Recognition is optional.
Founders Partner
$500
- Recognition on the Founders Club website*
- Founders First Look access
- Founders Updates with Annual Owner's Letter
- $500 Dining Credit included
- Limited to 50 Memberships
*Recognition is optional.
Charter Founder
$750
- Invitation to Founders Appreciation Night with one guest
- Signature Cocktail in the Founders Book
- Featured recognition on the Founders Club website*
- Founders First Look access
- Founders Updates with Annual Owner's Letter
- $750 Dining Credit included
- Limited to 15 Memberships
*Recognition is optional.
Legacy Founder
$1,000
- Early access registration to Special Events
- Invitation to Founders Appreciation Night with two guests
- Signature Cocktail in the Founders Book
- Premium recognition on the Founders Club website*
- Founders First Look access
- Founders Updates with Annual Owner's Letter
- $1,000 Dining Credit included
- Limited to 5 Memberships
*Recognition is optional.
Founders Appreciation Night
Celebrate with Fellow Founders
An evening created exclusively for members of the Founders Club.
Charter Founders and Legacy Founders will receive invitations to our annual Founders Appreciation Night.
This special event is our opportunity to celebrate a few of the people who continue to support Blackboard. Enjoy an evening of great food, drinks, conversation, and appreciation alongside fellow Founders.
The Founders Book
Your Signature Cocktail. Your Place in the Story.
Reserved exclusively for Charter Founders and Legacy Founders.
Founders may submit a favorite cocktail recipe, original creation, or personal variation on a classic cocktail.
Each cocktail will be documented in the Founders Book behind the bar and available whenever the Founder visits.
Whether it's a longtime favorite or something uniquely your own, every recipe becomes part of the story of the Founders Club.
Founders First Look
Hear What's Coming Before Everyone Else
Founders don't hear about major announcements after everyone else. They experience them before they've even been declared.
Founders Partners, Charter Founders, and Legacy Founders receive early access to information regarding menu launches, seasonal offerings, special events, and new experiences before they are shared publicly.
Founders Updates
Stay Connected to the Journey
Founders aren't just informed. They're included.
Throughout the year, Founders receive periodic updates about the ongoing evolution of Blackboard, including improvements, new initiatives, lessons learned, and plans for the future.
Each year, Founders will also receive an annual personal letter from Jackson reflecting on the past year and sharing priorities for the year ahead.
From time to time, Founders may also be invited to share ideas, feedback, and perspective on future initiatives being considered for Blackboard.
It's one more way we stay connected to the people helping shape Blackboard's next chapter.
Become a Founder
The First Class Only Happens Once
Every restaurant has regulars and familiar faces. Very few have the opportunity to recognize the people who helped shape their next chapter.
The Founders Club was created to celebrate the guests who care deeply about Blackboard and want to be part of what comes next. Some benefits will be immediate, while others will grow over time. Memberships are not selected. They're simply limited.
What will never change is that the inaugural class will always be first.
We would be honored to welcome you to the Founders Club class of 2026-27.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will there be another Founders Club class?
No. The Founders Club Class of 2026-27 is the inaugural class and will remain a permanent part of Blackboard's history.
Future membership opportunities may be introduced, but this class will always be the first.
Why not just buy a gift card?
Founders Club includes dining credit equal to your membership purchase, along with recognition, experiences, and opportunities reserved for members.
Can I use my dining credit immediately?
Yes, your dining credit can be used immediately once your membership is processed. If a membership is purchased in house, we cannot guarantee that processing will complete in time to be applied to your visit at that time.
Can I purchase a membership as a gift?
No. Founders Club memberships are individual and non-transferable. Membership is intended for guests who want to actively participate in and help share the future of Blackboard.
How are memberships awarded?
Memberships are available on a first-come, first served basis until each tier reaches capacity. Once a tier level sells out, it will close for the Class of 2026-27.
Is website recognition required?
No; public recognition is completely optional.
What is the Founders Book?
Charter Founders and Legacy Founders have the opportunity to submit a signature cocktail that will be documented in the Founders Book behind the bar and available whenever they visit.
What are Founders Updates?
Founders receive periodic communication regarding improvements, upcoming events, new offerings, and developments at Blackboard, including an annual Founder Letter from Jackson.
Will Founders Club change over time?
Yes. The benefits listed today are only the beginning. As Blackboard grows, Founders Club will continue to evolve with new experiences, traditions, and opportunities shared with members of the Founders Club community.
When does enrollment close?
Enrollment for the Founders Club Class of 2026-27 closes November 15, 2026.
When does dining credit expire?
Dining credit expires on December 31, 2027.
Membership Details
- Dining credit is equal to the membership amount purchased.
- Dining credit expires on December 31, 2027.
- Recognition on the Founders Club website is optional and subject to member approval.
- Memberships are non-transferable.
- Memberships are available on a first-come, first-served basis and may sell out before November 15.
