Meet the members who made Soho House in New York what it is today

Twenty years ago, Soho House New York opened its doors and quickly became a vibrant hub for creatives in New York City’s Meatpacking District. As part of our USA20 We Are campaign, our membership team handpicked a selection of members to represent the energy of our three Houses in New York: DUMBO House, Ludlow House and, of course, Soho House New York. 

Scroll on to meet renowned cookbook author and TV personality, Samah Dada; Literaryswag Book Club creator, Yahdon Israel; the trailblazing Stacey Yael, founder of Visible Women Agency, and successful entrepreneur Cassandra Aaron, cofounder of Archie. 

Samah Dada, Soho House New York
TV host, chef and bestselling author

How long have you been a member?
‘Since 2019.’

Why is Soho House special to you? And what makes your US House unique?
‘When you run your own business, it can be challenging at times to find a community with similar ideals, values and interests to surround yourself with. I’m so grateful to Soho House for being a place for me to hang out, work, eat and connect with friends, and others in both professional and personal contexts. I’ve met some of my best, most inspiring and interesting friends through the community at Soho House New York, and it’s completely altered my New York experience for the better.’

How do you spend your time at Soho House? Any standout moments?
‘I think that’s the best part about it – there are so many reasons why I go there, and stay. Whether it’s to work, take a meeting, have a meal with a friend or attend an event, it really feels like a special hub for anything I may want or need during the day.

‘A standout moment... definitely hosting a dinner pop-up event where I was able to cook and demo a dessert for members and dear friends.’

Top, from left: Yahdon Israel, Mahayla Marshall, Marcelle Phillips, Samah Dada, Karen Sanchez, Stacey Yael, and Cassandra Aaron
Above, from left: Samah Dada; our US members head to Soho House New York

Yahdon Israel, DUMBO House
Educator, entrepreneur, editor, writer and founder of Literaryswag

How long have you been a member?
‘Since 2018.’

Why is Soho House special to you? And what makes your US House unique?
‘It’s special to me, because it affords me the ability to cultivate the kind of connections with people that are intimate and sincere. To be frank, I’ve only been to three other Houses since I joined (Ludlow, Meatpacking and Barcelona), so I don't have enough varying experiences to speak to difference with authority. What I will say that I love about DUMBO House is that whenever I visit, I’m guaranteed to encounter five people who I know, respect and represent the borough (BROOOKLYNNN!) well. And the views in the summer – positioned between the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges – are unmatched.’

How do you spend your time at Soho House? Any standout moments?
‘I mostly spend my time at Soho House connecting people who need to meet, creating opportunities for all parties involved that wouldn’t have existed had those introductions not occurred. 

‘To date, the most outstanding moment was being able to discuss books with Andre 3000. He shared he was reading a book on dolphins, which is something to expect from a man like him.’

Above: Yahdon Israel and the other members enjoy all that Soho House New York has to offer

Stacey Yael, Soho House New York
Founder of Visible Women Agency, a seasoned entrepreneur, strategic advisor, lawyer, and talking circle host

How long have you been a member?
‘Since 2022.’

Why is Soho House special to you? And what makes your US House unique? 
‘I love connecting with creative people from around the world in such a cozy, relaxed way. I find the House to be an oasis from the sometimes frenetic energy of NYC. As I walk in the doors, I take a breath, and always feel immediately welcomed and a bit calmer. I generally bump into familiar faces (members and staff), and almost always meet someone new and fabulous. Although many appear low key, after chatting to them I learn about some of the incredible groundbreaking projects they are a part of. I equally enjoy mingling and attending talks, and also hosting talks in the Vinyl Room. Soho House New York has become a second home for me inside our amazing bustling city.’

How do you spend your time at Soho House? Any standout moments?
‘I love scheduling meetings at the House, tapping into the vibe of joyful work (without feeling corporate). In the summer, it’s a bit of LA meets NYC, as I enjoy spending time with friends and collaborators while on a lounger on the rooftop. And in the winter, I love sitting by the bar. 

‘For my standout moment, I recently hosted a Visible Women Talking Circle at Soho House New York on healing from domestic violence. It was a groundbreaking conversation, which included a teaser clip from Sydney Scotia’s documentary film This Hits Home (revealing the silent epidemic of traumatic brain injury from domestic violence). Sydney and I met through mutual friends at Soho House (click to watch the talk on Spotify). 

‘At first, I was a bit hesitant to pitch the topic to Kim Hernandez, Soho House Events Manager, due to its serious nature, yet she immediately recognized its importance and was instrumental in championing the talk. It made me so proud to be a Soho House member, and it speaks volumes about the club’s diverse and expansive programming. I also hosted a great talk with Julianna Glasse (another friend I made at Soho House). I really love being part of hosting talks that allow members to meet, connect and share their amazing projects. I hope to do another talking circle in September. Please connect with me on X , Instagram or LinkedIn.’

Above, from left: Cassandra Aaron; Stacey Yael

Cassandra Aaron, Soho House New York
Entrepreneur, cofounder of Archie 

How long have you been a member? 
‘Since 2017.’

Why is Soho house special to you? What makes your US House unique? 
‘For me, it’s provided a familiar home base after moving to New York. Since joining as a member and later becoming part of the Soho House New York Committee, I’ve felt like part of the family from day one. I always leave feeling inspired by the groups of people, conversations I overhear, who I meet, and the fashion I get to witness. Soho House New York was the first location in New York, and you can feel the energy from all the years it has welcomed the weird and wonderful members. I’ve met people (members and staff) who will be collaborators and friends forever.’

How do you spend your time at Soho House? Any standout moments? 
‘You can usually find me sitting at the pool or on the sixth floor. On an average day, I’ll have an Aperol Spritz in hand – and an offensively large brimmed hat on my head.’

Explore and apply for membership at Soho House New York, DUMBO House and Ludlow House.