Cynthetiq: Our local chamber of commerce is a joke. My dad's been president a few times, and it's mostly just his golf/business buddies, so I consulted him on this matter (he's a CPA and specializes in helping people open/operate businesses).
I know for a fact that it would NEVER work in my area, since you don't even need a good suit, no matter how formal the work.
I should probably go to the Columbus Chamber, but I'm not from that area, and it's kind of intimidating. But, if it's worth doing, it's worth doing right.
Perhaps I should clarify, it'd be MUCH unlike a spa, and MUCH more like an upscale gentleman's club: Leather chairs, woodpanelling, cigars, and cognac. A very old-world club feel.
Also, the services wouldn't be mudbath, floral oil kinda stuff. More like: hot-lather shave, old-school shoe shine, maybe a sports massage, for the more metrosexually inclined: a manicure, with clear or no polish or an exfoliating facial (the kind that's designed to scrub away dirt, not the flowery, cucumber on the eyes type). There would be a definite focus on sensitivity towards mosts men's (myself included) discomfort with walking around in a white bathrobe, and hanging out in a steamroom naked around others. The kind of things that would help a business man to relax afterwork and project an air of success.
Thanks for the feedback. Anyone else care to chime in?
Here's a club in NYC that's very similar to what I would like to do:
http://www.johnallans.com
Although the clubs feature spa/salon features, they are discrete, and are well marketed towards men: cigars, a bar, billiards, never calling it a salon or spa, but rather a CLUB.
I'd like to do something like that, but with a larger emphasis on the cigars and booze, since those are my biggest interests in that field.