The History (and Future) of the Noon Day Club

When people think of Cleveland, they might picture sports, rock 'n' roll, or even the beaches of Lake Erie. But for those in the know, especially if you’ve spent any time in the bulk shipping or steel industry, there’s something else that puts Cleveland on the map: the Noon Day Club.

At Pickands Mather, we know a thing or two about this legacy. After all, we’ve been part of the industry for over a century. So let’s take a stroll down memory lane and then back up to 2025 to see how this legendary tradition helped shape our industry — and still does today.

A Side of Steel With Your Sandwich: The History of the Noon Day Club

Back in the early 1900s, if you were in Cleveland and worked in coal or iron ore, chances are you spent your lunches solving logistical puzzles over a cup of black coffee and a sandwich.

Founded over a hundred years ago, the Ore and Coal Exchange was a group of no-nonsense professionals tackling the Great Lakes supply chains – including railroads, ports, freighters, the whole works. With the common shared goal to always make sure the raw materials that fed America’s steel plants arrived on time, every time. (No pressure, right?)

And what better place to hash things out than over lunch?

The Noon Day Luncheon Club set up shop right next to the Exchange’s offices in Cleveland’s iconic Terminal Tower — a location that was as central as the conversations happening there. Every day at noon, the industry’s logistics leaders would gather for a meal, swap war stories, watch for incoming shipments, troubleshoot issues, and, occasionally, do a little friendly complaining about weather delays.

These weren’t your average business lunches. They were strategy sessions, therapy hours, and matchmaking meetings rolled into one. Need a boat? Talk to Jim. Got a pile-up in Toledo? Ray knows someone who can help.

It was casual, yes — but also the glue that held together a network of people moving literal mountains of coal and ore when there wasn’t the technology that we have today.

Fast Forward to 2025: Same Spirit, More Golf

Today, the spirit of the Noon Day Club lives on — just with more sunshine and a few more spreadsheets. Thanks to modern technology, finding supply chain solutions doesn’t necessarily require a daily lunch with industry members. Still, the Noon Day Club tradition continues each summer as a great way to nurture relationships with those that we email every day.

Every August, industry leaders gather in Cleveland for what we still call Noon Day events. This week blends business and fun: golf outings, steak dinners, casual meetups, and genuine conversations ranging from market trends to whose kid is off to college this fall.

For companies like Pickands Mather, it’s a golden opportunity to do what we’ve always done best - build relationships, understand the current industry climate, and keep the supply chains running smoothly. We pack several face-to-face meetings into one efficient, energizing week. (Because let’s face it — if we weren’t efficient, we wouldn’t survive in this business.)

And just like the early days, the conversations are still down-to-earth and straight-to-the-point. We're talking iron ore, vessel schedules, and strategies to navigate whatever Mother Nature throws our way this season.

Still Building, Still Connecting

As we continue to grow and evolve, we never forget where we came from. The Noon Day tradition is more than just a calendar event — it embodies the core of our industry: collaboration, determination, and a genuine sense of community.

Pickands Mather is proud to be part of that history — and even prouder to help shape its future. Whether we’re problem-solving over lunch or hitting the greens for a casual catch-up, we’re still doing what we’ve always done: keeping things moving, together.

So here’s to another century of Noon Days — and to all the stories and solutions still to come.

Want to connect at the next Noon Day event? Drop us a line — we’ll save you a seat at the table.