Life & Work with Sasha Bortnik of Melrose Arts District

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sasha Bortnik.

Hi Sasha, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Coffee for Sasquatch was a daily routine. It all began when my now husband and I started dating. A few important things were at play. He didn’t drink coffee, I was an avid, daily coffee drinker, and he didn’t like to walk without a destination. All of these particular needs and demands came together to create a ritual of us walking to our local coffee shop, Coffee for Sasquatch, every day to get me a cup of coffee and to get him SOMEWHERE. He of course tried coffee, added some vanilla, some milk, some ice and a little Sasquatch magic and fast forward five years and he’s a regular with a usual. When I say we went to Sasquatch every day, I mean we went EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. It was our constant. We got engaged, got a puppy, got married, had a baby, always carving out a space for Sasquatch. Post-partum it was the only place I went on most days. Our dog, Mishka, was a regular, known by all the baristas and frequent customers, and had a corner known as her spot. When the baristas would see us on the sidewalk through the glass doors they’d start our drinks and by the time we’d reach the counter they’d be sliding them toward us. When it closed I felt heartbroken. Truly I felt lost, unanchored in my own neighborhood. I’d love to say I turned around and decided to reopen it right then because I just needed my spot back…but it was, of course, way more complicated than that and way better than that. I spent hours on the phone with the founder, Claire, learning and deciphering if this was the right move for us, and getting to know the beautiful mind who started it all. Without her support, wisdom and belief in Sasquatch and my ability to keep it alive, I don’t think I’d be in this position. I made the jump. Though it was scary and at times agonizing before I made a decision, taking over Sasquatch felt natural and inevitable. Once again, Sasquatch did its magic. This whole ride has been an honor, and I feel lucky to continue, nurture, and grow what Claire has started. I hope to see you there soon!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
This was all new for me. I had never really worked in food and beverage and I had never taken over an existing business. There was a lot of new. The biggest challenges for me as a new business owner were quelling my own fears (which looked a lot like me making several lattes, pulling shots, and just getting comfortable behind the coffee bar), and learning to trust the process in finding the right team. The right people are the back bone of this business, and without a strong team everything is off. There is so much uncertainty in the hiring process and building a team, but I’ve learned that trusting myself and the environment I’ve built is the best way to attract the people that are right for our team.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
At my core I am a writer. I’m currently working on my next novel, while hustling to get my others published. I’ve always towed the line between artist and entrepreneur, both wanting to live my secluded writer life and feeling this urge to run a business and be “out there.” Right now I feel like I’m tapping into both, and they’re actually not entirely as different as they seem. Finding the balance for me is key – it’s both a strength and a weakness- but as long as I nurture both sides it seems to be an advantage. Before diving fulling into writing and then rebooting Sasquatch, I worked at several film and TV production companies and made an animated documentary that I took to festivals and is now live on Documentary+. I’m reconnecting with my filmmaking self lately and it feels good. We’ll see how things shake out.

What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love the diversity and openness of Los Angeles. It’s a city of so many different people from so many different walks of life, and I think as far as cities go, LA is one of the most welcoming and accepting of people being themselves. We don’t really have a specific way of being or expectation, which can also feel a little messy at times, but as an artist and creative I find that it’s a supportive environment. What I could do without is the driving and how spread out the city is…but I do think that part of LA’s personality comes from its vastness.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.coffeeforsasquatch.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coffee.forsasquatch/?hl=en
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/coffee-for-sasquatch-los-angeles

Image Credits
Photos at and of the coffee shop taken by Vivien Killilea