Today we’d like to introduce you to Sasha Schoen
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
When I moved from rural MN to Long Beach my biggest hurdle was finding community. I landed a job at a local coffee shop that really opened my eyes up to the amazing energy that Long Beach had to offer. From there I’ve worked at many restaurants and bars in the LB/LA area in all different positions. Which has lead me to push my creativity to a new level and work for myself with my partner Brennan Villarreal. We realized that we have the network and the platform to support local creatives and boost community building within our city. Bringing people together in support of one another around food and wine has been the most rewarding part of my journey so far!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
In 2021/2022 I was hired to manage and help build out a full running restaurant in a little coffee shop on Pine Ave. It was my first management job. I was working really long hours, learning how to manage people, learning how to build a wine list, learning how to work with difficult personalities all in the wake of a global pandemic. It was a really difficult job with a lot of growing pains, but also very rewarding. After a year of literal blood, sweat and tears the owner decided revert back to solely a coffee focus. It was devastating at the time. I felt as though I had ownership over a project I ultimately didn’t. It was a wake up call and has lead me to where I am now. It showed me that I am capable, and good at, hospitality and throwing events. It also ignited my desire to no longer work for someone else but step out on my own and build something that I do have true ownership and creative control over. Ultimately it was a blessing in disguise.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Got Your Back is a pop up/events business built by my partner, Brennan Villarreal, and I to showcase food and wine focused experiences outside the norm. We have a huge focus on community building and true hospitality. Brennan is a professional chef who’s been cooking in restaurants all over LA and LB for the last 10 years. We utilize our backyard as DIY restaurant space hosting supper club dinners and big backyard parties. Collaboration is a huge part of our business plan. I believe the best way to grow is to surround yourself with people who do things better than you. We curate collaborative dinners between Brennan and another chef, pushing both people’s creativity to cook food neither would have done alone. My focus is on the production and service, making sure the space is beautiful and welcoming, the table set perfectly and the timing on point, I also curate all the wine for each dinner and event. My favorite thing about wine is that it forces people to come together and have a shared experience over a bottle. Wine is communal and building community is a main goal for us. LB is full of amazingly creative people who deserve a platform to express themselves and it’s extremely fulfilling to be able to build that platform for ourselves and others. We pride ourselves on being a multifaceted business, you can hire us for private dinners, reach out about collaborations, or pop up as a vendor at one of our larger events. In the past we’ve created personalized engagement dinners, wedding dinners and birthdays. Working with people to create a once in a lifetime experience is one of our favorite ways to express our talents!
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
We are always open to conversations about collaborations. Going into fall we’d love to be hired to cook and curate your holiday parties. We’re also interested in event planning and curating a kick ass party! You can support us by recommending us to your friends and family or if you’d like to snag a t-shirt or tote bag you can do so through instagram!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @gotyourbacklb
- Other: [email protected]
Image Credits
Patrick Claytor
