Today we’d like to introduce you to Bobby Montes.
Bobby, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started working hospitality in Los Angeles in 2003, the year The Belmont on La Cienega in West Hollywood first opened. At the time, the owner/operator of the venue was Greg Morris (who now owns and operates The Oaks Gourmet, Franklin and Company and La Villita Cantina). Jeremy Findel (now Partners in the Rock and Reilly’s concept) was my direct boss. Looking back, working for both Greg and Jeremy was one of the best experiences I’ve had in my career.
They taught me how to hustle, be proactive instead of reactive and basically, Just Get It Done. After working for them, I decided to go the club route and work for SBE, then Rokbar (co-owned by Dave Navarro and Tommy Lee) and then Element Nightclub. Circa 2004-2009. Hollywood’s Club hay day, pre TMZ and cellphone cameras. I had the chance to meet, party with and become friends with a few of the celebrity elite, who to this day, a few are still great friends of mine. In 2010 I had the opportunity to work for Innovative Dining Group at W Hollywood Hotel as their Bar Operations and Promotions Manager.
This was a game changer in my career. I was given the opportunity to utilize the network I had built over the better part of a decade which led me to create Just Leverage LA and become partners in a new concept in Valley Village, Sloane’s Restaurant serving amazing Burgers, Salads and 5 different styles of fries including my favorite, Crab Fat Fries. The menu is conceptualized by Chef Greg Paul.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Smooth? Definitely not. Worth those struggles, definitely yes. Keeping up with the ever-changing landscape of the hospitality culture in Hollywood. Staying on your toes and learning to think outside the box, always. And to Never, Ever give up. Persistence is key.
Just Leverage LA – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
My company is called Just Leverage LA. Just Leverage helps to Leverage your business, product and brand. Connecting through events and strategic partnerships.
What we are most proud of as a company: While I was working at W Hollywood, we had the opportunity to help create W Sunday Jazz. W Sunday Jazz is a live music series featuring Nikki Leonti and Brooke Lynn’s Burlesque.
The series has been a staple on Sunday Nights in Hollywood since 2010. This weekly event has helped to give birth to other Jazz and Blues influenced weekly events at other venues in and around Hollywood.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I have a few proud moments. Most of all W Sunday Jazz. We have been able to create a platform in the heart of Hollywood (Hollywood and Vine) for many amazing vocalists and musicians from around the world to showcase their talents. We have special guests who have been featured on American Idol, The Voice, The Four and America’s Got Talent.
One very cool story from Jazz Night was when we were having a Michael Jackson Tribute for his birthday and Judith Hill was one of our guest vocalists for the evening. Spike Lee (who is a huge Michael Jackson fan) was in the audience. After her meeting her that evening, he ended up working with Judith on his next movie project, Red Hook Summer.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.justleveragela.com
- Phone: 3108493400
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: therealbobbymontes
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bobby.montes.1
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