Today we’d like to introduce you to Derek Lyons.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My first job when I was 15 was as a busser at Tourelle Cafe in Lafayette, CA. I always say, be careful what your first job is because you might end up doing it for the rest of your life. I still buss tables. Restaurants and bars are a part of my story and something that I thought would fade into the background as I launched my real estate career or when I made my way into film production. Restaurants and bars always filled in the gaps in between these endeavors and pursuits until I realized that they weren’t filling in the gaps, it was the other way around, and restaurants were my home. I decided to throw my hat in the ring in 2012 and was extremely fortunate to find what I was looking for with the help of a great restaurant producer, Jerry Prendergast, in a mere five days. It happened fast, which was good, because I can spend a lot of time getting ready to get ready. The good fortune kept coming my way in the form of amazing, talented people showing up around me to make Sonny’s Hideaway what it is. We’ve been open 4.5 years in a neighborhood that seems to change daily. It feels good to have some roots down and look forward to the next chapters at Sonny’s Hideaway.
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? No. Hah. It is wildly challenging and an unrelenting amount of work. I knew what I was getting into but once you’re into it, it can really whip you around. That’s not to say that I don’t love it. If it was easy, I’d be bored.
The challenges come in all shapes and sizes; repairs, maintenance and improvements on a building built in 1922 that was never intended to be a busy full-service restaurant and bar is its own part-time job but some of my greatest senses of accomplishment are fixing swamp cooler or rewiring an electrical outlet. The main challenge lies in the amount of hats a small business owner needs to wear; accounting, hiring and training, repairs, inventory, pick-ups and roadwork, overseeing service and building rapport with guests, strategy with bar manager and chef, staff meetings, human resources, manuals, safety meetings, dealing with vendors, workers comp, responding to emails, community outreach, social media…….the list goes on. But again, if I did one thing all day long, I’d quit and start working at a restaurant again.
Please tell us about Sonny’s Hideaway.
Sonny’s Hideaway is an easygoing, upscale neighborhood Bar & Restaurant located at 5137 York Blvd in Highland Park. Our Craft Cocktail program is second to none in Northeast Los Angeles. We execute Classic Cocktails with a focus on honoring the original and add to it a selection of Signature Cocktails that both build upon Classics and explore new and inventive areas of Spirits, Liquors, and Amari. Our Punch program is also one-of-a-kind. We serve Seasonal New American Cuisine with a focus on honoring the ingredient, applying technique, exciting the palate, and comforting the soul. Pull open the red door of an unsuspecting exterior and discover Sonny’s Hideaway.
I’m most proud of the feedback that I get from guests or people I meet around town who give unsolicited praise of their experience. Nothing feels better and I always credit my staff for making that a reality.
Pricing:
- We keep our printed cocktails $13 and under.
- We keep our small plates between $ and $14 and our mains from $16 to $28.
Contact Info:
- Address: 5137 York Blvd.
- Website: sonnyshideaway.com
- Phone: 323.255.2000
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: sonnyshideaway
- Facebook: sonnyshideaway
- Twitter: sonnys_hideaway
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
