Today we’d like to introduce you to Joseph Bolognese, the managing partner behind Palm Sophia, an upscale private event venue in Culver City known for hosting Fortune 500 corporate gatherings, high-profile weddings, and creative industry events including film festivals and even a wellness summit for TikTok. In addition to this venue Joseph also runs Saxum West, a boutique commercial real estate brokerage based in Beverly Hills.
Hi Joseph, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My background is in commercial real estate — in addition to Palm Sophia, I also run a boutique commercial real estate brokerage called Saxum West here in Los Angeles. In other words, I help owners of commercial properties to sell and lease their buildings. For years, on the way to or from the office, I would frequently drive by the building where Palm Sophia is now located, at 5965 Washington Blvd in Culver City. I remember thinking each time I drove by it that the building really stood out to me. My intuition told me there was an opportunity to do something here, but I didn’t know what it would be yet. I could see at the time that the first two floors of the building were vacant, so I decided to reach out to the owner to see what the story was, and to see if there might be an opportunity to add value in some way. We had a good initial conversation that led to several meetings at the building, and ultimately the formation of a strong relationship over a period of several months. He then introduced me to his broker of 20 years, Rafael Padilla, who has since become a good friend of mine in the business. We decided to co-list the property for lease together, and ended up leasing the first two floors of the building to a large social media agency, which really helped reactivate the property and put it back on the map.
That still left the third floor (rooftop), which was not in use. The third floor is the top floor in the building, and consists of a stunning 4,000 SF outdoor rooftop deck, as well as a 4,000 SF indoor event hall with a vaulted ceiling, a beautiful 80-foot long chandelier with modern accent lighting, and a full commercial kitchen. The floor had been designed and built as a high-occupancy event space, but a previous attempt in 2020-2021 to run that business in the space had been stopped by the City because the building didn’t have the right certificate of occupancy for that use at that time. As a result, the third floor was just sitting empty, but I recognized the incredible potential of the space. The challenge was, getting it permitted for events required obtaining an Administrative Use Permit — an expensive and time-consuming process that can take six to eight months and comes with no guarantees. Taking a leap of faith and trusting my intuition, I decided to take on that challenge myself. After nearly a year of back-and-forth with the City of Culver City, and tons of paperwork and in-person meetings, we finally got the official approval from all the departments at the City. That’s how Palm Sophia came (back) to life — it was less about starting a brand-new venture and more about breathing life back into a space with so much potential.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It was definitely not a smooth road — but that’s where most of the growth has come from. The biggest hurdle early on was getting the space properly permitted with the City. Because the previous operators had been shut down, we had to rebuild everything from the ground up — not just physically, but administratively. We had to approach everything with extra care and transparency. There were moments when it felt like we were taking two steps forward and one step back, but each setback forced us to become more detail-oriented and patient. It was a long and complex process that took nearly a year of coordination with multiple departments, consultants, and inspectors to make sure the venue met every requirement for a fully compliant event center. But seeing that approval finally come through was incredibly rewarding.
Beyond the permitting side, there was also the challenge of reopening a business that had a bit of history attached to it — rebuilding trust with the community and local vendors was a really important step. To me, it wasn’t just about launching an event venue — it was about doing it the right way. After we had gotten our approval from the City, I then had to learn an entirely new industry almost from scratch. Reactivating an empty space and turning it into a functioning event venue required me to wear a lot of hats — setting up systems to handle inquiries, bookings, and payments; interviewing and hiring vendors, contractors, and staff; troubleshooting commercial kitchen equipment and elevators; even sourcing off-site parking by negotiating with neighboring businesses. Each challenge pushed me out of my comfort zone, and it reminded me that we’re capable of much more than we think when we’re committed to figuring things out. It reinforced this idea that no matter how difficult or unfamiliar something seems at first, with persistence and curiosity, we can accomplish anything we set our minds to.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Palm Sophia is an upscale rooftop event venue in the heart of Culver City. The space itself is really special — it’s a tasteful balance of elements people naturally look for in an event venue: open flow and versatility, a contemporary design aesthetic, floor-to-ceiling windows with views of palm trees and the hills, tons of natural light, lush greenery installations, and modern indoor and outdoor lighting systems. We host everything from weddings and private celebrations to corporate gatherings, brand activations, and film shoots. What sets us apart is the balance between elegance and flexibility — we’ve designed the venue so it can fit the atmosphere of each event, whether that’s an intimate dinner, a corporate holiday party, a seminar, or a full-scale production.
Beyond the aesthetics, what I’m most proud of is the level of care that goes into every detail. We’re a small, hands-on team, and I think people feel that when they walk through the doors. Every workflow, every piece of equipment, every vendor relationship has been built intentionally from the ground up. We’re constantly refining the process — from how we manage inquiries and tours, to how we collaborate with planners and clients — to make sure the experience feels personal, seamless, and elevated.
Brand-wise, Palm Sophia represents the idea that you can take something dormant and create something meaningful out of it. It’s a space that brings people together, celebrates creativity, and reflects what’s possible when you combine patience, persistence, and good design. More than anything, I want people to feel that when they book with us, they’re not just renting a venue — they’re becoming part of something that was built with a lot of heart.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is integrity — doing things the right way, even when it takes longer or costs more. That’s been a constant theme throughout this whole journey. From the permitting process to reopening the space, there were countless opportunities to take shortcuts, but I’ve learned that lasting success comes from building on a solid foundation.
I also really value growth — both personal and professional. I believe in staying curious and never assuming you’ve “arrived.” Taking on Palm Sophia pushed me far outside my comfort zone, and it reminded me how much fulfillment comes from figuring things out as you go. At the end of the day, I care about creating something meaningful and lasting — something that adds value to the community and reflects care in every detail.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.palmsophia.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/palmsophiarooftop/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palmsophiarooftop/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/palm-sophia-culver-city
