Today we’d like to introduce you to Marin Von Blom.
Marin, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Never even sure how to begin these, my origin story is not as graceful or eloquent as some. Started working in restaurants when I was 18 while going to school in for History & Art. Always a capitalist at heart and seriously afraid of free time, I started an online store when I was 19, selling HID Kits & Headlight bulbs (which I kept running until we opened Arc).
My love of hospitality always kept bringing me back to the service industry, where I met my now husband, then co-worker, Noah von Blöm, and we decided to venture off on our own and open a restaurant, our way. The rest is history / Arc Food & Libations / The Guild Club / Arc Butcher & Baker.
Arc Food & Libations is an all wood burning American Roast House and craft cocktails. The ambiance is french quarter meets American brick city. Wood fires are everywhere as everything is cooked over live flame. The orange glow that radiates from the open kitchen creates the most amazing atmosphere. Our bar circles the open kitchen, giving dinner & a show.
Arc Butcher & Baker is our Coast Side Roast House. Slightly lighter and brighter than the Arc Food & Libations in Costa Mesa, the vibe fits the Newport Peninsula perfectly. Casual, vintage, and unique, Arc Butcher & Baker fits no category, offering freshly baked goodies to pick up, dry aged steaks to grill at home, all nestled within the European piazza styled restaurant/market.
The Guild Club is Arc’s private bar, only accessible through a secret passage from Arc. This way-to-cool-to-be-called-a-speakeasy BAR evokes Winston Churchill, as a modern man. Decked out with hunter green leather abound, 2400 Swarovski crystal encrusted chandeliers, original oils and live music make this the best kept secret in Orange County.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
If it were smooth, we would never learn anything! The restaurant business is invigorating as it always keeps you on your toes. One day you are literally putting a fire out on the roof and the next day you are looking at financials and trying to figure out how to keep the place running.
As with most things, finding money to get the restaurant started and to expand was/is the hardest for us. We are so lucky to have an amazing staff, crave worthy & amazing food (my husband is constantly voted best chef in Orange County), a killer design and decor (thanks to moi!) but getting financial backing has been tough (especially in the beginning with no proof of concept).
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Arc Food & Libations, Arc Butcher & Baker, The Guild Club – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
I am a jack of all trades, master of none (well maybe one now). I have my hands in everything from creating menus, designing the space, building the restaurants (as in drywalling, bricking, making chandeliers, the whole nine yards), working in the restaurants, serving as the best filling sous chef whenever needed, and pretty much being the glue that keeps this place together alongside my badass partner / husband, Noah.
As a company, we are known for doing our own thing. Our mantra and restaurant tag line is “Dirty. Sexy. Happiness”, & and everything we do is that. Our restaurants are sexy and inviting, our food and staff bring happiness in all ways, and everyone needs a little dirty fun in their life and the wood fires bring it out. We evoke sexy/comfortable/sophisticated/ nostalgic/ modern, paradoxes abound and breaking the rules.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
We always want to keep expanding. We love building each unique restaurant and creating for the neighborhood it is in. We have so much more to do!
Pricing:
- Cocktails $14-16
- Food Entrees $7-38
Contact Info:
- Address: 3321 Hyland Avenue Suite F
Costa Mesa, CA 92626 - Website: arcrestaurant.com
- Phone: (949) 500-5561
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @arcrestaurant @arcbutcherbaker @theguildclub
Image Credit:
All photos were taken by Marín von Blöm
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