Today we’d like to introduce you to Misty Mansouri.
Misty, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’m a native Angelino. I moved out of my childhood home and starting working at a very young age. I chose the hospitality industry because I was very comfortable in the environment; my father was a restauranteur, my stepfather was a chef, and my mother always worked in restaurants. We dined out three meals a day throughout my childhood. It was a natural fit for me. I spent my teens and early twenties working in restaurants, bars and nightclubs while going to school and working on other aspirations. When I was 28, I was offered a GM position at a large venue in Hollywood called “The Vanguard”. That was a turning point in my life and career. I absolutely fell in love with every aspect of my work, which was a rush like no other. Over that nine year period, we launched another boutique venue called AGENCY, a very elite and high-end venue. I’d been working on a business plan to open my own restaurant/bar when my entire Universe was turned upside down — I gave birth to my son. I knew in my soul that it wasn’t the right time to start a business from scratch while being a new mom — I would be stretched too thin.
My son was my number one priority, and it was critical for me to design my career around being a mother. I started a Company Xperiment with two partners; we each brought our expertise to the table and partnered with the Sofitel Hotel in LA for their bar and restaurant development and operations. We also launched a venue called the BASEMENT. After a five and half year run, it was clear to me that it was time to part ways. Years prior, I had started an event production company called Opus76 and produced a couple of events per year so it was a natural progression for me to focus on my event business. 2019 was a busy year of events, but I still longed for a space where I could bring all my years of experience and create something fresh that was all my own. It was important for me to have my family be part of the process as well; I wanted to create a space that my son could grow up in. In April 2020 my first solo project, “Lady Byrd Cafe”, officially opened. It has been a wild and challenging ride so far, particularly due to the timing coinciding with COVID19, but I have been able to pivot and make adjustments along the way, and I have no regrets.
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?
Lady Byrd Cafe has definitely been one of the bumpiest roads I have taken. I signed my lease in January 2020 and I was already so behind my original schedule. When the pandemic hit, all I could think was “is this really happening?” One thing is for sure — I am a survivor. I never spend too much time dwelling on the negative, instead my brain pops into solution mode. During these last several months, everything has just become amplified — both the negative and the positive aspects of life. This goes for the whole world! Of course, safety is at the forefront of everything I do, and my staff and customers’ safety is my number one priority. As a mother, everyone’s health definitely weighs on me heavily. Operating in the green is very hard under the circumstances. At the same time, I feel that safe social interaction and getting out of your house is very important to overall health. My mission is to give people an amazing outdoor dining experience. Still, every day there is a new obstacle, and everyday I am working on a new solution.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Lady Byrd Cafe – what should we know?
We are a small neighborhood cafe located in the Echo Park community of Los Angeles. We are a little hidden gem tucked into the middle of the neighborhood, surrounded by homes of amazing neighbors. We have very private dining set up in small greenhouses, as well as two large open-air patios. I am most proud of the diversity of our patrons. We have a warm, safe environment where everyone from all over the city (and beyond!) feels welcomed and at home.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
My attention to details and my work ethic have been key throughout my career, and are 2 of my qualities that serve me very well with LBC. There is certainly no magic carpet that leads you to success. Plain and simply, one has to put in the hard work day in and day out. Hospitality and the restaurant business are some of the most challenging career paths one can take. Restaurants are the #1 most failing businesses. One should not be in this line of business unless you truly love it! I’m at the cafe around the clock, watching and listening to everything that happens at all times. I have to make sure every plant is in bloom, every plate looks beautiful, every flavor is on point, every light is dimmed perfectly, every glass is beautiful, and the music is always right. My cafe is like an orchestra to me, every detail is an instrument, and every instrument has to be in tune and harmony with the others.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2100 Echo Park Ave
- Website: ladybyrdcafe.com
- Phone: 323-9221006
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @ladybyrdcafe
Image Credit:
Misty Mansouri
Suggest a story: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
