Today we’d like to introduce you to Sue Kim.
Sue, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My father and I immigrated to the States in the late 1990’s. As a single father in a foreign country where he didn’t speak the language nor did he have any relatives, he had to work more than 60 hours a week to provide ourselves a good nurturing home and to educate me.
He has been working in the Korean catering business since then. He has catered hundreds of thousands of weddings and parties big and small. Then he came across a great opportunity to run this venue, The One Event Venue.
He asked me to join him in this family business. With a landscape architecture background, honestly, I had no idea how to help him operate this venue. However, I couldn’t say no to him but to help and support him with all my heart and might. That’s how we got started here. For my father, it was an exciting beginning of a new chapter in life before his retirement; but for me it was actually a scary one.
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?
We’ve had ups and downs; been on very rough roads and on some smooth roads. In the first couple of years, we had been very fortunate enough to have had weddings and parties booked for all weekends and some weekdays just by word of mouth. However, both my father and I had been exhausted mentally and physically. Work/rest balance had gone off. We had also undergone trial and error as I had no experience in an event industry previously.
Thanks to many of our vendors in this industry as they have actually helped us a lot by supporting and encouraging us with good advice and by referring their clients to us. For instance, with help from an event planner Alice Issac, we were able to break out of our shell of hosting weddings and birthday parties only, and go beyond conventional events venue. Personally I am an introvert who is too fearful of executing new things. It takes double, triple, or even more time and energy for me to start something new compared to others. I just think TOO MUCH. But I have to say, through difficult times whether it is financial or mental/emotional hardship, I feel I have been guided to move out of my comfort zone in a creative way with support from friends and vendors.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into The One Event Venue story. Tell us more about the business.
We are a father-daughter owned venue located in the heart of K-town Los Angeles. At The One Event Venue, we host all types of celebrations and events from private parties such as weddings and birthday parties to corporate events. Our event venue can accommodate intimate gatherings and events up to 170 guests with parking conveniently located within the building.
With gorgeous California weather all year long, “The One Rooftop Patio” is a charming backdrop for all ceremonies, cocktail parties, brunches or even concerts. “The Main Hall” offers an elegant customizable space for any type of occasion and endless creative possibilities. And our “The One Love” is a multi-function space offering is perfect for small parties, workshops, demos, and conferences accommodating up to 40 guests.
Also we collaborate with Ladies Take the Lead to host conferences and events to empower women to achieve personal and professional growth. And in collaboration with Infinity Soiree, we host event-related shows and conferences from Bridal Showcase to All Things Celebrations event. Check out our website for upcoming events.
Pricing:
- Mention {VoyageLA} for 10% off rental price
Contact Info:
- Address: 3680 Wilshire Boulevard 5th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90010 - Website: www.theoneeventvenue.com
- Phone: 213-387-7575
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/theoneeventvenue
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/theoneeventvenue
Image Credit:
*TK KIM PHOTOGRAPHY *JOCELYN & SPENCER PHOTOGRAPHY *DESIREE KEOSHIAN PHOTOGRAPHY *MIN STUDIO
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