With its upcoming projects halted, co-founder Arsalun Tafazoli says they're focused on supporting their internal crew of 600 employees; all online sales of merchandise and gift card s are going. How do you make a small fortune? the old joke goes. Today that groupConsortium Holdingsconsists of 600 employees spread across 16 bars and restaurants throughout San Diego county. Long Stories, Real Estate, Summer 2016. What would that look like? CH Projects' Arsalun Tafazoli on Restaurant Life After COVID-19 Upon opening its doors in North Park, Polite Provisions became the talk of the townthe stylish, cosmopolitan cocktail lounge the neighborhood was thirsting for. Crews uncovered and restored the conservatory rooms terrazzo floor, period bathroom tile work, and the concrete floor in the hotels cafe, modernized the rooms with flat-screen TVs and added a fully equipped workout room. SanDiegoVille was created in 2010 to report about all the fun & delicious happenings taking place around America's Finest City and we quickly earned a reputation for being a news source for and by those that shun archaic journalistic practices in pursuit of reporting the real story. How can the emotional bond were feeling now be turned into something stronger, with muscle and teeth to protect all of us and all of our people in the future? In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. newsletter, the introduction of CH Projects' newest venture, Convoys Common Theory Pairing Up With Korean Barbecue in Chula Vista, Santa Barbaras Most Famous Ice Cream Shop Is Expanding to San Diego, A Cozy Japanese Tea House and Cafe Is Coming to Adams Avenue, Barbecue and Cocktails Join Forces in the East Village, Famed Seattle Bakery Piroshky Piroshky Is Popping Up in San Diego. newsletter, Sweet and Savory Japanese Sando Shop Tiptoes Is Open in Mira Mesa, Kumo is soft opening over the next couple weekends, The Hottest Restaurants in San Diego, March 2023, The latest lineup includes a new food hall, modern izakaya, and more, Sign up for the It's not as though San Diego was ever a wasteland for bars and restaurants. Although fine dining traffic turned negative in 2016, it regained momentum over the last 12 months, posting a gain of 1 percent through June, according to NPD, a market research firm. Built in a grand colonial style in 1946 by a former car dealer and developer, the Lafayette began life as the Imig Manor with about 250 guest rooms, suites, and apartments. People, Personalities Arsalun Tafazoli leads restaurant group Consortium Holdings into the post-pandemic era As of this summer, the 16 bar and restaurant concepts in eclectic Restaurateur nonpareil Arsalun Tafazoli Consortium Holdings empire are once again delivering the "immersive experiences" he passionately obsesses over But six months, a year from now Im hoping Ill be glad I was just the right amount of stupid at the right time.. 300+ "Tafazoli" profiles | LinkedIn The DNA of the design is staying the same and its going to feel very familiar to the original. Consortium Holdings (also known as CH Projects) now has over a dozen concepts around San Diego, including cocktail-focused Polite Provisions, classy dive bar El Dorado, neighborhood bar & restaurant Craft & Commerce with adjacent tiki-speakeasy False Idol, two locations of its Japanese fusion restaurant Underbelly, modern barbershop Dover Honing Co., seafood-centric Ironside Fish & Oyster, bi-level steakhouse Born & Raised, Westfield UTC bottle shop and speakeasy Raised By Wolves, brunch-centered Morning Glory, Chinese restaurant Fortunate Son, and industry-focused East Village sandwich shop and Negroni bar J & Tony's Discount Cured Meats and Negroni Warehouse with neighboring coffee shop Invigatorium in partnership with San Diego's Modern Times Beer. Arsalun Tafazoli leads restaurant group Consortium Holdings into the "For San Diego, these venues are sophisticated and a little bit eclectic. To arrive here, Tafazoli had to travel the world for inspirationmaking routine stops in London (which he considers the best cocktail city) and New York (the best food city). Arsalun Tafazoli, whose restaurant holdings include Born & Raised and Ironside, confirmed he is hoping to finalize purchase of the 131-room boutique hotel, which first opened on El Cajon. Meet The Man Lifting San Diego Onto The Global Food And Drink - Forbes This is a pretty rare asset with a pretty special history, Tafazoli said. There are 300+ professionals named "Tafazoli", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. Were not in this to appease everybody. (Kristian Carreon/For The San Diego Union-Tribune), Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Consortium Holdings (also known as CH Projects) now has over a dozen concepts around San Diego, including cocktail-focused Polite Provisions, classy dive bar El Dorado, neighborhood bar & restaurant Craft & Commerce with adjacent tiki-speakeasy False Idol, two locations of its Japanese fusion restaurant Underbelly, modern barbershop Dover Honing Co., seafood-centric Ironside Fish & Oyster, bi-level steakhouse Born & Raised, Westfield UTC bottle shop and speakeasy Raised By Wolves, brunch-centered Morning Glory, Chinese restaurantFortunate Son, and industry-focused East Village sandwich shop and Negroni barJ & Tony's Discount Cured Meats and Negroni Warehousewith neighboring coffee shopInvigatoriumin partnership with San Diego's Modern Times Beer. In the coming days, well share more thoughts from local chefs and restaurant owners who are navigating this new world. This is avant-garde stuff," he says. Another new concept expected to unveil this year is members-only social houseThe Reading Club and adjacent Italian-inspired Seneca restaurant, both which will be sited on the 19th floor of InterContinental Hotel in downtown San Diego. The addition of Morning Glory brings the restaurant group's Little Italy eateries to five, joining Born & Raised, Ironside Fish &. "Love Us or Hate Us, but Don't Be Indifferent" | Hatch According to the county Assessor/Recorders office, the propertys current assessed value is $10.3 million, although that does not necessarily reflect the market value. San Diego-Based Consortium Holdings To Purchase North Park's Historic Besides serving grain bowls and organic juices, the new business offers free meditation classes, live music and a book club, Also this week: New restaurant openings include Sea Tavern, the Sushi Stand, the Great Greek and more, The James Beard Award winner was billed by the New York Times as the Annie Leibowitz of food photography, Beyer Deli, Gonzo! In some ways, to be in the restaurant world right now is to sit back and watch everybody else get hit by the same truck that already blindsided you. Consortium Holdings includes, undeniably, the most conversation-worthy restaurants on the San Diego landscape. The co-founder of the group behind Born & Raised, Ironside, and many more local bars and restaurants shares a personal essay. We have learned a lot since we first designed and built Craft & Commerceand frankly, we didnt have the budget or resources we have now. For line-level team members, we are always hiring dedicated, and detail-oriented crew. Except for economic reasons, it doesnt make any sense for us to ever expand outside of San Diego County. Hes had offers in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, but lays it on the line by resolutely saying, If you see us outside of San Diego County, youll know weve sold out. If we are given the opportunity to take stewardship of this special place, it would be a dream come true., Lafayette Hotel owner and developer Jay Wentz of JCG Development said Wednesday that he cannot comment on the sale other than to confirm that I am in the process of selling it.. The Lafayette Hotel,Swim Club & Bungalows is located at 223 El Cajon Boulevard in San Diego's North Park. There is no word yet on what is planned for that space. In consultation with the San Diego Natural History Museum, animal taxidermy is dramatically displayed. The Red Fox owners, though, are close to completing construction across the street of a new incarnation of the restaurant and pub, complete with its well-known piano bar. As his firm, CH Projects, and local architect Paul Basile prepare to open a revamped Craft & Commerce, Tafazoli shares his thoughts on design and we look inside where he works. Arsalun Tafazoli, Founder and CEO of Consortium Holdings Zack Benson Brad Japhe Brad Japhe is a freelance journalist specializing in food, beverage, and travel. We love being praised for when were awesome. I dont have the answers. The restaurant will cost over $3 million, according to Tafazoli. With the purchase, expect Consortium Holdings with the guidance of corporate chef & partner Jason McLeod to overhaul onsite food & beverage options, including rebranding Hope 46 restaurant and installing a new concept in the space that long housed Red Fox Steakhouse & Piano Bar, which isin the process of opening across the street in a new building. Whereas there is something really American about an oyster bar or burger concept, which obviously makes that development a little more fluid for us. When the citys dine-in ban came down, one of San Diegos most prolific and high-profile restaurant groups CH Projects moved to temporarily shutter all of its 14 restaurants and bars, save for the Underbelly ramens shops in Little Italy and North Park which are still open for takeout, with all proceeds going to the hospitality collectives furloughed staff. Meet the four San Diego restaurants that made Yelps 2023 list of the Top 100 Places to Eat in the U.S. We couldn't find that.Let's go back home and try again. Born and Raised is a double entendre for that. Its too soon to say, but Tafazoli believes Born and Raised (which came with a hefty $6.5 million price tag) could evolve into an iconic spot where locals spend decades celebrating those big, life experience moments. Human connectivity issues and problems instigated or magnified by quarantine are in his crosshairs. Already named one of Esquire magazine's 'Best Bars in America', it was also nominated for a Spirited Award at this year's Tales of the Cocktail, an industry event held annually in New Orleans. That annoyed us. But they've largely focused on tourists and what Tafazoli describes as big, loud parties. We also love some good old fashioned constructive criticism. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the San Diego Union-Tribune. Tafazoli then partnered with El Dorado's Nate Stanton to form the hospitality group, Consortium Holdings, which has added new project to its roster each year; their bar and restaurant stable. There is no word yet on the exact changes planned for The Lafayette, but we anticipate Tafazoli to implement design upgrades in the near future while respecting the name and history of the hotel. The ever-expanding restaurant group also has numerous additional concepts in the works, including a refresh of East Village's Neighborhood that is expected to be completed in the very near future and also includes a new speakeasy called Young Blood. Looking back, it was a little much, vulgar and unnecessary, but thats what youth is forI think. Arsalun Tafazoli has reshaped San Diego's culinary scene with his edgy architectural designs and unconventional, unapologetic menus at more than a dozen eateries and bars. Consortium Holdings founder Arsalun Tafazoli has purchased the 131-room, grand colonial-style The Lafayette Hotel in San Diego's North Park community. For more information, visitlafayettehotelsd.com, and learn more about Consortium Holdings atconsortiumholdings.com. SD 500: Nathan Stanton - San Diego Business Journal But with us, you have to invest your time and its more expensive. Dont look for literal explanations. As big as our industry is, its also incredibly shallow. Arsalun Tafazoli Email Address Found 3 email address listings: @consortiumholdings.con @consortiumholdings.com @gmail.com Arsalun Tafazoli Phone Number Found 3 phone numbers: 858-405-XXXX 619-269-XXXX 619-955-XXXX View Arsalun's Email & Phone (It's Free) 5 free lookups per month. Modern Times beers are on tap, along with specialty craft cocktails, on the bar side. Tafazoli wants to enable people to socialize again. (Rare Form and Fairweather near Petco Park.). So we try to design our spaces to encourage human interaction and good conversation. Because the original rooftop was used as a parking lot for 10 or so cars, we thought the second-story expansion would be a relatively easy build. We wanted to create spaces that became a part of the fabric of thecommunities they were in, and create long-term relationships with our guests. "Raised By Wolves is trying to be a community hub in a place that's a non-community," Tafazoli explains. Youre not alone if youre looking at the full name of J & Tonys and asking, What the? Its part coffee-driven caf, called Invigatorium, serving breakfast and lunch. We put a friendly face on for the public, rooting for each other on social media, showing up for special events. What we do in each place is organic, Tafazoli says. Over the past decade, he's opened 16 eateries and bars that have won critical acclaim and a James Beard nod for their bold architecture and strong cocktails, as well as scorn for the unwavering no-ketchup and no-vodka policies. According to Tafazoli, "Erick was a friend and a San Diego native who helped pioneer cocktail culture in San Francisco at two places we admired: Bourbon & Branch and Rickhouse. As we move forward, which we will, that has to change. Restauranteur Arsalun Tafazoli '06 gives an outlook for the service industry post COVID-19. We are a different kind of news site with no desire to conform to antiquated ideas of how many believe journalism should be. View the profiles of professionals named "Tafazoli" on LinkedIn. When Tafazoli wanted a mural of a scene in American Psycho in the office, Basile placed the image on the wall first and worked the height of the suspended conference room around it. Choose your subscription. Nearly 3 years and $6.5 million later, downtown's newest restaurant newsletter, Sweet and Savory Japanese Sando Shop Tiptoes Is Open in Mira Mesa, Kumo is soft opening over the next couple weekends, The Hottest Restaurants in San Diego, March 2023, The latest lineup includes a new food hall, modern izakaya, and more, Where to Find Vibrant Vietnamese Food in San Diego. Anthony Bourdain once said, Luck is not a business model. Neither is being passive. You cant force what we do., Also in the hospitality arena, Consortium Holdings recently purchased the historic Lafayette Hotel in North Park for$25.8 million. That was in 2008. arsalun tafazoli - Consortium Holdings There's perhaps no better example of this scene-shifting than Raised By Wolves. The old world is gone. The 500 is selected by the San Diego Business Journal newsroom. newsletter, all online sales of merchandise and gift card, How Coronavirus Is Affecting San Diegos Food World, Local Hospitality Group Hosting Free Vaccination Pop-Up, 28 San Diego Restaurants Offering Grocery and Pantry Staples, Convoys Common Theory Pairing Up With Korean Barbecue in Chula Vista, Santa Barbaras Most Famous Ice Cream Shop Is Expanding to San Diego, A Cozy Japanese Tea House and Cafe Is Coming to Adams Avenue, Barbecue and Cocktails Join Forces in the East Village, Famed Seattle Bakery Piroshky Piroshky Is Popping Up in San Diego. Three years later, he partnered with another no-holds-barred, social-scene-busting restaurateur, Arsalun Tafazoli. 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Here, in his own words, Tafazoli considers how the crisis could bring some positive changes to the industry. Consortium Holdings founder Arsalun Tafazoli is currently in the escrow stage of purchasing North Park's 131-room, grand colonial-style The Lafayette Hotel. By the time CH Projects won the City Council OK, the tally for the delay and costs associated with the fight reached $200,000, Tafazoli said. Not everything has to be about going against the grain; we just want to do good projects that are filling a cultural void in a city we love. I think when we were younger, we had more of a chip on our shoulder with more toprove, and we wanted to rock the proverbial design boat. San Diego's Consortium Holdings Finalizes Purchase Of North Park's 2023 Consortium Holdings All Rights Reserved. That fire doesnt burn as hot anymore. CH Projects is known for its robust portfolio of San Diego drinking and dining venues, including Born & Raised and Ironside Fish & Oyster in Little Italy and Raised by Wolves in in Westfield UTC. And judging by his restaurant group's sales numbers, personality goes a long way. Your email address will not be published. When you come to our spaces for an hour and a half, though, what we can help you do is forget about your problems for a while.. SanDiegoVille reports fairly on the top entertainment happenings and small businesses doing it right, while not shying away from hard topics and questions you wont read in local publications where editorial direction is ultimately steered by the sales department. Biotech Briefing: UCSD Researchers Find Potential Therapeutic Path for ALS Biotech Briefing: Eight Biopharma Trends for 2020, Biotech Briefing: Illumina Spin-out Verogen Buys GEDmatch. Nearly every item from the flooring to the staircase to the ceiling and everything in between was crafted by our team, so the coordination of the installation had to be precise, Basile said. You have to when youre trapped in a cycle of near desperation, trying to balance fragile, fluctuating sales with massive monthly outlays for payroll, sales taxes, rent, and the extra costs associated with state and local regulation. There is no word yet on the exact changes planned for The Lafayette, but we anticipate Tafazoli to implement design upgrades in the near future while respecting the name and history of the . Nathan Nate Stanton started bartending in 2007 when he and his twin brothers and a close friend opened El Dorado in the East Village. Before that, it housed a drugstore and soda fountain that came to be the gathering spot for young people in the Italian neighborhood. CH Projects Transforms San Diego - Market Watch Frustrated with the bad rap his hometown had amassed, he formed a hospitality group to weave soulful cuisine with elegant design into the local narrative.