Today we’d like to introduce you to Jawad Tazari.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
The Westside Venue was born from the dream of creating a space for the community. My parents, both avid coffee drinkers, discovered a closed down coffee shop in Cheviot, Ohio–my mother’s hometown. My mother had recently retired from teaching in New York City, and my entrepreneurial father envisioned starting a coffee shop. They stopped into the nightclub next door to ask about the coffee shop, and the bartender, explaining she was the owner of the nightclub, encouraged them to “Forget about the coffee shop; buy my bar!” That was early 2016, and now, almost a decade later, the Westside Venue has become established in the community as a private event venue.
A lot of work went into renovating the space from a nightclub called ‘The Smokin’ Monkey’. Initially, my mother ran the business like a cafe: opening early, and serving coffee and sandwiches with the vision of creating a welcoming community hub. However, without much business experience, it became clear that guests were confused about our offerings. The venue’s greatest asset from its nightclub days was the incredible PA system and we pivoted our focus to live music; we had solo artists on Fridays, bands on Saturdays, and a blues jam every Sunday. During the week we were a regular neighborhood bar, with open mic, trivia, pool and karaoke. During this period, we hosted a variety of dramatic events, from bands that packed the house, to ‘Extreme Midget Wrestling’ and to the best of my knowledge, the first drag show in Cheviot.
Today, The Westside Venue stands as a private event venue that is deeply engaged in the community. On Mondays and Wednesdays, we open our doors to participate in the local dart and pool leagues, host a weekly game night and facilitate Chess Club as well as other local group meetings. We also organize a select number of public events a year which include original music showcases, comedy shows, and art exhibitions. While we may not be a traditional coffee shop, we still have espresso, pour-overs, and specialize in adult coffee beverages. As we move forward, we are committed to fostering community connections and creating unforgettable experiences.
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?
The road hasn’t always been smooth for The Westside Venue. We’ve encountered thieves and con artists trying to exploit our goodwill, while providing support to patrons struggling with alcoholism. On a broader scale, we’ve grappled with developing brand identity, establishing effective operating systems and crafting marketing strategies. When we shifted our focus to live music, we faced an ever-present struggle of trying to turn a profit while remaining committed to making sure artists got paid fairly. Even with low turnout, we felt a strong obligation to compensate bands and performers, but it was disheartening to see the business losing money despite our hard work. While karaoke night and the blues jams were enjoyable, the reliance solely on bar sales for revenue proved to be an unsustainable model.
Everything changed in 2020. When quarantine began in March, we had to pause karaoke and the blues jam, and still haven’t brought those events back. When things started to open again in April, we noticed an influx of groups looking for spaces to have events. Although the state had guidelines of social distancing and mask mandates, not every establishment followed the rules. I took it upon myself to establish our own safety protocols, sanitizing the venue daily, and providing hand sanitizer and masks for guests. I made it clear that masks were required when not seated, calmly explaining that my priority was to protect everyone and failing to follow the guidelines could lead to another shutdown. During the summer of 2020, as people ventured out amidst the collective trauma of the pandemic, I am proud to say that if they came to my venue, we were doing the most to stop the spread of the virus. Not all heroes wear capes, but during Covid, we wore masks.
In 2019, we hosted our first wedding, and despite the challenges of early quarantine, we began hosting more private events in 2020. This pivot allowed us to diversify our income streams and focus on providing quality service to our guests. For me, this was a game changer; instead of worrying about turnout and open hours, I could concentrate on making each event memorable. While not every event runs smoothly, I’ve learned that it’s about ‘progress, not perfection’. Each experience provides an opportunity to improve the next one. They say that half of all businesses fail within the first five years, but we’ve found our niche in hosting private events, and we’re excited to tackle the challenges that lie ahead.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about The Westside Venue?
Since switching to private events, we’ve been able to really focus on providing exceptional hospitality for all our events. The Westside Venue has hosted more weddings than I can count on my fingers, along with birthday parties, baby showers, graduations, celebrations of life, reunions, formals, banquets, and numerous cultural events. We work closely with the event host to make their unique vision of the event a reality. I’ve also worked to provide plenty of non-alcoholic drink options, and specialty cocktails of the night, to be inclusive and make our guests’ events special. Being a part of our client’s significant moments and experiences is what makes our work so rewarding.
The Westside Venue is a mid-sized event venue, featuring two distinct areas: our Main Event Space and our basement Game Room. Our Main Event Space has a main bar area, VIP section, buffet area, stage, and dance floor, accommodating up to 140 people with comfortable seating for 50-70, or up to 100 when utilizing the dance floor and stage. Our Game Room, which holds up to 49 and seats 30, has a pool table, soft tip dartboards, an arcade system and board games. We offer the option to rent both spaces individually, and events in the Main Event Space can add the Game Room to their event. In addition to basic event planning and bar service, we also offer buffet management, decoration services, and soft drink packages.
While I haven’t run sound for a blues jam since early 2020, hosting live music remains a vital part of our story. From young musicians in bands just starting to play out, to experimental solo acts, the venue has become a place where all types of music are celebrated. I’ve collaborated with numerous promoters and show runners to ensure their events are successful. One recurring show that I am particularly proud of is Transmission, an art show that celebrates queer noise artists.
At the Westside Venue we strive to create a space that everyone can feel at home, and express themselves freely. The original dream for our venue was to be a true community hub. Between the myriad of private events we host, the diverse live music experiences, and our support for local community groups, along with our regular bar hours, I believe we are well on the way to making that dream a reality.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
To do one’s best in life, I highly recommend philosophy, especially existentialism, which deals with life as is. A foundational aspect of being successful in hospitality is being a good human being; To be a good human being, philosophize. Perhaps a good starting point to explore existentialism is ‘At the Existentialist Café’ by Sarah Bakewell which offers an accessible introduction to the history of existentialist thought.
Another good book is ‘Unreasonable Hospitality’ by Will Guidara. This book is a must for anyone in the hospitality profession. One concept that resonates is the idea that “service is black and white, and hospitality is color”. This means that while service is performing your job, true hospitality requires going above and beyond to provide greater satisfaction for your guests. While anyone can be trained to provide service, this view of hospitality demands a certain temperament and open mind.
In March 2022, I went to the Bar and Restaurant Expo in Las Vegas, which solidified my passion for the hospitality industry. One of the many lessons I learned is that a business cannot be everything to everybody, but it can be everything to somebody. Attending a trade show can be incredibly beneficial at various points in your career; they offer opportunities for networking, learning, and gaining fresh perspectives from other professionals in your field.
Additionally, I’ve found the YouTube channel ‘Dave Allred “The Real Barman”’ a great resource on bar management. He candidly discusses important issues surrounding operating a bar business, providing practical insights that can help navigate the challenges in the industry
All in all, continuous learning is important for professional and personal growth. Becoming a student of philosophy, and engaging with other professionals in your industry can help you develop the right mindset to achieve your best.
Pricing:
- Saturday Evening Events start at $500
- Friday Evening Events start at $400
- Sunday Evening Events start at $300
- Saturday Afternoon Events start at $300
- Sunday Afternoon Events start at $260
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.westsidevenue.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westsidevenue
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westsidevenue
