Sam Nazarian, founder, chair and chief executive of Los Angeles-based SBE has a lot going on, between his growth of the SLS Hotel brand with noted chef José Andrés as culinary director to his recent investment in the Umami Burger concept, not to mention the growing number of other restaurant concepts. Oh, and then there’s the ever-evolving nightclubs, more hotels, and movie production business.
He spoke with Nation’s Restaurant News this week about growth of his various concepts, but one tidbit that didn’t make the story was about the reconcepting of the Los Angeles restaurant XIV, which closed its doors this week.
The high-end venue was SBE’s first with chef Michael Mina. Nazarian said the restaurant is being “recalibrated,” and that his partnership with Mina will continue.
“For both Michael and I, doing something that’s average is not good enough,” said Nazarian of XIV. “It wasn’t making money, it wasn’t losing money. So we’re going to take our time and create something that is appropriate for the location.”
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