INTERVIEW CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
How do you divide the duties?
Komarov: Bobby’s the creative director and designer of bars.
Green: I’m the man on the ground.
Komarov: I’m the guy in back. I’m the guy in the office handling finance and mostly accounting. I keep the corporate house running, and Bobby keeps the front end of the house running. Obviously we sometimes criss-cross, but for the most part, that’s what the roles are.
And the other Dmitry, he’s back of the house too?
Komarov: The other Dmitry does the back of the house with me as well.
What’s your favorite part about running bars?
Komarov: It’s exciting to build a location and a place and have it full of people enjoying your creations. It’s nice to be able to create something that people enjoy and putting your footprint on the city. For me, that’s exciting to do. And obviously to experience the whole nightlife element, just enjoying the experience and having fun. So that’s exciting to me.
Green: We’re not the bar owner types that hang out and get drunk every night. We keep things pretty tight. The most rewarding part for me is the creative aspect, because I was always the designer. Every new project, I get to design something completely new. I get to work for myself. I don’t have to work for some crazy person, so it’s nice.
What’s the biggest challenge as you expand and have more and more places to manage?
Green: I’m sure there are a number of challenges. Keeping track of it all. Running around a lot. Multiple stops. We don’t just have two, we have seven, so that’s a bit challenging.
Komarov: It’s really important to have strong team that supports you. It’s been challenging, but it’s been good. We’ve worked really hard to have a strong staff. That makes our life much easier, so that’s been good.
How much more can you take on?
Komarov: As long as we have the right staff, I think we can keep going. It’s kind of unlimited, as long as we have the energy.
Green: As long as we have good people, and we keep finding good people.
Komarov: We don’t necessarily have a plan to stop at this point. We’re still young. We’ll see.
Is there such a thing as balance in any of your lives?
Komarov: Yeah, we’re actually all family men. We rely on a really strong staff to run the place. We have a good balance. It’s important to have a balance. Otherwise you get burnt out.
Green: Yeah, we do have a good balance. I have an obsessive car racing hobby. Dimitri’s an avid skier and tennis player. We manage to find time for ourselves.
Komarov: We’re not here every night until 2 in the morning.
What’s your drink of choice? If you could only fill your glass one more time, what would be in it?
Green: I am just a Pilsner man. I just stick with beer.
Komarov: I love my Old Fashioned. That’s my favorite drink.
Who would make it for you, if could only drink one more?
Komarov: Someone in the 1933 Group.
Blog Comments
Jeffrey Morgan
August 22, 2016 at 2:41 PM
Dear 1933 Group:
I was at Idle Hour on Friday, August 19, 2016 evening, arriving around 10:20pm. My friends and I sat down at a table on the outdoor patio. As each one went to order either Drinks or Food or both. I noticed several people smoking on the back patio. I then saw a huge amount of smoke from another section on the patio where several people were vaping. I asked the Bartender if he knew it was illegal to allow smoking where food is served. He said he’d get the manager. When the manager arrived, I showed him the Municipal Code 41.50 B 18 b that prohibits smoking in outdoor dining areas and required posting of “No Smoking” signs (which were nowhere to be found). The manager said that he was following the “owners” wishes and that after 10 pm they allowed smoking. I pointed out that they were still serving food, he said he understood but this is what the owners wanted. I said, you are purposely breaking the law because your owner said to? That makes no sense!
My entire group, as well as others around us were not happy about this new development. I understand that I was also being placated by the manager as he just nodded his head and said “it’s what the owners wanted. I have copied the Los Angeles District Attorney Mike Feuer on this email as well. and will be following up with his staff next week.
No matter what you want, you cannot break the law! The Municipal code does NOT have a time frame on it stating that it’s okay after any certain hour. Besides this, the waiter gave my food to another person telling them it was free (I was obviously being disrespected).
So, not only will I not be frequenting the IDLE HOUR ever again, those with me also weren’t happy with their own experiences. Social Media is a powerful tool and can cut both ways.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey Morgan