Here we go again with another disciple of Lisa Vanderpump opening their own bar. Tom Schwartz and Tom Sandoval were the trailblazers of the Vanderpump Rules crew in terms of using their learned skill set, and Lisa’s connections, to open their own eateries. Ariana Madix and Katie Maloney are somewhere between opening their sandwich shop and dealing with further administrative delays.
But shockingly, Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright came out of nowhere to quickly and successfully open their own bar. This married duo made some smart decisions, and were able to open their establishment with minimal expenses and headache. Lisa would be proud.
Jax and Brittany wanted the bar to be “really fun” and “affordable for everybody”
The grand opening for Jax’s Studio City was a Halloween party on October 28. Jax described the sports bar in the heart of Los Angeles to People as “laid back, family-friendly.”
“We worked really, really hard to get this open really fast,” Jax revealed.
Brittany added that she and her husband were “very, very lucky” to get the owners of Rocco’s Tavern on board.
Another plus? Brittany and Jax had minimal setup work to do. The “structural stuff” was in place, which means “moving plumbing around” was unnecessary, Jax revealed.
“We were able to just take it over and change the way it looks,” Brittany explained.
The Kentucky native revealed that she handled the decor, which includes a beer garden and outdoor space. She decided to have “a mural artist come in and do this big mural outside.”
There’s some Andy Warhol-style art for the bar area. Overall, Brittany was thinking of female clients that may, as Bravo fans, come into the space.
“It’s a little upscale boujee with the palm leaves [on the walls],” she explained. “I wanted it to be very green. Because of Bravo, a lot of women will be coming in here, so we wanted it to be inviting for women and for men.”
Keeping it kid-friendly
As for the child-friendly aspect, Jax and Brittany included games such as shuffleboard, corn hole, shuffle board, and life-size Jenga. For the sports fans, TV screens are provided for an optimal viewing experience. The duo also plan to include drag bingo and trivia game nights.
“We want it to be really fun for everybody,” Brittany dished. Also, Jax envisioned a restaurant “affordable for everybody.”
The menu reflects that goal with dishes such as Arugala Flatbreads, Caprese Wrap, and Jax’s burger. Some family dishes from Kentucky are included such as Brittany’s Mamaw’s Beer Cheese, and Sweat Tea.
“Opening a bar isn’t easy,” Jax admitted. But working together with Brittany, and having the location close to home made it more manageable. The duo, along with their business partners, are all parents to small children, and they made it a point not to drink at their establishment.
Now that the work is done, Jax and Brittany are ready to enjoy the fruits of their labor. And it seems that opening a business in L.A. has connected them even more to the place.
“It’s a weird thing. I’ve been [in L.A.] since 2005 and I never really felt like I’ve lived here. Michigan is my home because that’s where I’m from.” Jax stated. “But now that I have an establishment with my name on it, it actually just makes me feel like I own something here.”
“This is finally my home,” he concluded.
TELL US – ARE YOU SURPRISED THAT JAX AND BRITTANY OPENED A BAR SO QUICKLY? DO YOU THINK IT WILL BE SUCCESSFUL? HOW DO YOU THINK THEIR BUSINESS SENSE COMPARES WITH OTHER VANDERPUMP RULES CAST MEMBERS THAT OPENED RESTAURANTS?
