The Stanza

Dasha Zhukova Niarchos is the founder of Ray, a residential lifestyle brand and real estate development company that builds art-forward residences. Ray's inaugural building in Philly's Fishtown neighborhood comprises 110 residential units and several amenities geared towards creatives and art & design lovers, such as artist studios, co-working space, a gym, a community kitchen, a green roof deck, a lobby living room and an independent art bookstore. One of the best perks of living at Ray is the cultural programming for residents, which includes art classes, gallery openings, and other social activities. The launch of the Philly building was a success, completing lease up in 8 months and proving the thesis that renters want to live in beautifully designed spaces that enhance their everyday experience. Ray's next building in Harlem is designed by Frida Escobedo and includes a new home for the National Black Theatre. The building comprises 222 mixed-income units, a similar suite of amenities, and stunning views of New York from its rooftop terrace.Prior to founding Ray, Dasha founded the Garage Museum of Contemporary Art in Moscow in 2008. The Museum was designed by Rem Koolhaas and is Russia's first and only contemporary art archive. In 2011, she founded Garage Magazine, which she sold and bought back from Vice Magazine. Dasha is also a co-founder of Artsy, a digital art marketplace and discovery platform. She also serves on the board of several organizations and companies, such as the LA County Museum of Art, Soho House, The Met, and more.In this interview, we dove into the business of combining art, design, and real estate development into a cohesive lifestyle brand. I'm excited about Ray because I believe that branded real estate will be a big consumer trend, and I also like the way that Dasha is executing her vision with thoughtfulness and attention to detail.Thank you Peoplevine for sponsoring this episode. Peoplevine is trusted by the best brands in the members club business. Book a free demo to see why at ⁠⁠⁠⁠peoplevine.com.⁠ Thank you to the team at NeueHouse for supporting The Stanza. NeueHouse is the premier work space in NYC and LA for those in the creative industries. Use code ⁠⁠THESTANZA⁠ ⁠for a special offer when applying for your membership.Interview Highlights:How can good design foster community and address the loneliness epidemic?Ray’s approach to structuring partnerships with real estate developersPlacemaking in emerging neighborhoodsParameters for choosing the right architectInsights from Dasha’s experience in the art world that she brings to RayThe impact of art on mental healthThoughts on the future of the built environment in urban citiesConnect with Dasha ⁠here⁠.Follow Ray here.Follow The Stanza ⁠here⁠.Subscribe to the newsletter ⁠here⁠.

Noah Tepperberg, co-founder of Tao Group Hospitality, has over 30 years' experience in the industry, launching iconic venues like Marquee and Lavo. He dives into the key elements that make a venue successful, from strategic real estate decisions to the importance of disciplined partnerships. Noah shares his transformative journey from a summer job to a global hospitality leader and discusses the complexities of international expansion. He emphasizes the significance of quality over quantity in growth and offers invaluable advice for aspiring hospitality entrepreneurs.

Gaetano Guarducci, part of the Sant Ambroeus Hospitality Group co-founded by his father, shares insights from the restaurant world. He discusses how they blend Milanese tradition with modern trends and the importance of maintaining brand integrity. Gaetano reveals their strategies for navigating economic downturns while opening new restaurants at a rapid pace. He also highlights the significant influence of fashion collaborations on their brand and the challenges and successes involved in transforming a historic establishment into a modern dining experience.

Gary Vaynerchuk is a serial entrepreneur and media mogul, while David Rodolitz is a veteran in NYC hospitality and co-founder of the VCR Group. They explore the future of fine dining, discussing the groundbreaking NFT membership model at their Flyfish Club. The duo dives into the evolving landscape of private members clubs and social dining, blending culinary excellence with innovative technology. They also tackle the challenge of negative feedback in the restaurant industry and the role of AI in redefining dining experiences, ensuring a unique conversation filled with insights.

It's a pleasure to welcome you to the 2025 season of The Stanza. Thank you for tuning in.Submit your pitch deck to be featured in "Investment Committee", a new column in The Stanza newsletter here.Subscribe to the newsletter here and follow on instagram.Episode highlightsOverview of the new podcast seasonThe art of the cold emailCareer advice for young peopleAnswering your Q&A:Limiting beliefs & dreaming bigBest tips on growing a digital communityPrivate members clubsValidation from billionairesLuxury groups buying real estateFashion / hospitality brand pivotsExcited for this year's podcast season!!

Jamie Caring, founder of Sevengage Consultancy, shares insights on building iconic hospitality brands. He discusses strategies for launching and scaling businesses, psychology of members clubs, and the evolution of Soho House. Topics include member retention, special touches in hospitality, lifestyle brand expansion, and challenges in the industry.

Subscribe to The Stanza, a newsletter discussing fashion & hospitality from an investor's perspective. Today's guest is David Litwak, co-founder of Maxwell Social. I'm excited to share the founding story of Maxwell because they're one of the very few emerging members clubs that are bold enough to take a contrarian approach to the business model. They have an open kitchen instead of a restaurant, they're not open during the weekday daytime, they don't have reciprocal clubs, and they ask their members to contribute to the community. The way Maxwell is structured is to re-align business incentives with the interests of the members, and to create an environment that facilitates deep relationships between members. It's completely different from the traditional "aspirational exclusivity" we've seen across most of the popular members club brands without sacrificing sophistication and style. David isn't afraid to share his opinions and if you want a behind the scenes view on the members club business, you'll enjoy this episode. Thanks for tuning in.Interview Highlights Gated restaurants with a community tagline Naming the club after 1920's socialite Elsa Maxwell as part of their core brand Why Maxwell is opting out of providing amenities such as a restaurant, gym, co-working space, etc. Programming that facilitates deep relationships & community contribution How they sourced their location in Tribeca & maximizing the real estate Raising capital as a new members club operator Attributes of a Maxwell member David's hot takes on why certain clubs have become cultural institutions The vision for Maxwell's futureMore about Maxwell Social Connect with Maxwell on IG: @maxwellsocialConnect with David on LinkedIn here.

Explore the world of exclusive memberships in hospitality with insights on structuring effective programs and the psychology behind exclusivity. Hear about trends in the industry, privacy in LA vs spontaneity in NYC, and advice for operators of members clubs. Dive into the behind-the-scenes of creating memorable experiences and the future of the industry.

The podcast delves into pitching to high-end hospitality clients and designing a CRM based on personal guest experience. It explores views on private dining clubs like ZZ's and the future of members clubs. Also discussed are loyalty programs in luxury hospitality and the expansion into the UK market.

Subscribe to The Stanza, a newsletter at the intersection of investing, hospitality & fashion. This episode is sponsored by Peoplevine - the best hospitality CRM software. Check out why Peoplevine is used and loved by the best private members clubs and book your free demo here."Everything he touches turns to gold" - this is what a brutally honest friend said to me about today's guest, Raphael Farasat. Raphael is the founder of award-winning Truffl Agency and co-founder of Last Crumb Cookies, the viral luxury cookie brand. He's worked with the likes of Tesla, LinkedIn, and Heineken, and as the creative director behind really cool upcoming consumer brands such as Better Bagel, Barcode Drinks, Boba Ice Cream, Jean Dousset, and more. We chatted about the power of metaphor when it comes to building a world for a brand, his creative process, and taking a contrarian approach when it comes to marketing and storytelling. Every founder building a consumer facing business - whether that's a cpg brand, hospitality group, or marketplace - can benefit from this interview. Episode highlights Raphael's creative process A networking strategy that brings aligned opportunities Applying the scarcity model from streetwear to cookies How to create a contrarian brand that people love Metaphors and consumer psychology How to create a membership program that fosters customer loyaltyConnect with Raphael on IG: @raph_More on Truffl Agency: https://truffl.com/Try Last Crumb cookies: https://lastcrumb.com/