Long before he helped build one of Chicago’s most recognizable hospitality groups, David Rekhson was trying to convince his mother that his nightclub was actually a fine-dining restaurant. This week on Joiners, we sit down with the co-founder of DineAmic Hospitality, the group behind Chicago favorites like Siena Tavern, Bar Siena, and Prime & Provisions. David traces his journey from an Ohio kid obsessed with restaurants to the early days of Stone Lotus, where he and longtime business partner Luke Stoioff learned that packing a nightclub and running a profitable business are two very different things. Along the way, he shares stories of an impromptu Tiësto set that lasted until sunrise, an unforgettable culinary trip to Tuscany with Fabio Viviani, and the growing pains of building a hospitality empire through a pandemic and beyond. Plus, knowing when to abandon a good idea, the delicate art of touching tables, why every restaurant could stand to dim the lights a little, oversized pepper mills, and so much more.
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