By Rachel Cohen By Rachel Cohen | April 22, 2020 |
Born and bred in Los Angeles, Mark and Jonnie Houston of Houston Hospitality have an unmatched love for the city and its legacy. Perhaps that’s why they have dedicated themselves to transforming its nightlife scene into something unrivaled by any other capital, with clubs including Black Rabbit Rose, Pour Vous, Break Room 86 and many more. Here, we chat with the brothers about their latest project for the LINE LA—their third for the property—and what comes next.
What inspired Kiss Kiss Bang Bang?
JH: We were raised in the ’70s and ’80s, but our love for ’70s music came directly from our dad. He loved all ’70s, from rock ’n’ roll to a lot of disco. Having another opportunity to create a new concept in Koreatown [where we grew up], especially with the LINE hotel, we think about our dad and all the great memories we have in
that neighborhood.
How does this club fit into your larger portfolio?
MH: Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is a little bit more rock ’n’ roll [than our other projects] and has a more relaxed approach. It’s an Art Deco design, which, as you know from the neighborhood and other historic buildings up and down Wilshire Boulevard, has a nod to the Deco era. We wanted to bring up the ’70s and make it a glamorous place. You can get dressed up, you can dance, you can listen to good music and have little bites.
How do you ensure your clubs stand out?
JH: When Mark and I create concepts, we don’t really look at trends; it’s more about what inspires us. When we conceptualize and design, we take a methodlike approach and immerse ourselves into the concept. The last four months we were developing this, all we’d listen to was ’70s disco. We watched ’70s movies that embraced that disco experience. We get to hone in on what we feel is right. But by no means do we try to look at what everyone’s doing.
What are some of the club’s unique features?
MH: You never know what’s going to happen, but trust us, it’s going to be really unique. The beauty in the programming is it’s inspired by the ’70s and disco. There will be little snippets of shows throughout the night. You can pair the experience with food or just get a ticket to watch the show. It’s definitely a great date night, whether it’s your first date or you’ve been married for 10 years.
What’s next for you two?
JH: Mark and I are working on a ’60s Palm Springs-inspired country club concept called the Flamingo. It’s going to have a nine-hole minigolf course, all themed out. There’s a 40-foot aquarium and underwater synchronized swimmers and mermaids. It’s going to be very
different, fun and unique. No one’s seen anything like that in L.A.
Photography by: photo by Dylan + Jeni