Meet Brian Cohen | CEO of Nightlife Empire, Texas Bar Group & Mob Bar Inc.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brian Cohen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brian, how do you think about risk?
I think about risk by wins or loses, and I hate to lose. Without risks I would have not accomplished even a fraction of my success. When I was 18, I was a Bartender. I watched club promoters making stacks of money and said, I can do that. I gave up very lucrative bartending gigs to become a club promoter. I succeeded & was a major player in New York. Then when I felt Florida had better opportunities I picked up and started all over and became the biggest club promoter in the State of Florida. Not long after I advanced to become a General Manager and then a Club Owner from Coast to Coast. I take huge bold risks, however, win most of the time.

I calculate risks, based on what I am losing and what I can potentially gain. The risks are calculated, and most of the time I GO BIG on my risks. For example, during the pandemic the Governor of California & Mayor of Los Angeles shut all hospitality businesses down and imposed very strict covid restrictions. Most venues & promoters found warehouse spaces and put on illegal parties. True Prohibition era reincarnated. I chose to leave California, open 3 Nightclubs in Texas and return to LA when it opened. Not easy but it worked!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I was born middle class. Everything I have or built has come from very hard work, dedication and perseverance. Success comes with many failures, however learning how to turn failure into lessons, technically does not make them failures. I was in college at age 18, picked up a flyer on the floor that said hiring bartenders. I asked my friend/classmate to come with me as we both wanted to bartend. Over 300 people showed up to this casting call. My friend said forget it, how are we going to compete with these hot girls, and 300 people? I looked at him and said, ” We are getting this job”. My time came and I would not take no for an answer. I told the guy hiring, I was ready to do whatever it took for this position. He said I love your energy. He hired me under the condition I would wake up early 4 days a week and pass out flyers 5 AM- 8 AM at local colleges just for the bartending job. I said yes, with one condition, you hire my friend too. We both got hired. The one night a week bartending gig made me about $70 a week, and the promoting was unpaid. This was the first step of building my Nightlife Empire. I wanted it more than anyone. You must believe in yourself.

Now I offer these same opportunities to others as I am the one doing the hiring. I am proud to say I started so many careers of successful DJ’s singers, promoters, club owners, & rappers.

When you get knocked down, get up and fight. If you get knocked down 100 times keep getting up until you knock what’s in your way to succeed out. Never give up!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my friend were visiting, I would take them to Galveston. Ride down the seawall with the windows open, walk around the historic strand, take them to the Rooftop at the Tremont Hotel, and then to the most unique bar chain in America. Yes, I happen to own it 🙂 Mob Bar Galveston located at 201 26th Street, is a formal brothel with past murders, and big-time organized crime history. It also is known to be very haunted! I would first take them to the lounge and order a few Prohibition Cocktails. Then take them to the selfie room for some photos in front of notorious gangsters and a criminal lineup. Then we would watch some gangster movies while listening to Sinatra while drinking the night away.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are so many people I would like to thank who contributed to my success. First of course, God who has gifted me with the ability to do what I am doing. My parents for always believing in me through success and failure. I would like to thank those from the beginning of my career in New York to Florida, Vegas, LA and beyond. Special thanks to the club owners who believed in me when I was a club promoter or General Manager, my competitors who challenged me with such great competition which made me level up and become so tough and strong, to my Managers, Assistants, Designers, Operators, Marketers, and entire team. Without your hard work and dedication, there is no NIGHTLIFE EMPIRE!

Website: http://www.mobbarinc.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bosscohen/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bosscohen/