Today we speak to restaurateur David Wiesner.
Born and raised in Munich, Germany, I moved to Boston at the age of 20.
I studied music at the renowned Berklee College of Music and turned my passion into a profession. I had been playing music since I was six years old, semi-professional since the age 14; I graduated summa cum laude in 1994. Combining my dreams with the best possible education, I started my career as a professional musician in America. Touring, as well as recording, all over the world (Europe, China, the Americas) with internationally known artists was the elixir of my life. In 1995, I moved to New York and enrolled at NYU to further my education. I graduated cum laude with a Masters degree in Music and Entertainment Business in 1997. My career morphed into artist and tour management, music production, songwriting, global advertisement campaigns, music production for television and feature films, and collaborations with some of Europe’s hottest music producers.
In 2001, everything came to a halt; 9/11 stopped my entire career in one short instance. After months without work, I decided to open a small Espresso/Panini bar in an area that at that time was still considered tough, forgotten, no-mans land on Forsyth Street in Manhattan. Monterone was born and quickly outgrew its space. Soon after, Grotto; a small Italian Osteria became the extension to the already existing cafe. Additional space, a garden and an adjacent room became what is now, after 12 years of existence known as one of the most beautiful, hidden culinary oases of lower Manhattan. It is at Grotto that I met my wife (and future business partner), Nicole.
Two years after the cafe was born, I expanded services of the original Monterone cafe into a high-end boutique catering company, serving the most demanding clientele of the fashion, art, design and corporate industry. For more than ten years I have provided catering services to every major publication, celebrities, advertisement campaigns, editorials and movie productions.
After working together for seven years, Nicole and I, along with additional partners, decided to expand the operation to open Louie And Chan around the corner from Grotto. Today, Nicole and I own Louie and Chan and each of the unique spaces within – the restaurant, Chan’s Cocktail Lounge, The303 club, and the neighboring private dining room. It is a one-of-a-kind space where I’m able to showcase my musical roots, hospitality background, and business education under one roof.
As for his personal style:
Jeans: Anything from John Varvatos Collection.
Shirts: Lots of vintage and always tailored…John Varvatos (again) and Club Monaco.
Pants: No thank you (unless with a suit)
Suits: Gucci, Prada, Vintage – they’re all perfectly tailored, as suits should be
Shoes: Adidas, John Varvatos, Gucci, Vintage
Accessories: I borrow my wife’s silk scarves (usually without her permission) and always my Jack Spade Tote.
Outerwear: Vintage Biker Jackets, more John Varvatos, Gucci
Favorite Cologne: Baldessarini Ambré, Viktor & Rolf; Spice Bomb
Your favorite App: Songza – they have the best playlists
Favorite piece of technology: My little iPhone 6 – without it not much would be going on!
Next tech purchase: Bose SoundTouch Stereo JC II Wi-Fi system; to kick it at home.
