Meet Camila Perry | Boss Lady | Bar Owner

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

Hi Camila, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
When I first started my business, it was literally like I had a newborn baby. The bar took all of my time and energy, woke me up at all hours of the night. It needed all my attention, but I loved it and wanted to nurture it so that it could succeed. I never felt like I was working too much or spending too much time on my business. Looking back I realize that I let my personal life and time with my family take a back burner. Since then I’ve learned how to budget time for my family vs time for my business. I try as hard as I can to keep them separate, and only work when I’ve scheduled myself to get work done. Luckily my business is a now a well oiled machine, so I’m able to delegate tasks and responsibility to others.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My way into owning a business is not typical. I was actually a bartender at a little bar called Off Kilt. The bar was not doing well and was in a ton of debt. After a particularly slow shift where I cleaned, organized, and labeled the entire bar (because there was nothing else to do), the owner approached me. He didn’t want any to run the bar anymore and offered me equity if I could turn the bar around and dig it out of debt. This is the Dream, right?

It was a giant leap going from being a bartender to being a bar owner! I had to run other peoples businesses, but I never had to come up with a concept and have it bring people in. We tried a lot of different things and the only thing that brought in consistent business was Karaoke.

I have always emphasized that my staff plays a crucial role in my success. This belief was further reinforced during the Covid pandemic. Like many other businesses, a significant number of staff members were hesitant to return to work. Some were concerned about the virus, while others found themselves earning more on unemployment than they did while working. It was a challenging time that highlighted the true dedication of certain staff members, not only to the bar but also to me.

After a year of being closed due to the pandemic, the bar managed to bounce back with a blend of my existing loyal staff and some new recruits who shared the same passion and commitment to the bar as I do.

What has set us apart is the entire vibe of The Oaks Tavern. It’s not only an amazing friendly staff that makes you feel welcome, but it’s also the regular clientele. People come up to me all the time and compliment me because they can sing karaoke in a safe space where they feel supported. Whether you’re an amazing singer or you just love to sing, it’s a great environment.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I currently own three bars: The Oaks Tavern, Oaks Hollywood, and Last Call Tarzana. Each spot offers a unique experience, but we won’t be visiting all of them in one night!

Let’s start in Sherman Oaks, where I would take you to Malama Pono, a Hawaiian fusion restaurant. This gem, opened by two Hawaiian entrepreneurs just before the pandemic, serves incredible food with a friendly staff. After a satisfying meal, we’ll head to The Oaks Tavern, the coziest and liveliest of my bars. We’ll enjoy cocktails and belt out karaoke tunes until our voices give out.

Next, we’ll venture over the hill for dinner and cocktails at Jones in West Hollywood. Then, we’ll make our way to Oaks Hollywood for a night of burlesque entertainment before transitioning to a fun-filled karaoke session. While burlesque and karaoke aren’t nightly events, when they happen, it’s a memorable experience.

To mix things up, we’ll plan a day at the 818 Night Market to indulge in my favorite BBQ from @Mecha_bbq, a fantastic pop-up eatery. After satisfying our taste buds, we’ll head to Last Call Tarzana to catch a live band performance and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere.

No visit to LA is complete without a trip to Venice beach boardwalk or 3rd street promenade, so we will have to add those to the list. If we feel like getting fancy, two of my favorites are The Lobster and Tramonto Bistro.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would not be where I am today without the love and support of my husband Dave Perry. There were many times when I first started my business that I was ready to walk away, but he wouldn’t let me. He believed in my potential back then and he continues to remind how much he believes in me today.

Website: www.TheOaksTavern.com
www.OaksHollywood.com
www.TheLastCallTarzana.com

Instagram: @theoakstavern
@oakshollywood
@thelastcalltarzana