Meet Ally Weinstock | Hospitality Professional & General Manager
We had the good fortune of connecting with Ally Weinstock and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Ally, why did you pursue a creative career?
When I started pursuing makeup, it was originally a hobby, but it grew into a creative outlet for me. My mindset for so long was always “work, work, work”, and to some extent, it still is, but I never had any sort of creative outlet. Makeup is my way to get ready for the work day in a creative way, or to wind down at the end of the night. It’s so fun and you can be so expressive. It’s definitely grown from a hobby to a real passion.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I started in the hospitality industry as a hostess at a small Italian restaurant in my hometown and worked my way up. But I think that’s what gave me the edge in this industry. I have a complete understanding of the business from the inside out and from the bottom up.
But getting here didn’t come easy. I had to work hard, advocate for myself, and put in long hours to get where I am now. One of the most difficult things is finding a work/life balance. I’ve been so close to burning out many times, but finding a creative outlet has been a huge help.
Another one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is to take your failures, learn from them, and do better the next time. Resilience is a huge part of being successful in this industry, and I find that when you are honest with your guests and your staff about your shortcomings, and you put in the effort to change things and make them better, they are so appreciative and that’s what gets them to buy into you and your brand.
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.
Well, I live in Los Angeles, so we’d definitely go to the Hollywood sign for some pics and walk Hollywood Blvd to go shopping for some souvenirs. One of my favorite places to go is Little Tokyo though. They have amazing food, and so many stores with cute clothing and accessories. There’s also a really cool vintage store, called Space City, right across the street from the plaza that is a must go.
My friend is a fan of art, so we’d spend a day at the Getty museum too, just taking in all the artwork and the view of the city. And then at night, we’d stop by the Urban Lights at LACMA for some cute photo ops.
Santa Monica Pier and Venice Beach would be on our itinerary as well. We’d walk the boardwalk, check out all the little stores and vendors, get some ice cream and snacks. Just spend a day relaxing and enjoying the LA sun as a fun and relaxing way to wrap up the trip.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to shoutout my boyfriend for pushing me to apply for a management opportunity that opened up at the first major corporation I worked for. He always believes in me and pushes me to be the best I can be; he supports me and is always there to bounce ideas off of. It’s because of his love and support that I have been able to grow without limitations and become a successful leader in my industry.
I of course have to credit where I started, Ristorante Fratello, the Italian restaurant where I first worked. I was able to work with some amazing people who had been in the industry a long time. I learned so much about customer service and guest retention from them.
Lastly, I have to shoutout the two amazing companies that I have had the privilege of working for, Bowlero Corporation and Pizzana for providing me the opportunity to learn and grow with them.
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