Meet Brett Latteri | Owner of The Den on Sunset

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

Hi Brett, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I opened The Den almost 14 years ago, and before I did, I decided I wanted to make a career change into an industry I thought was fascinating. Even as a kid, I was intrigued by franchises in the food court at mall, like McDonald’s and Cinnabon. I even told my mom I wanted to open a franchise as a family. I didn’t end up doing that with my family, but I actually did explore the franchise route. That said, I ultimately decided to go with opening The Den.

What should our readers know about your business?
After almost 14 years, I can definitely say it was not easy. There were constant challenges and changes in the economy that had an impact on the business in a variety of ways. Additionally, the Sunset Strip and the surrounding neighborhood has changed so much over the years. To survive, you have to constantly evolve with the community and pay attention to what people want. You can’t remain the same and be stagnant, otherwise you risk being left behind. Ultimately, it has been absolutely amazing, but very hard at the same time.

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.
We would definitely go to my favorite Italian restaurant, Piccolo Paradiso, in Beverly Hills. Honestly, we’d probably go multiple times if we’re talking about a week-long trip. I’d also take them to SoHo House in West Hollywood to enjoy drinks and the views, followed by a fun bar crawl down the Sunset Strip. Malibu would also be on the itinerary, including a stop at the Reel Inn. I’d also want to continue heading north and drive them around Santa Barbara and Montecito. In Montecito, we’d stop at Honor Bar for cocktails and chicken sandwiches. If it’s summertime, I’d also suggest a day at Magic Mountain with a VIP tour – it’s the most epic thing in the world.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many people that I leaned on for guidance and support in a variety of areas, from accounting to bar industry professionals. So many of these people helped me get to where I am as a businessperson, and I can’t name one person. But there were so many people that I am extremely grateful for.

Website: https://www.thedenonsunset.com/

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