Meet Rami Haddad | Business Owner

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

Hi Rami, what’s one piece of conventional advice that you disagree with?
The notion that you should always follow your passion. While it is important to enjoy what you do and have a genuine interest in your business, solely relying on passion can sometimes lead to overlooking important aspects. I’m not a cook. I’m not a mixologist. Neither of those things are my passion. Instead, I believe in identifying profitable opportunities, and combining them with your passion of creating a successful and sustainable business.

What should our readers know about your business?
The Woodman and Jalapeno Pete’s are 2 of the most successful gastropubs in the San Fernando Valley. We create a fun vibe for all of our guests. What’s sets us apart from others is a combination of factors. We have many unique offerings that give guests so many options and deals on any given day of the week. From $2 taco Tuesday to 25¢ Wing Wednesday to $4 happy hour drinks and $7 happy hour food offerings 7 days a week. The deals are endless. We have some of the most beautiful staff anybody can hire and the amazing service they provide is what makes people comeback. Together we create a welcoming ambiance.

Getting to where I am today in the business world is rarely easy. It required hard work, perseverance, and the ability to navigate challenges along the way. Some common challenges in the restaurant industry I continue to face included fierce competition, managing costs, maintaining consistent quality, and attracting and retaining customers. Overcoming these challenges often involves strategic planning, effective marketing, efficient operations, and continuous improvement and a lot of luck along the way.

We open 7 days a week. The second we close we start preparing for opening the next day. So much happens behind the scenes to prepare for the next days openings.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I dont know if a week is long enough. But i would definitely split our days by morning, afternoon and evening activities. Some of my favorite activities to do in the morning include; hiking at Griffith Observatory, walking along the Venice Beach Boardwalk, going to Runyan Canyon. afternoon activities Id enjoy taking them to would be; visiting the Getty Center, LACMA, Melrose Ave, and in the evenings of course check out The Woodman and Jalapeno Petes, Santa Monica Pier, go to a trendy restaurant in West Hollywood followed by a night out on the Sunset Strip, catch a live show at the Laugh Factory, definitely do dinner in Koreatown one night, a sunset dinner in Malibu.

We would need 2 weeks for sure.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
For me it’s 100% my Father. His entrepreneurial spirit, determination, and willingness to take risks is something I grew up watching and knowing I wanted to be exactly the same. He instilled it in me from a very young age that I must always own what I do. He played an instrumental role in each business I ever started. The ideas, strategies, and lessons shared have been invaluable in inspiring and guiding me. I am grateful for his contributions and the impact he has had had on the landscape of my business’s..

Website: jalapenopetesla.com and thewoodmanla.com

Instagram: @jalapenopetesla and @thewoodmanla