Esmeraldas- Humboldt Park

First cocktail-focused bar on Paseo Boricua, built in a neighborhood that came with real challenges.

Results & Impact

Two people talking at a table inside a dimly lit restaurant or bar with large green plants and a neon sign in the window

Scope

Full bar concept development rooted in Puerto Rican culture
R&D in Puerto Rico and cultural direction tied to music and identity
Collaboration with the Puerto Rican Cultural Center
Multi-channel programming including nightlife, patio, and community events

A bartender wearing sunglasses and a mask is pouring a clear carbonated drink into a cocktail glass with lime and mint, holding a small golden eagle figure.

Program

Full cocktail menu built on fresh ingredients, innovative tiki, and classics
Frozen cocktail program designed for volume and summer service
Rum-focused back bar with curated selections and brand relationships
House infusions, syrups, and prep systems
Vendor and distributor sourcing

A woman in a white shirt offering a cocktail with foam and small red hearts on top, blurred background.

Concept

Hiring and building the team from the ground up
Staff training and service standards
Large patio programming tied to Puerto Rican Fest and parades
High-volume event execution and weekly programming

A tropical cocktail garnished with a pineapple leaf and two red straws on a dark table with blurred colorful lights in the background.

Impact

Established a cocktail program in a previously underserved market
Built a strong, consistent crowd rooted in the neighborhood
Created a safe, welcoming space for the LGBTQ community through active room control
Managed security directly, including removing disruptive guests
Operated through multiple shootings, helping people in real time while keeping the space controlled

Range

A bartender is creating a colorful cocktail with blue, green, and yellow layers in a tall, textured glass, garnished with slices of orange. The bartender is holding a blowtorch, creating a flame effect above the drink at a bar with various bottles in the background.

KING OF CUPS

Mystic • Experiential Cocktails

Colorful cocktails and plates of food on a table at a lively, dimly lit restaurant or bar at night.

STORYVILLE

New Orleans • Restaurant • Live Music

Bar with illuminated bottles of alcohol against a moon-themed mural and dark starry sky background.

ESMERALDAS

Latin Tiki • Tropical Cocktails

Person using a blowtorch to ignite a fire in a glass on a table, with flames surrounding the glass.

STARDUST

4am Late Night • High Energy • Nightclub

A cocktail glass with a light orange drink garnished with a white flower and an orange peel, placed on a marble surface with a dark, blurred background.

Lulus Speakeasy

Romantic • Intimate Cocktails

Long outdoor dining table set with white napkins, small potted plants, and silverware on a grassy area, with chairs on either side, preparing for a meal or event

Ada Street

Boutique Wine Program • Bar Geek Cocktails

A hand pouring a dark beverage from a tap into a metallic glass at a bar.

Brandos

Draft Cocktails • Karaoke • Late Night

A traditional Mexican clay cup filled with a dark beverage, garnished with a lemon wedge, with a yellow straw inside, placed on a wooden table.

L’Patron

Tacos • Tequila • Cocktails