Empire Building

Wish Owners Bring ‘Edgy Gastro-Lounge’ to Former Bambuddha Space

Photo: Courtesy of Joie de Vivre Hotels

Local nightlife entrepreneurs Sean and Isabel Manchester — who currently own Mighty and, as we previously noted, are in the process of selling Wish to a new owner — are serving as principal operators for a new, as yet unnamed concept in the former Bambuddha Lounge space at the Phoenix Hotel.

The poolside bar and restaurant, which is one of the more L.A.-like spaces in the city, has been without an operator since May, and Sean tells Grub Street they’re working with designer Charles Doell of Mister Important Design (Gitane, Vanity at the Hard Rock in Vegas) to create a more symbiotic relationship between the bar-lounge and the rock-and-roll nature of the hotel. The rough sketch so far: “an edgy gastro-lounge drawing inspiration from a variety of places — music, fashion and design — but leaning towards an iconoclastic fusion of John Varvatos meets SoHo House meets vintage glam.” They’re hoping for a spring opening. [Grub Street]

Wish Owners Bring ‘Edgy Gastro-Lounge’ to Former Bambuddha Space