The American dream came true for Catalina Popescu in October of 1986 when she and her husband Bob created a supper club devoted to serving an experience of superb eats and the shared magic of live performance. That grand experience began at the door where every night her mother, Maria, would greet each guest as family and share in their love of music.
Housed in Hollywood and decked out in a timeless charm, the club offers a cozy ambience under sparkling stage lights garnished with its signature concoction — Jazz. The first artist to grace the stage was the masterful flutist and saxophonist Buddy Collette, and ever since then, over the past 36 years, the Catalina Jazz Club has hosted the most illustrious legends of all time — from the powerful puffers of Dizzy Gillespie to the electrified fingers of McCoy Tyner, the bubbly belt of Dee Dee Bridgewater and Lynda Carter, the flirtatious saxophone of Joshua Redman, the slick strumming of Kenny Burrell, the insane drum clinic of Steve Gadd, the romance of Steve Tyrell, and the masterclass of Mike Stern. For Catalina, Jazz is our way of life. It breathes pain. It knows love. It dreams hope. It bleeds courage.
Whether we’re showcasing Broadway, Soul, R&B, or stand-up comedy, the lesson learned from all the greats who have serenaded our spirits is how to connect to one another. The Catalina Jazz Club has been honored by A.S.M.A.C., California Jazz Foundation, Los Angeles Jazz Society, and a City of Los Angeles Certificate of Appreciation on their 25th Anniversary, which was awarded by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the LA City Council.
Catalina Popescu, owner of Catalina Jazz Club
Please introduce yourself and tell us your inspiring story. We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
My name is Catalina Popescu. I am a girl from Bucharest, Romania, who immigrated here in 1976. I met my future husband on a beach on the Black Sea. He swept me off my feet, and on the first date, brought me two cars filled with roses to impress me….and we started our love affair for the next 34 years.
We married and moved to Los Angeles, where he had a thriving construction business. I still remember the first day I saw the Statue of Liberty.
We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Frankly, by working really hard, day after day! My dream was to own a restaurant, and we first started with a Seafood Restaurant, but found that bringing Jazz musicians to perform created a wonderful ambiance.
What made you decide to go into business for yourself?
It was my dream to have a restaurant. My husband believed in me and helped me to open Catalina Bar & Grill on Cahuenga Blvd., but it wasn’t easy at all. This is a hard business between food service, staffing, and presenting the best of jazz, but we work hard every day.
How did you market your business when it was brand new?
Word of mouth was very important to sustain. We have always advertised. LA Times was the big fish for a long time, but now we have to do everything – social media, online ads, print ads, radio, and sometimes television.
What is a typical day like for you?
Well, I have a daughter and am the Matriarch of my family, so family is always first, and they take up a lot of my time, especially since I have a lot of elderly family who immigrated to Los Angeles from Romania. Then, of course, I have my business family who help me run and sustain the business, Catalina Jazz Club.
My day starts off with getting my daughter off to school, and then heading to the office to closeout business from the night before and then prep for the evening ahead – from working with the artists to making sure my patrons are happy and comfortable.
What are the three most important habits to be a successful entrepreneur?
- Work hard
- Manage your finances
- Honesty
If you had one piece of advice for someone just starting out, what would it be?
Prepare to give up everything or at least put everything on pause while you pursue your dream, because it is going to take everything you’ve got.
Of course, we give discounted tickets to people in need. We work to foster young musicians by showcasing their works with music schools like Colburn School of Music, Crossroads School of Music, and LA Jazz Society. We also welcome many charitable organizations to our stage to help them raise money and awareness of their causes.
Every entrepreneur has a goal and a problem they’re trying to solve. What was the inspiration that started your journey?
Our goal was to have an exceptional restaurant that presents live music in Los Angeles. Every day presents challenges to this goal, but we roll with the punches and continue forward.
How do you prioritize self-care and well-being while managing the demands of your business?
This is a very stressful business, so every day I must keep my eye on my health. Making sure I get enough sleep, eat properly, and save time for family.
What would you consider your biggest accomplishment and why?
My daughter. Then, 38 years of Jazz in Hollywood.
We all face challenges. Looking back, what have been some of the biggest challenges and obstacles you’ve had to navigate?
Hands down. The pandemic. And the long road back from Covid-19.
What challenges have you faced in the workplace, especially in your experience in male-dominated environments?
It’s been so long; I don’t have any problems anymore. I am the man and the woman of this establishment.
Can you share some of the most important lessons you’ve learned from your successes and failures in business?
The lesson is you never get down. Stay in control of all aspects. Keep going. Tomorrow is a different day.
What advice would you give to a new business owner? Or to your younger self?
To the new business owner, just think about it carefully because you are signing up for a difficult road, especially when it comes to the amount of hours you will need to dedicate to the business. As for my younger self? I’d say…”don’t do it!”
How do you set your business apart from others in your industry?
I do the work of three people – General Manager, Kitchen Manager, and HR. That sets me apart. Also, we focus on the musicians, and what they need is to help them have a great show.
What are the three most important habits to be a successful high performer or leader?
- Work hard
- Manage your finances
- Honesty
What social media platform is the best for business growth and why?
We use all of them.
What are three websites or podcasts you can’t imagine your day without? Why those three?
Instagram. KCRW. KJAZZ. BBC. KTLA. Good Day LA. CBS News.
Which female leader do you admire, and why?
Dr. Maya Angelou. Her words always ring through my mind….
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Do you have a favorite quote or motto that inspires you?
“The greatest key to your better future is You” – Jim Rohn
Cybill Shepherd at Catalina Jazz
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