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

Hi Dan, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
For all of the businesses I have started, the idea starts with the consumer or end user. A successful business will start with what the gap is in the marketplace and how an exceptional and unique experience can be delivered to the customer. As our society has become more sophisticated, focusing on personalization, uniqueness and memorable experiences outweigh simply delivering a product.

What should our readers know about your business?
Our hospitality business name is The Menagerie Hospitality Group. The word menagerie is defined as a unique or diverse collection of things and this is exactly what our group is known for. We have created some of the most unique and beautiful concepts in the Charlotte, NC area that give guests a memorable and wonderful experience. We have seen couples get engaged and married within our concepts, experienced amazing live music and can visibly see the enjoyment and connections made from our guests. Everything we do starts with the guest in mind. Decor, great hospitality and an interesting menu are just a start. We have to do more to transform the guest’s experience from being a patron in our concepts to an experience that they won’t forget and which makes their evening.

Starting a business is much like raising a child. It starts with plans which will constantly change until the business is opened. Then, there are constant changes to get the right staff, menu, vibe and experience. Once the business levels out, you are not done. Continue to be a guest in your own business and sample the experience over and over again. This will give you ideas on how to enhance things, as the marketplace in continually evolving and the guest’s expectations continually evolve.

In short, start your business with a grand vision, deliver an exceptional experience to your guests with passion, evolve your business with a desire to always be at the top.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would start on Monday with a bike ride on our many greenways, finishing up at Freedom Park with a picnic at the lake. An afternoon espresso and snack at Vibe Cafe and Wine Bar who features a Grecian-inspired menu and then sushi for dinner at Moon Thai in Southpark.

Tuesday wouldn’t be complete without margs and tacos at Taco Boy in LoSo. Then we will take nice walk up the rail trail to experience SouthEnd ending up at The Puttery to enjoy some indoor Putt Putt and craft cocktails.

On Wednesday we will go to The Wine Loft in SouthEnd to enjoy Winedown Wednesday and live music and then after jumping on Charlotte’s Blue Line Light Rail, we will be swiftly transported to the NoDa Neighborhood where we will shop the many boutiques and experience the neighborhood’s funky vibes. After working up an appetite, we will experience the beautiful decor and modern Italian cuisine at Figo36 Modern Italian. Then a short walk to see live local music at The Evening Muse.

Thursday we will experience Charlotte’s many breweries by starting at Old Mecklenburg Brewery followed by The Trolley Barn, Sycamore Brewery and finally Charlotte Beer Garden. Then we will end up at the Gin Mill to experience one of Charlotte’s oldest dive bars for some great people-watching.

On Friday we will go to the Mint Museum in uptown Charlotte experiencing some amazing soul food at Merts Heart & Soul for lunch. We will visit the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Bechtler Museum of Modern Art and end up at the Spectrum Center to catch the Charlotte Hornets play. After the game we will hang at Conolly’s Bar followed by Ri-Ra Irish Bar.

On Saturday we will travel to The Whitewater Center to enjoy mountain biking, their ropes course and some flat-water canoeing. After we worked up an appetite, we will go to Steak48 in upscale SouthPark for dinner to enjoy a tomahawk steak and their renowned double-baked truffle baked potato along with a bottle of Orin Swift 8 Years in the Desert. Then a trip to The Vintage Whiskey & Cigar Bar to finish the evening off with a smoked Old Fashioned and a Fuente Double Chateau Churchill Cigar.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My grandfather, who raised me, was my mentor and inspiration for my work ethic and entrepreneurial creativity. He had an 8th grade education however was one of the smartest people I have ever been around. He read constantly, educating himself on an assortment of topics. Also several books have inspired me are Good to Great from Jim Collins and The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Dr. Steven Covey. Certainly the support from my family is part of the love and encouragement cannot be underestimated.

Website: www.thevintageclt.com

Instagram: @thevintageclt

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Facebook: The Vintage Whiskey and Cigar Bar

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