Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Odio.
Miami native Jason Odio wasn’t even close to graduating high school when he started working in the nightclub circuit. At 16, when most teens are barely driving, Odio was busy spending the summer hosting high school nights in clubs in downtown, getting an early taste of nightlife. His craving for the scene only grew, and at 18 he began what became a 12-year tenure with the legendary Opium Group at a time when Opium and Privé were its only venues.
At Opium Group, Odio wore multiple hats. From promotions, team management, and production to booking, operations, and marketing, he delved into it all. After tackling all the facets of the business and successfully opening several clubs (Mokai, Set, Louis, and Mansion), Odio decided to take his talents off the beach; in 2014, he opened Sidebar in Brickell.
No velvet ropes necessary—fresh local acts, art space and exciting programming (think bounce house Sundays, live music Saturdays, and ice cream Thursdays) quickly made the indoor/outdoor art exchange bar a hot spot in the Miami scene. Lacking the pretentiousness that has become associated with Miami nightlife, it’s no surprise Sidebar has a constant line of people awaiting the chill vibes.
Odio decided to take his experience in food, beverage, and hospitality and team up with high school friend and former Cypress Room sous chef and Norman Van Aken protégé Michael Beltran to open Ariete in Coconut Grove. A ‘Grovite’ himself, Odio is thrilled to contribute to the Grove’s renaissance by bringing a fresh new restaurant and bar to the area he’s always called home.
Fresh off of Ariete’s successful, Odio was hard at work on his next concept: Baby Jane Cocktail House and Eatery in Brickell. Baby Jane fills a void among Brickell’s high-priced eateries, providing a laid-back bungalow atmosphere for post-work craft cocktails and evening Japanese menu featuring ramen, pork buns and dumplings.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Everyday is a new obstacle. I’ve never been tested so much in my life. It’s always something new and different but I enjoy the challenge. I almost feel like to be in hospitality you have to be part masochist. You deal with everything from financial problems, peoples personal problems, anything and everything you can imagine breaking. But at the end of the day seeing someone enjoy something you helped build is pretty rewarding.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Sidebar Miami story. Tell us more about the business.
I currently own 3 unique concepts. I would say I specialize in operations and promotions but in reality, I like to be involved in everything. I think what sets us apart is that we’re homegrown and we’re very passionate about Miami and the direction it’s going in. We pride ourselves on sourcing local products, collaborating with the community and having fun along the way.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Luck has been a big role in my life. In this industry, you can have the perfect formula but without a bit of luck and good timing you never know what can happen. So I think with the luck I’ve had and the support of my friends and fam it’s gotten me to where I am today.
Contact Info:
- Address: 337 sw 8th st.
Miami, FL 33130 - Website: sidebarmiami.com
- Email: info@sidebarmiami.com
- Instagram: @sidebarmiami
- Facebook: facebook.com/sidebarmiami
- Twitter: sidebarmiami
Image Credit:
Charlie Garcie & Jose Romero
Getting in touch: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
