Walk In Social Club

Walk. In Club is back with Den Stephens originally from Portland, Oregon and the force behind Tallboy in Oakland, California — just named a U.S. West Regional Honoree for Best U.S. Cocktail Bar AND Best U.S. Bar Team by Tales of the Cocktail . As a kid he dipped his toes in telemarketing while basketball and poetry kept him busy. His real foot in the door came as a dishwasher, where he eventually...

We recorded this one at the Treehouse Hotel, what is giving “San Jose’s Narnia,” the kind of place that transforms you into a different space. Nick’s story starts by getting thrown straight onto a pizza station at the Jungle, what was an iconic kids play space around the Bay Area. From there, it’s a path that isn’t linear — moving from sandwiches to candy shops and back again — but each step adds...

Walk-In Club is back, and this episode we're sitting down with Chef Nelson German — the mind behind Alamar , Sobre Mesa , and Meski — to talk about a journey that started at five years old bagging groceries for a Super Nintendo, sparked by watching his mom and grandmother cook, and grew into one of the most recognized culinary careers in the Bay Area. We get into how he thinks about responsibility...

Walk-In Club is back, and this episode marks a milestone — our first interview with a new friend we didn’t know before hitting record. We’re sitting down with Sequoia del Hoyo , owner of Tarocco , to talk about her journey starting as a host at the Black Angus after dropping off résumés door-to-door for school credit, to finding herself in the kitchen playing the stabby game with Chef, to that lig...

Walk. In Club is back, and this episode we’re sitting down with Rachelle Merlot , co-founder of Dealers Choice Hospitality , talking her path from trying to break into hospitality to building the experience that shaped her career. We get into what it really looks like to start with little experience, the tough calls around where and who you work for when growth is the goal, and why speaking up for...

Walk. In Club is back, and we’re kicking off the new season with Oakland native William Tsui , owner of Viridian in downtown Oakland, talking his path from bartending school to bar owner. We get into mentors who actually push you forward, why spreadsheets matter even if you don’t like them, and the real meaning of the 5-10 Rule (hint: it’s not just the area code). If you’ve ever wondered what’s ne...

As sad as we are, El Patio prepares to close its doors on July 3rd, we encourage you to show some love—stop by for one last visit, grab some food, drinks, a hat, and soak in the magic that is El Patio and listen in to this episode that shares the story of a place that has meant so much to the community, and will forever be a staple in the books.   To Hamei and the entire crew: thank you for the co...

Larry’s story is one of grit, curiosity, and deep care for the people around him. Raised in Chicago helping care for his Polish grandmother, he started working young and found pride in every role, no matter how small. His path led him from delivering prescriptions to executive chef at high end hotels, from his first catering gig in the Bay Area to building a waterfall at one of SF's legendary bars...

From Fluffernutters to the Hotsy Totsy Club : Jessica Maria on creating her own path to opening up one of the Bay Area’s most beloved neighborhood bars, and everything in between. In this episode of The Walk-In Club Podcast , we sit down with Jessica Maria, whose journey started at 13 year. We trace her roots back to Massachusetts working at Uncle Tony’s , where teenage shifts were full of flirtin...

From Urban Farming to SOP Queen: Alissa Johnson on Adapting, Surviving, and Reimagining a Business In this episode of The Walk-In Club Podcast , we sit down with Alissa Johnson whose path through food, farming, academia, and bar leadership is anything but ordinary. Alissa is the heart behind Oakland’s iconic Legionnaire Saloon, Beeryland and The Oakland Whiskey Library—but her journey started with...

From Cynar to putting ACME Bar on the Whiskey map—Jennifer Seidman on Owning Your Voice and Reimagining Bar Culture in the Bay In this episode of The Walk-In Club Podcast , we sit down with Jennifer Seidman—visionary owner of Acme Bar and Little Bird Bar—who’s helped shape the landscape of Bay Area bar scene for over two decades. Jennifer’s story begins with a paper route in Palo Alto, winds throu...

From the goal to be a barback to now accomplished Bar Owner—Gabriel Holland on Learning Through Experience and Leading With A Humble Heart In this episode of The Walk-In Club Podcast , we sit down with Gabriel Holland, a gentle force in Oakland’s hospitality scene and the proud owner of Theory Bar . Gabe’s journey is one of quiet persistence—learning by watching, doing, and asking questions. From...

From Starbucks to Bar Consulting—How Casey Carr Built a Career on Systems, Creativity, and a Little Chaos On this episode of The Walk-In Club Podcast , we sit down with Casey Carr, who went from slinging coffee to becoming a respected bar consultant, opening over nine bars and helping shape the next generation of hospitality professionals.  We explore: 🍺 How he started at Starbucks to his transit...

From Starbucks to Speed Rack—How Kat Parsons Became a Force Behind the Bar On this episode of The Walk-In Club Podcast , we sit down with Kat Parsons, whose path from making frappuccinos as a teen to becoming a respected bartender in Oakland is a testament to passion, persistence, and putting in the reps. We explore: 🍸 How she faked it till she made it—and learned everything she could along the w...

From the Marines to the Bar—Jason Lujick’s Unexpected Path to Oakland Hospitality On this episode of The Walk-In Club Podcast , we sit down with Jason Lujick, a former Marine turned bar owner, whose path to running three of Oakland’s well-known spots—the Legionnaire Saloon, Oakland Whiskey Library and Beeryland—was anything but conventional. From babysitting reservists in the military to working r...

Episode 3: The Traveling Bartender – Dan Miranda’s Journey from Oakland to Bangkok In this episode of The Walk-In Social Club Podcast, we sit down with Dan Miranda—a bartender whose career has taken him across the world, from the dive bars of Oakland to international cocktail destinations. Known for his adventurous spirit and dedication to pushing himself to new limits, Dan has crafted a life that...

Episode 2: The Unexpected Wine King – Hamei Hamedi’s Journey from San Jose to Mezcal Mastery In this episode of The Walk-In Social Club Podcast, we sit down with Hamei Hamedi, the owner of El Patio, a neighborhood bar and restaurant in Berkeley, California known for its expansive selection of over 300 mezcals. But what makes Hamei’s story truly compelling is his unexpected journey in the world of...