Even if you don’t realize it, chances are you’ve been to a Richie Akiva venue. Well, that is, if you were lucky enough to get in.
Akiva is the mastermind behind some of the most iconic pillars of New York nightlife – think 1OAK, Butter, Up&Down and The Darby – thanks to his business savvy and attention to detail. From a very young age, Akiva has had his ear to the NYC streets in the way that only a born-and-bred New Yorker can, allowing him to infallibly deliver exactly what NYC needs, from the hottest restaurant in town to legendary penthouse parties. Not to mention, his ever-growing circle of A-lister friends doesn’t hurt when curating the perfect crowd.
Time and again, Akiva has proved to have a staying power rarely seen in the razor-sharp world that is New York nightlife. His concepts stand the test of time, from 1OAK remaining an NYC staple and for over a decade to Butter’s success for over 20 years. Despite all of Akiva’s success, he’s decidedly approachable, and his smiles come easy and often during our interview. It’s not hard to see how business savvy matched with an easygoing demeanor has led Akiva to such success, though he’s only getting started.
We sat down with Akiva to discuss all things NYC and his journey from New York nightlife savant to a global entrepreneur through his newest ventures, The Ned NoMad and Societe.
See also: Richie Akiva Makes The Ned The Next Evolution Of Members-Only Clubs
Photo by Ben Draper
How did you get into the nightlife industry?
I got into it at a very young age, even though I wasn’t really supposed to. As a Jewish guy growing up in New York, there’s an expectation that you’ll take over the family business, but I fell in love with nightlife. My sister snuck me into my first club when I was probably 16 years old and I found this whole new world and energy that I’d never experienced. I was enamored with seeing people find a release from their inhibitions and everyday stresses. I wanted to be a part of creating once-in-a-lifetime moments for people. From the very start, I’ve brought all walks of life together, including people from uptown, skaters, graffiti artists and more all in one room. That’s the essence of what New York is and the energy and culture it creates are just special.
What has made your nightlife concepts so successful?
I’ve never looked sideways or back at what anyone else is doing. I don’t try to copy anyone else or let myself get distracted. Putting my blinders on and only looking forward has given my concepts staying power because it allows me to only focus on the details, which ultimately are what makes the experience. Details are everything, and while very few are going to notice them, everyone will feel them. And the small percentage that does notice are the tastemakers who have the power to make your brand an institution.
You are the creative director and curator of the recently opened private membership club and hotel The Ned NoMad. How did you come to be involved with the project?
It’s been a conversation that I've been having with a good friend of mine, Ron Burkle, Chairperson of Membership Collective Group, for a very long time. Ron and I talked about working together for years, and The Ned ended up being the perfect fit for us both. He brought me in to make The Ned NoMad my own, with my own touch and directive. It is very exciting and an incredible place. My career trajectory had been heading towards owning and operating hotels and building brands for years, and I’ve always focused on the curation of the crowds at my venues, making private membership clubs a natural progression.
What is your goal with The Ned NoMad?
I want the space to be able to stand the test of time while also feeling like a modern-day experience. The design is inspired by 1920s New York glamor, so it was always going to feel timeless, but modernizing the crowd and giving members everything they could want was important. There’s been a resurgence of private clubs in New York, meaning members have plenty of options to choose from. I wanted The Ned to have everything, so members never feel the need to leave The Ned. I’m excited to keep surprising people and keep giving New York what it’s missing. There’s a lot we have in store, and we’re nowhere near finished.
You mentioned there’s been a resurgence of private membership clubs in New York. Why do you think that is?
There’s so much power in being able to dictate your crowd and curate exactly who your clientele is. Before the pandemic, the hospitality industry was becoming very saturated. Nightlife, restaurants and bars were seeing a huge decline all over the world, but the pandemic gave a shock to the system, allowing people to be more free and creative with their concepts. People are after an experience, and a membership club guarantees the curation of an experience that you will enjoy. Knowing what you’re buying into makes membership clubs valuable. Private membership clubs are the future of hospitality, so the space will continue to become more saturated, meaning only the most curated and detail-oriented clubs will have staying power.
You’ve recently launched your own private members society, Societe. What was your inspiration?
Societe delivers my global lifestyle to our members. It is a private society on a global scale. I’ve been a huge traveler for over twenty years and have access to the most exclusive hospitality concepts in the world, which has allowed me to discover the very best of cities such as Paris, London, Capri, Dubai, Miami and more. Members of Societe gain access to my favorite experiences all over the world. We have a very strong program in seven cities in which members can have access to very exclusive reservations and invitations. We curate the experience so members are learning the story of each destination as they travel. A few times a year we host events that are exclusive to Societe members, which include full packages, such as ground transportation, yacht and jet chartering, and whatever else our members might want or need. Our higher tier of membership gets access to 24/7 concierge services, which include, hotels, flights and more. And of course our New York events, such as The Met Gala afterparty at Casa Cipriani.
Who is the average Societe member?
Our members are based all over the world. A lot of people have the means but not the access, and Societe grants the access, while also giving exclusive insight into the best hospitality concepts around the world. Our members all hold themselves in a certain way and move through life with strong morals and a lot of respect for the people around them. It’s important to me that I can hold meaningful conversations with all of our members, so we have an in-person or phone conversation with each applicant before moving forward. My whole life I’ve hated the entitled and pompous people in my business, so there’s no place for that at Societe. I’ve been really happy with our membership so far. My favorite part of this business has always been creating something that allows people to escape their troubles, and doing that through Societe is so fulfilling. It’s a huge passion project for me.
Richie's Recs
New American:
Butter
Italian:
Bar Pitti
Carbone
Cipriani Downtown
Japanese:
Edo Sushi
Kissaki
Sushi Yasuda
Korean BBQ:
HYUN
The Woo
Nightclubs:
1OAK
Gospel
Little Sister
Socialista
Photography by: Ben Draper
