James Brennan - Stingaree

Human beings are thought to be inbuilt riskrisk-taking spirit. He and his new partner, Brian
takers--we survive and flourish on risks. This couldn'tMalarkey, former Oceanaire chef and Top chef
be more true in the case of James Brennan, whoparticipator, are ganging up to open a cafe in the
revolutionized the San Diego clubbing scene with theGaslamp Quarter. It's not your common restaurant,
opening of the modern, exclusive nightclub Stingareehowever. In addition to the food and drinks, one
in 2005.added attraction is Malarkey himself, who will
'We were told that we were funny when we spentshowcase his talent in cooking through an open
$7 million on Stingaree,' he revealed. 'But we paid itkitchen.
off in a year and a half.''We're going to show off the venue but make Brian
Brennan, a university of San Diego graduate, is thethe important point of what we are selling, which is
Chief Executive Officer and partner of EnDevthe entire dining experience, where people sit down,
enterprises LLC. As well as Stingaree, he and hishave dinner, hang about at the table and drink sangria
team at EnDev have operated a string of dives andand specialty cocktails,' Brennan said.
eateries in the San Diego area, which includeBrennan, is utilizing old methods to ensure the
Universal, a posh nightclub in Hillcrest; Dish, a cafe inrestaurant success. 'I'm going back to the way I did
Hillcrest that offers'organic' dishes; and Top of thethings when I did Stingaree and Side Bar, which has
Cove, an upscale restaurant in La Jolla.multiple stockholders who will all pitch the eatery and
Brennan claimed that one of the reasons his businessspend their own money and join the process of
ventures are successful is really because he and hisbuilding it up,' he claimed. 'I got away from that in
team treat each other like family. When he hirescurrent projects.'
employees, Brennan looks for one vital quality in anBased totally on the successfulness of his other
individual: integrity. 'A willingness to work a tough andbusiness endeavors, especially with Stingaree, he
to put in the hours,' the thirty-six-year-old announced.could be right in making use of old systems. Besides,
So far he's been successful. 'We've lost less than 5isn't everything about taking risks? Brennan aptly said
percent of our staff, and in this business that isit: if you want to make money and enjoy life, you
remarkable,' he claimed.need to take risks. Take it from the man who owns
Nobody knows when the economy will pick up, butSan Diego's largest and most exclusive nightclub.
one thing is sure, it does not moisten this man's