As more and more industries evolve, it also opens many doors and opportunities for people to display what they truly possess and let them arise as top business personalities in their respective fields. Most of the American cities are known for a variety of reasons, but the one reason that tops amongst these is the kind of nightlife and hospitality they offer. Miami, being a magical city, is one of the leading destinations in these industries because of the many talented masterminds behind the growth of the city’s nightclubs and restaurants. Many restaurateurs and nightclub owners entered the industry to conquer the sector but most of them failed; only one man could successfully penetrate into the industry and become a mogul. He is Roman Kingsley Jones, a European born and rock and roll bred talented individual.
Some people are born with certain innate talents and skills and Jones too had the knack of always coming up with newer ideas and innovative concepts, also thanks to his father, Mr Mick Jones, a famous rocker of the 70s and the 80s with his popular band Foreigner. Jones grew up to be a person who was driven by passion and his strong desire to accomplish something great in the entrepreneurial world by exploring the entertainment scene.
With a career now spanning more than 20 years, Jones at a very early age had entered into the corporate hospitality market and was highly influenced by renowned brands like Domino’s Pizza, Burger King and Taco Bell. He then moved to South Beach in the 1990s to help in the operations of The Living Room on Washington Avenue, which became instrumental in inspiring many nightclubs and bars since then. This experience helped Jones in making his career in the nightclub industry, becoming one of the leading operators soon after.
In the year 2004, he opened up the legendary hotspot Mansion, on Washington Avenue. This venture of his led to become one of the best of his career and the one which broke all the boundaries to bring together top-notch glamour personalities and socialites from all around the globe. The year 2007 brought along with it the launch of SET, considered to be Miami’s chicest boîte and which also attracted many celebrities like Britney Spears, Rihanna, Gisele Bundchen, Justin Timberlake and many others. This was followed by one of the most legendary theatre spaces next to Mansion, Cameo Theatre.
In 2010 came Mokai, which became a favourite local hangout and also a celebrity hotspot. With years of experience, Jones has very cleverly put in all his expertise and expanded his business into the culinary realm and got involved with restaurants like Kiki on The River (the most famous one, also named one Thrillist’s Best New Restaurants in Miami), El Santo & Don Diablo on Calle Ocho, Baby Jane Cocktail Bar & Eatery, Mandrake Miami, and the latest in Coral Galbes, The Gramercy. He even developed and conceptualized the concept of Bodega Taqueria, the South beach hotspot and Tequila, which led to the growing trend of taco and tequila in the area.
Talking about his future plans, Jones says that he wishes to continually expand his successful existing brands in Miami and even beyond that. He also wants to focus on developing strategic hospitality partnerships in all areas of F&B, including clubs, lounges, bars, restaurants, pool and beach clubs, as well as new business opportunities.