barback banter: meet johnathan

At Empire Social Lounge, the experience isn’t just crafted.

It’s lived, breathed, and built by the people behind the bar, on the floor, and in every interaction.

Johnathan, known around the Las Olas lounge as the “young barback,” is one of those people. At just 20 years old, he’s stepping into South Florida’s nightlife scene with a natural curiosity, quiet confidence, and a mindset that’s already setting the tone for his future.

When asked about his role, Johnathan doesn’t hesitate. “I feel like I’m the backbone of the whole place. I keep the bar restocked. Sometimes I jump in and bartend, and sometimes also jump in to help the servers out. I just feel like I’m one of the key parts to this establishment.”

At Empire, that kind of mentality matters. Everyone plays a role in the experience, but Johnathan embraces being wherever he’s needed, whenever he’s needed. That flexibility, and pride in the work, is part of what keeps the energy flowing seamlessly throughout the lounge.

Creating a “Living Room” Experience

For Johnathan, hospitality is simple, but intentional.

“I treat guests like this is their living room, if that makes sense. We’re always told to treat them like that, and I make sure we give them the best experience that we can for them, so they will want to come back.”

That experience, in his words, comes down to the essentials done right: “Great service, and whatever they need, to get it for them right away, and just make sure that they’re comfortable.”

It’s not overcomplicated. It’s not forced. It’s genuine, and guests feel that.

Personality Is the Experience

One thing you’ll notice right away about Johnathan is how easily he connects with people.

The banter, the conversations, the ease, it’s all part of the vibe.

“Yeah, they honestly love it. I don’t know why,” he says with a laugh. “I’m a gamer personally, so I just see it as something, I see it like I’m on a video game basically. I talk to the guests normally how I usually talk on the game. And it’s just how it is.”

That natural, unfiltered way of communicating creates something real. It breaks down walls. It makes guests feel like they’re not just out, they’re part of something.

More Than a Paycheck

What stands out most about Johnathan isn’t just how he works, it’s how he’s learning.

“They sometimes give me information that I can absorb, since I’m only 20. They give me so much information that I can absorb for my future and maybe even make me even more successful than what I am right now. It’s like free advice.”

This is where Empire becomes more than a workplace.

It’s a room full of entrepreneurs, professionals, creatives, and personalities, people who have lived, built, failed, succeeded. And when you show up open, personable, and engaged, those conversations turn into something valuable.

For Johnathan, every shift is an opportunity to listen, learn, and grow.

From Barback to Bartender

Johnathan’s journey into nightlife started right here.

“This was actually where I learned how to bartend. I ended up here, to be honest, because my sister helped me get in here. And what got me into the nightlife scene, I’ve always been a night owl. I sleep during the day, I’m always up at night. It’s just a repeating cycle.”

But it was mentorship that changed everything.

“Our bar manager ended up getting me into bartending. He was like, ‘What’s the point of a barback if he can’t bartend?’ So he taught me how to make drinks. And he kind of made my wings spread open. So I’ve just kind of been soaring now.”

That moment, someone seeing potential and pushing it forward, is what Empire aims to create internally.

Setting the Tone for the Night

Johnathan keeps his philosophy for a great night simple:

“My role in creating that vibe is making sure that tables are happy, tables are clean. And that’s pretty much it. Just making sure the tables are clean and the tables are happy.”

It sounds straightforward, but consistency in those fundamentals is what builds atmosphere. When every detail is handled, guests don’t notice the work, they just feel the experience.

A Team That Shows Up for You

One of Johnathan’s most memorable moments didn’t come from a busy night.

It came from a simple gesture on his recent birthday.

“We had a little cake, the team brought it in, and they sang me happy birthday. It actually made me really happy. I was honestly surprised because I didn’t think it was going to be the day of that, but it surprised me a lot.”

It’s a reminder that behind the scenes, Empire isn’t just a team, it’s a culture.

An Invitation

If Johnathan had to sum it up for someone walking in for the first time:

“I’ll tell them if they want to feel like you’re in your living room, then go ahead and come to Empire, because we’ll treat you like you’re at home.”

At 20 years old, Johnathan is just getting started. But what he’s building, through conversations, connections, and everyday experiences, is bigger than nightlife.

It’s a foundation.

And at Empire, that’s exactly the point.

Come in, grab a seat, and start a conversation. You might just meet Johnathan, and walk away with more than you expected.