Meet Katie Rooney | Co-Owner & Director of Operations

We had the good fortune of connecting with Katie Rooney and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Katie, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risk is scary and exhilarating, but absolutely crucial as an entrepreneur. Growing up I was challenged to always try new things, new sports, new activities. I believe this helped foster a love of the unknown for me and showed me at an early age that I could still enjoy doing something even if I wasn’t that great at it. If I really wanted to be better, I would have to work for it. I have been financially independent since I was 17 so I think that also plays a huge part in my ability to take risks, mainly because I was forced to in order to survive. I didn’t have a support system to fall back on, so I had to work really hard at being successful, develop a strong work ethic early on, and become humble enough to work hard at jobs I didn’t love, but needed. Once I saw the correlation between hard work and reward (survival) I was able to seek out better opportunities. I really enjoyed hospitality and was event the chance to learn about Management from the owner of the business I worked for. I chose to drop out of college and continue my “education” in hospitality and business. Once I saw that I could have a career doing what I truly loved there was no going back. The risk to become a restaurant owner came from years in an industry surrounded by people who lacked the passion and true desire to serve that I had. I felt that I should take the leap with my partner, who also felt the same, and we knew that if we failed we could always go back to working for someone. The time was right in our lives, the economy was strong, and the stars aligned. We worked our butts off, made numerous mistakes along the way, but believed in ourselves and each other. Plus we worked ALOT! I never felt that it was a real risk because I loved what I was doing and knew that we would put in the hard work until we got it right. Naive, but sometimes that blind faith in something (even yourself) is exactly what is needed.

What should our readers know about your business?
Sushi Lounge Poway was founded in 2006 by myself and my partner Frank Interlandi. We met while working in a sushi restaurant in La Jolla, Sushi on the Rock, and we hit it off immediately. After exhausting our possibilities there we decided to try to branch out and open a catering company, only to discover that what we really wanted was to start a restaurant. Frank found our Poway location in the newspaper, we bought the business and assets, remodeled it ourselves, and re-branded it as Poway Sushi Lounge. Poway proved to be a great community for our first location. The community really supports their local businesses and the town has an intimate feel.. Everyone knows everyone and we really embraced becoming a part of it. We decided early on to give that support right back, through various charity events, school support, donations, and volunteering for local charities. Our success has not come easy. This is a very demanding business with small margins. We have missed so many special occasions due to work, and pushed through long hours, days, and weeks. In the beginning, and for many years, Frank was behind the bar making sushi while I was serving, with very little time to focus on anything else. Many guests remember my big pregnant belly, both times, serving food and bussing tables! We have both sacrificed so much to make this business a success. We have been fortunate to be able to turn Poway’s success into the opportunity to open 2 more locations, Encinitas and Point Loma. We feel that our unique take on sushi, combined with intimate, informative service, fresh products, AMAZING teams, and loyal guests sets us apart from many of our competitors. We are nothing without our talented teams, and we work hard everyday to continue to foster their growth to strengthen the business. 2020 has been a catastrophic challenge that no one saw coming. It has forced us to quickly create a new business model-one centered around different kinds of service, safety, and creative ways to use our resources and labor. We have taken a very cautious approach to everything surrounding COVID-19, and will continue to put the safety of our teams and our guests first. I am not sure what the future holds for our industry, but I am confidant that Sushi Lounge will continue to have the opportunity to serve our guests.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love living in San Diego! I have lived in Point Loma for almost 21 years and I love being so close to the water. I enjoy kayaking in the bay, it’s so calming and therapeutic for me. My husband and I love to take our boys surfing and fishing, and we really enjoy everything the beach and bay have to offer. I recently moved my dad here from Michigan and I have loved taking him to some of my favorite places. We enjoy going to lunch, and Mitch’s Seafood has been one of our favorite spots for fresh seafood and the quintessential San Diego experience. There is so much great food in this city and I am having fun discovering new places to go. I love to unwind at the Catamaran hotel. They have a great spa for massage, good food, and a relaxing vibe to hang out. I also really love Balboa Park and the San Diego Zoo. I think they both offer world-class art, museums, animal conservation and education, and we are so fortunate to have this! My perfect day off would include all of these places, capped off with a walk at Sunset Cliffs.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I am so lucky and blessed to have so many people who believe in me. Hospitality forms strong alliances and creates a family, one that stays with you regardless of where you go. Most of my biggest supporters, including my husband, have come from this “family”. There is something instantly bonding about working side by side through the chaos of a busy service, helping guests, constantly adapting to new situations, and multi-tasking the needs of others before your own. I have been fortunate to work for small, independent operators throughout my career. Working directly for owners showed me just how much they cared (or didn’t) for their businesses, their guests, and their employees. I felt that I could make a difference because I knew them-they were invested in my success, and I theirs. I was able to learn so much about this business from their examples before I started my own. My husband Kevin has always believed in me, probably before I really believed in myself. He encouraged me to take the leap into starting Sushi Lounge, and made it financially possible through wise investments he had made before we met. His decision to become a stay-at-home parent for our boys, allowing me to continue this dream, is the biggest sacrifice anyone has ever made for me. For that I am eternally grateful! I feel the pressure to continue to build something that will ensure a financial future, for ourselves, for our boys, and for our teams.

Website: https://www.sushiloungesd.com
Instagram: @sushiloungesd
Facebook: @SushiLoungePointLoma, @SushiLoungeEncinitas, @powaysushilounge