We had the good fortune of connecting with Andres Escobar and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Andres, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I am originally from Colombia, which has had an incredible impact on my career. My family, in particular, helped me towards where I am today. Growing up, we had an expansive living room, and on the weekends, we used to host many people, and I thrived in a very eclectic and creative environment. The furniture and design were so diverse, every piece always looked great together, even though everything wasn’t necessarily supposed to be together. My mother was also a very creative and driven person; she used to participate in flower arrangement competitions, and she got many awards and accolades. It made me want to achieve a larger scale of success and travel abroad.
On the other side, my father was completing his graduate degrees in France, and he always told us stories about Paris and how wonderful the restaurants and hotels and the atmosphere was. I was very intrigued by Europe, but I was also very interested in the United States too. My father always taught us about being more worldly. From the early stages of my life, I was exposed to international food, culture, and music. I always think that influenced me in my love for European culture.
These different points in my upbringing allowed me to have a larger view of the world and interested me in exploring paths outside of my hometown.
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I clearly remember when I decided to start my own studio.
When you go on your own, it is a massive step because no one helps you. During the beginning of my career, I jumped at it with no understanding but just my confidence in my skills.
The project of the Gretsch Building in Brooklyn truly helped to set me apart in such a saturated market. It allowed me to break into the New York arena. This opportunity helped me gain other smaller projects because I didn’t know the environment yet. I didn’t expect what would come out of that experience, yet I put my whole heart into that project. It was a project in Williamsburg, which many people use as a reference now. These peripheral projects added to my overall portfolio and helped me gain a unique understanding of the New York market. It allowed me to have a diverse portfolio that many developers began to take notice of.
The challenge within any business is to build a client base and be recognized; this is a process that could take a long time and takes patience. Once you have a passion for what you do, you don’t think about it as success. You don’t realize that you are gaining notoriety. Even today, I constantly am questioning whether I am achieving success. The New York market allows for many opportunities, which makes my job much more exciting.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I have found so much inspiration in Miami’s style, building, and venues; they have always a special place in my heart and influenced my own work, from the Delano, Satai hotels to the exciting restaurants in south beach.
When I am in Miami I always try new spots but I also have an array of restaurants that have become some of my favorites. I love Cipriani and Zuma and bringing friends and family for dinners there.
Prime 112 and Nobu have had a reputation as party haven in South Beach and are places that have held a special place in my heart. Establishments like Joe Crab are where the locals go and, whenever I am outside my comfort place of living, I always follow the local recommendations. Milos in South Beach and Casa Tua, which is more of a private club, and where my clients and friends are members, are great to go to in my downtime,
My culinary experience is much more vast in NYC and I pretty much know every restaurant on the island, my exposure to the greater Miami is more limited by virtue of the fact that I am not there as often as I would like to be. But the overall cuisine represents a nostalgia for me of my Latin American background that brings me such comfort.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are a few people that I have worked closely with and that have given me a tremendous amount of knowledge. One of them is my first boss Leonard Ostroff. He taught me about how to be a great leader and how to maintain myself in business. Later on, William Kotansky, who was my first partner, taught me more about the industry, to ensure that I was well ‘protected’, let’s say: he gave me advice on how to maintain sales, and how to generate new clients out of my established business.
Karl Fisher, a well-known architect in New York, also had a significant influence on my career in New York. He figuratively adopted me and helped me collaborate on many projects such as the Gretsch in Brooklyn and introduced me to the New York Market.
Website: https://lemayescobar.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lemayescobar/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lemayescobar/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LemayEscobar
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMv_rHkzfAcGctUmmoTHRqA
Image Credits:
DluxCreative, Inessa Binenbaum, Qualls Benson, VM Studios, Elizabeth Leidel Photography, and Courtesy Ryan Serhant
