1OAk Founder Richie Akiva’s career began when nightlife guru Amy Sacco’s infamous lot 61 was on the brink of demise.
The evening was a night for the ages. Akiva blended an audience that New York (and the world moreover) had not seen before. Akiva combined eclectic worlds- from TriBeCa counter culture and art to supermodels to rap stars, and celebrities.
This epic breakthrough performance gave Akiva the door Monday nights at Lot 61, which soon emerged as the most fashionable night in town, a magic that was just too epic to be contained by a brand that wasn’t owned outright by Akiva.
So Akiva started the fabled 1Oak brand in 2007 to encapsulate and take ownership ovf Akiva’s brand of energy. Since inception 1Oak – under Richie’s leadership- has become the flag bearer (at subsequent times) for New York nightlife and than elite nightlife from a world-wide standpoint, garnering an unprecedented 250 million in revenue during its 13 year history.
However it would be a mistake to pigeon-hole Akiva just to nightlife. His special brand of culture has not only fueled 1Oak- but has also been applied at various times to a myriad of other successful venues such as The Darby/Up & Down, Butter, as well as as his new boutique health and fitness concept in Downtown New York called BIA Force.
Up next is Akiva’s highly anticipated restaurant project Davide which pays homage to his late friend Davide Sorrenti. The project- which is poised to bring back Akiva’s original demographic- should be the biggest new addition to New York and American hospitality since the Lot 61 days. Just like his original Monday nights, the restaurant will coalesce and mix a wide range of New York demographics and age groups in an inclusive- yet fashionable- setting that recreates the magic of New York in only the way Akiva can do it.