From Desk Jobs to Cocktail Bars: The Journey of NYC’s Sama Street and Monkey Thief Owners
Avi Singh and Rishi Rajpal quit their stable jobs to start a cocktail bar in New York City in 2019. To help them, they hired David Muhs as their head bartender. Together, they now own a second cocktail bar named Monkey Thief.
Avi and Rishi have been friends since childhood in New Delhi, India. They reconnected in 2016 when Rishi was living in New York City. At that time, Rishi worked in event management and later in tech quality assurance. He felt unfulfilled and tired of his desk job.
Avi attended Emory University in Atlanta. He entered consulting, hoping for a challenging career. However, he quickly realized consulting involved many hours spent on spreadsheets and presentations, with little impact. Both Avi and Rishi found themselves dissatisfied with their careers and began discussing their dreams.
They decided to enter the food and beverage industry, influenced by their upbringing in India. Rishi worked various jobs in a restaurant to gain experience, while Avi prepared a business plan to pitch to his father, who had a traditional view of career choices. They wanted their first bar, Sama Street, to reflect their backgrounds and introduce unique ingredients.
What inspired Avi Singh and Rishi Rajpal to transition from stable careers to the cocktail bar industry?
Interview with Avi Singh and Rishi Rajpal: Founders of Sama Street and Monkey Thief
By [Your Name], News Directory 3
In a vibrant corner of New York City, two friends turned entrepreneurs, Avi Singh and Rishi Rajpal, have reinvented their lives and careers in an inspiring leap of faith. We sat down with them to discuss their journey from stable careers to the bustling world of cocktail bars, and their vision for the future.
News Directory 3: Avi, Rishi, thank you for joining us today. Can you take us back to the moment when you realized you wanted to make this big career switch?
Avi Singh: Thank you for having us! It’s a pleasure to share our journey. For me, it was during my time in consulting. I was spending countless hours trapped in spreadsheets with little satisfaction. The work was draining, and I wasn’t making the impact I had hoped for.
Rishi Rajpal: I felt the same way in event management and tech. I was living in New York City but felt unfulfilled. It was when Avi and I reconnected in 2016 that we started dreaming about what we could create together. We both came from backgrounds steeped in the food and beverage culture of India, and that passion drew us toward cocktails and hospitality.
News Directory 3: How did you navigate the challenges of starting your first bar, Sama Street?
Rishi Rajpal: It was certainly not an easy path. We spent months planning. I took various jobs in restaurants to learn the ropes, while Avi focused on drafting a solid business plan. We faced a lot of skepticism, especially from our families, but we were determined to reflect our heritage and introduce unique ingredients to our community.
Avi Singh: Opening Sama Street in 2019 was a dream come true, but then the COVID-19 pandemic hit shortly after. We celebrated our first anniversary over FaceTime! But throughout that period, we saw incredible support from our community. People rallied behind us, which helped us keep going.
News Directory 3: After the success of Sama Street, what inspired the opening of Monkey Thief?
Rishi Rajpal: Our growth has been organic. After finding a great location in Hell’s Kitchen, we knew we had to act fast. Monkey Thief is an expansion of our vision, and we really wanted to create something that resonates with our regulars from Sama Street while attracting new customers. The welcoming response from the neighborhood has been heartwarming.
Avi Singh: Yes, our goal is all about connection—between friends, family, and the community. While we face financial worries and operational issues, our passion for hospitality drives us to push through and work those long hours.
News Directory 3: David, as the head bartender, what role do you play in contributing to this vision?
David Muhs: I see myself as a bridge between the concept and the customers. It’s about creating a unique experience that makes people feel at home. Community is vital; it shapes how we approach our menu and atmosphere. I believe that as we grow, there will be more opportunities to connect and create unique experiences across different neighborhoods.
News Directory 3: What does the future look like for you three? More locations?
Rishi Rajpal: Absolutely! We’ve dreamt of expanding beyond just two bars. The love for this industry keeps us motivated, and ideally, we’d love to open even more locations. Each one can tell a story and celebrate the joy of bringing people together.
Avi Singh: Yes, the future is bright! With our current challenges, we remain committed to learning and growing. Our work is driven by passion, and we’re excited to see where it leads us next.
News Directory 3: Thank you, Avi, Rishi, and David. Your journey is truly inspiring, and we wish you all the best for your future endeavors!
This format reflects a professional interview style suitable for publication, capturing the essence of Avi, Rishi, and David’s entrepreneurial spirit.
Sama Street opened in 2019, and the three faced many challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic. They celebrated their first anniversary over FaceTime but received strong support from their local community.
The team wanted to expand and found a suitable location in Hell’s Kitchen for their second bar, Monkey Thief, which opened in October. The process was fast, requiring mostly cosmetic changes. The neighborhood welcomed their new concept, and regulars from Sama Street visited.
They still face challenges, such as financial worries and operational issues, but their passion for hospitality keeps them motivated. Their love for the industry drives them to work long hours daily. David mentioned the importance of community in their success and expressed a desire to open more locations in the future.