Nightlife Authority Reflects on Favorite Memories and Best Practices from a Quarter Century of Success
Johnny’s Hideaway has been guaranteeing good times since 1979, but the man known for taking the iconic Atlanta nightclub into the 21st century is owner Chris D’Auria. This March marks 25 years with D’Auria at the helm. He’s not only known for gracefully handling high-volume bar business and late-night revelers but also for retaining employees for decades and offering patrons superior service every day of the week.
As D’Auria reflects on his years in this leadership role, he refers to the sense of pride he gets from the controlled chaos that is Johnny’s. “We do everything we can to make sure people have the best time at Johnny’s Hideaway. Whether it is their first visit or their 100th, I know our team will deliver,” he says.
In honor of his 25th anniversary at Johnny’s, D’Auria takes a stroll down memory lane to offer insight into what he has learned throughout his career, his strategies for success and the surprising events that have contributed to Johnny’s staying power over the years.
On favorite memories:
D’Auria learned from “salt of the earth” business partners like Milton “Waxie” Gordon and recalls how fun it was to make the nightly call to Gordon (always on his home phone because he refused to get a cell phone) to give him the report of how much revenue they generated that evening. Gordon was always able to guess the “midnight number” within a small margin of what the daily earnings actually were, and it never ceased to amaze D’Auria.
On what makes Johnny’s so special:
“The staff and the music are what stirs the sauce at Johnny’s, but there’s no secret formula,” he says. “I tell people who have never been that they have to give it 15 minutes, just get a stiff drink and start dancing. I love reading the social media reviews of guests saying they had such a great time.”
On the nightclub’s impressive employee retention rate:
The longtime staff members at Johnny’s, some of whom have been there for more than 20 years, thrive on the structure that the nightclub provides. Johnny’s employees also make good money and therefore need fewer shifts than they would at other bars and restaurants.
“The Hideaway isn’t for everybody. We have a lot of rules and procedures and believe in managing team members with uniformity,” D’Auria explains. “However, about half of the employees who quit try to come back a month or two later, and generally, we give them a second chance. People realize they actually need the structure and consistency that Johnny’s provides; we like to have a reason for everything we do at the club.”
On the events that have changed the course of Johnny’s Hideaway:
D’Auria cites the closing of the Buckhead Village bars back in 2007 as the time when all the 20-somethings started to flood in. The opening of other college bars near Johnny’s in 2010 also contributed to an influx of new patrons. Then, in January of 2020, Johnny’s became a smoke-free establishment when the City of Atlanta passed a no-smoking ordinance for bars and restaurants.
“So many women were happy because their hair wouldn’t stink of cigarette smoke,” says D’Auria. “It also helps us prolong the life of the furniture and the staff’s clothes, plus we don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars in ashtrays. The trickle-down benefits have been really surprising,”
On what he wishes he could change:
“I hate the long line at Johnny’s because I want people to be able to get in and have fun,” D’Auria laments. “Whenever I look on the camera and see a line of guests wrapped around the corner scrambling to get in, I’m frustrated and wish we had the space to let everyone in.”
On the future of Johnny’s:
As for the future of Johnny’s, D’Auria says he’s grateful that Johnny’s has been able to stabilize from the pandemic, and he will be thrilled if 10 years down the road the club is still doing the same amount of business it is doing now. “Back in 2012, I remember thinking how awesome it would be if we made it to 40 years, and here we are.”
On words of wisdom for fledgling bar or nightclub owners:
“You can’t look at what other owners do and think it’s going to work for you. Regardless of what you hear about making a bar or nightclub successful, you’re going to have to put in those 60-to 70-hour workweeks in the beginning,” he advises. “Don’t take your eye off the ball.”
D’Auria also suggest using social media to stay on top of any potential patterns of problems. “It’s easy to tell if there are multiple complaints about one person or one aspect of service, and it must be addressed.”
Johnny’s Hideaway is located at 3771 Roswell Road, NE in Atlanta. For updates on the restaurant and upcoming events, follow Johnny’s Hideaway on Instagram and Facebook. For additional information, call 404-233-8026 or visit johnnyshideaway.com.
