S2:E16 Brad Johnson I A Lifetime Reading Rooms

Corner Table Talk

In this episode, Brad Johnson turns over his hosting duties to guest host, James Beard nominated reporter for Eater Los Angeles, Mona Holmes, who turns the proverbial table on Brad Johnson to find out more about this career restaurateur and entrepreneur, along with his recent endeavor as podcast host of Corner Table Talk.

His career started in the mid-seventies at his father, Howard's legendary NYC Upper West Side restaurant called The Cellar and spots like the Twenty Twenty restaurant and cabaret, where he partnered with superstar songwriter, producers, Valerie Simpson, and the late Nick Ashford. Johnson also opened the New Orleans style hotspot Memphis in New York, before moving to Los Angeles in the late eighties.

Johnson made his Los Angeles debut opening the famed Roxbury in 1989 that had such an impact on club and nightlife culture, and was immortalized in the 1998 cult classic film starring Will Ferrell, A Night at the Roxbury. Following Roxbury, Brad opened Georgia in 1993 with a diverse group of partners including former Laker, Norm Nixon, Denzel Washington, Eddie Murphy, Lou Adler, Connie Stevens and model turned restaurateur, Alvin Clayton. In 2012, Brad opened Post & Beam in a historic black neighborhood in South LA that has evolved into a LA Times Gold Award-winning (2020), James Beard-nominated national finalist for Restaurant of the Year (2022).
During the pandemic, Brad launched a podcast after feeling the need to record diverse voices and their stories in an authentic way. The podcast, Corner Table Talk, is focused on Food + Drink + Culture and has featured an amazing range of guests including Ta-Nehisi Coates, Chef Marcus Samuelsson, Fab Five Freddy, and Regina King.
Johnson’s writing has been published in various publications including Oxford American (Spring Food Issue 2021: Peasant Food), James Beard Foundation, and Eater LA.
Having bussed tables, pulled out chairs for countless guests over the years, shaken many hands, struggled through slow nights, and co-hosted Oscar parties, learn about Brad and his journey into the restaurant business following in his father's footsteps, opening his first restaurant borrowing "street money" and his experience creating culturally significant and diverse restaurants.

Photo Credit: Frank Louis Photography for Ambassador Digital Magazine

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