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What happens when customers love your business, but they use it differently than you expected?
In this episode of the Small Business Resiliency Series, Stuart Takehara talks with Leonard Chan, owner and founder of Midnight Oil in Downtown Long Beach, about building a bar and restaurant concept in one of the city’s most active and competitive neighborhoods.
Leonard shares how Midnight Oil came together, why he chose Downtown Long Beach, and how the business evolved into multiple immersive bar experiences under one roof. He also talks about the challenge of opening after the pandemic, changing customer habits, shorter visits, less alcohol consumption among younger guests, and the need to create community-driven events that give people more reasons to come in.
For small business owners, this conversation is a strong reminder that the original concept is only the starting point. The real work begins when customers show you how they actually want to use your business.
In This Episode:• Why Midnight Oil chose Downtown Long Beach
• How the concept evolved into multiple bar experiences
• Opening in a post-pandemic business climate
• Creating immersive spaces that feel like different destinations
• Why customer behavior in Long Beach is different from Orange County
• How shorter visits impact staffing and reservations
• Responding to younger customers drinking less alcohol
• Using food specials, mocktails, events, and pop-ups to drive traffic
• Why community may matter more than cocktails
• Advice for aspiring bar and restaurant owners
Episode Timeline00:00 The challenge of adapting to Long Beach customer behavior
00:53 Introduction to the Small Business Resiliency Series
01:23 How long Midnight Oil took to develop
02:27 Opening a restaurant after the pandemic
03:22 Why Downtown Long Beach felt like the right fit
04:20 Building a unique cocktail and bar concept
05:00 How the concept changed to avoid competing with nearby businesses
06:07 Leonard’s background in restaurants and bars
07:00 Creating three bar experiences under one roof
08:21 The hidden back room and immersive bar design
08:44 Why Midnight Oil evolved the back-room concept
09:53 Making one space feel like three different destinations
10:31 The biggest hurdles of opening in Long Beach
11:00 Learning that Long Beach customers move between multiple spots
12:23 Bringing people back out after the pandemic
12:45 Using collaborations, pop-ups, specials, and events
13:26 Responding to younger customers drinking less alcohol
14:31 Why Midnight Oil is becoming more community-driven
15:37 What Downtown Long Beach needs next
17:12 Advice for aspiring bar and restaurant owners
18:00 Why partners, written agreements, and support systems matter
19:03 How to visit or contact Midnight Oil
Key TakeawayCustomers will tell you what your business needs to become.
Midnight Oil’s story shows that success is not just about having a creative concept. It is about watching how people actually behave, adapting quickly, and building reasons for them to come back.
Mentioned in this episode:
Heavens Angels Academy Open House
https://heavensangelsacademy.com/ Back to School Open House Saturday August 8 | 10am-2pm
