Hollywood is full of glitzy nightclubs that attract L.A.’s glitterati. But Chris Rosas is betting his style of Las Vegas glam will stand out.
Rosas is set to open Infusion Lounge at Universal CityWalk this spring. His company, C-Two Group Inc., already operates an Infusion Lounge in San Francisco.
Rosas plans to cater to San Fernando Valley residents with the new 9,000-square-foot space with dance floors on two levels, two performance stages and enough room for 34 tables for VIP bottle service.
“I feel Infusion is the perfect ultralounge venue to bring to the Valley,” he said.
Rosas grew up in Palos Verdes and pursued a career in film and television production. But he jumped into the hospitality business in 2003, when he bought the York Hotel in San Francisco and took over its management. Rosas now manages and owns six boutique hotels with partners in San Francisco.
He opened the San Francisco Ultra Lounge in 2008, and he is now looking to expand his nightclub brand at CityWalk.
He is investing about $2.5 million to turn the space into a Las Vegas-style venue with electric hues that light up the bar areas and dance floors.
Rosas hopes Infusion Lounge will become a hot spot for the many tourists who visit CityWalk each year in addition to Valley clubgoers. However, he recognizes that it will be a challenge to maintain packed dance floors.
“We anticipate being able to build two floors Friday and Saturday rather easily,” he said. “The challenge becomes Sunday through Thursday. But it’s a similar challenge to what we had in San Francisco.”
International Expansion
Cherokee Inc. is growing overseas.
The Van Nuys apparel licensing company announced two weeks ago that it signed a licensing agreement for its Cherokee brand with Japanese retailer Nishimatsuya Chain Co. Ltd.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The multiyear contract covers a range of Cherokee-branded products for babies and children, including clothing, footwear, accessories and home products.
Larry Sass, president of the company’s Cherokee group, said in a statement that its partnership with Nishimatsuya will allow the company to grow its international presence.
“The Cherokee brand is licensed in over 30 countries around the world and this agreement further enhances our global brand vision,” Sass said. “We will continue to explore opportunities for further global growth.”
Cherokee works with some of the largest retail chains across the world on marketing for Laila Ali, Sideout Sport and Carol Little, and its own Cherokee label. The company receives a licensing fee from the retailer, which handles the manufacturing. Nishimatsuya plans to launch the Cherokee products within the next 12 months in more than 800 of its stores.
Cherokee launched its Cherokee brand in China last month at megaretailer RT Mart Stores.
Staff reporter Alexa Hyland can be reached at [email protected] or at (323) 549-5225, ext. 235.
