04.25.2011

Thank the Lord for Lords South Beach!

In what was one of the most miserable winters we can remember, we struggled to maintain our sanity…to find that little light at the end of the tunnel.  Luckily, we found that little glimmer of hope, and we’re proud to say it wasn’t in our liquor or medicine cabinets…although we certainly did look hard enough in both!  We were saved by the Lords!

Thank the Lord for Lords South Beach, Brian Gorman’s exciting new SoBe hotel hotspot.  Like a slice of Art Deco heaven splashed with bright yellow, turquoise and a twelve-foot polar bear standing guard, the light-hearted property, which opened this year, offers a fun, sexy and easy option for New Yorkers looking to escape Manhattan for some sun and surf.

With a sparkling gold-tiled bar, restaurant, three plunge pools, and sumptuous suites, the Lords offers the amenities of a larger hotel to its guests while maintaining a relaxed, intimate and friendly attitude perfect for an impromptu weekend getaway.  And if you are looking for a party, the hotel offers an impressive roster of weekly events that attract all the hottest locals.

Ty Kuppig, The Showt’s Editor-in-Chief, recently had the opportunity to sit down with Brian Gorman, founder of Lords to get an insider perspective on the project and life in South Beach…

How did you come to the decision to move to South Beach and create the Lords property and brand?

I had been working on the brand for some time and looking for the right location. When we spotted this opportunity in South Beach, we jumped on it. It made sense for a lot of reasons – the sunshine and the beach were a big draw. It was also based on a personal connection I had with the city when I was younger; it was one of the first places I felt it was ok to be who I was as a gay man.

The property was originally the Hotel Nash.  What was the condition when you started this project? The Hotel was built in 1939 and has some of the best architectural elements that I have ever seen, which is always the hard part.  But it needed some good old gay loving to bring it back to its original glory where the interiors would match the level of architecture of the structure.

What was your inspiration while redesigning the hotel?

The Lords brand is about fun and celebrating the uniqueness of our community.  This is what guided every decision.

Although Lords has been doing exceptionally, is there anything you wish you could have done differently?

I would have gotten a bigger bear.

If Lords had a mantra, what would it be?

There are no velvet ropes to fun.

What is your favorite thing about South Beach?

My bike - I got this amazing beach cruiser, and no matter how stressed or preoccupied I am, the second I get on it with the sun shining and ocean to my left, everything seems perfect.

What is your least favorite thing about South Beach? 

That my friends in NYC don’t come a lot during the summer; but I’m hoping that will change!

How would you describe the gay scene in South Beach in contrast to New York? Which do you prefer?

Miami is a tighter group and everyone is friends, whereas in NYC you get to be anonymous if you want.  It depends on the day.

Our readers have said that New York if a very difficult place to date.  How does South Beach/Miami compare?

Ha ha - not sure.  I was single for a year before moving down here and the first weekend here I meet my boyfriend.  So if I were a case study, I would say easier.

Will we see Lords properties in other cities in the near future?  If so, which city would be next?  New York?  How might you differentiate the identity of the properties in different locations/climates?

I am dying for West Coast, and NYC is also on my radar.  Each location will find the magic of that city and pump it up.

If you had not launched this project, what else would you like to do? 

Right now if I couldn’t do this, I would create a reality show around our front desk employee La Donna. She is off the hook and one of the funniest people I have ever met.

You have a quite a diverse background of professional experience, but have achieved an impressive amount already at a young age.  What advice can you give to fellow entrepreneurs?

Do a lot, and try as many things as you can.  I was working on three different projects when Lords was being born - each time one seemed like it would fail, I would switch and work on the next one, only to return later with a new attitude and drive.  You must stay positive; it is all about resilience.