Today we’d like to introduce you to Robert Romano.
Robert, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Hub City Productions was born from atelier d’architecture in 1993 when d’a was acquired by the United Retail Group in New Jersey – and Charles Ralph & I had no interest in moving away from Dallas.
The two of us had been working at d’architecture since 1990. (Charles was a UTA graduate and I had just finished my Masters degree at Texas Tech University. I also attended the Architectural Association of London in 1987.) Our primary client had been the Limited/Limited Too/Cacique & Express. They had all stopped opening stores by 1993 so I had gone looking for new clients and met The Fossil Watch Company. I was able to convince them to give us a chance to be their one-stop design consultant. Hub City designed Fossil’s very first store fixtures and went on to provide architectural consulting through to their location at Northpark Mall in 2005.
Over the years we have shifted primarily from retail to restaurants that include National Franchised Programs such as Which Wich, Mooyah Burger, Pie Five Pizza Co., Boston Gourmet Pizza, Fadi’s Mediterranean Grill, Meso Maya, Snuffer’s and Taqueria La Ventana. Hub City has also been a part of several local restaurants such as Cedars Woodfire Grill, Cafe Izmir, Cafe Istanbul, NAAN Korean and Ziziki’s Mediterranean.
Charles was a home builder for 10 years prior to attending architectural school and runs the residential division of the office. Our third partner, Tommy Nelson works with both sides of the group – among other things, he is currently involved with several projects in Puerto Rico (residential & commercial).
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Getting paid was our biggest challenge for the first 5+ years.
Finding work is one thing, finding a client that values your service is another. Things have certainly improved since the 2008 recession – Dallas is a great place to be in business now = everyone wants to build a new restaurant!
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Hub City Productions is a full service design studio. Our focus is restaurant architecture and interior design but we also provide office, hospitality, retail and residential consulting.
We are familiar to several general contractors in the metroplex and get most of our referrals from them – they like working with us due to our “no frills” way of doing business.
HCP is also a less expensive alternative to large or even mid-size architecture firms. We know that our clients are not in the design business – they just want to get back to doing whatever they do. By being sensitive to budget and scheduling concerns, HCP delivers what the client needs and nothing they don’t need.
What were you like growing up?
I was born at Baylor Hospital and attended Lake Highlands High School. I ran track & cross-country as well as pole vaulting all three years.
I was a spaz up until my mid 20’s – more energy than I knew what to do with. That problem has since been solved (by age). I have always been involved in all kinds of artistic endeavors: music, acting, stand-up comedy and most recently DJ-ing at bars in Dallas. I was a semi-professional musician for over 20 years, first with Stranger than Fiction in the 1990’s then Shock of Pleasure in the 2000’s. We had 5 national releases and toured all over the country for years.
I am currently the resident DJ at Tei Tei Robata Bar and feel fortunate to still have the opportunity to be a part of the Dallas entertainment scene.
Contact Info:
- Address: 3800 Commerce Street, Suite 122
Dallas, TX 75226 - Website: www.hubcityproductions.com
- Phone: 214.821.8242
- Email: hubcity@flash.net
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hub-City-Productions-297225353631637/
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