You can tell you’re in Washington, D.C. just by looking up. The White House, the Capitol, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials.
There are so many landmarks that say to residents and visitors alike: this is the nation’s capital, welcome to the world's most powerful city in the world. But most people don’t realise that Washington, D.C. is also home to some of the hottest night clubs in the country. Leading the wave in this space is ironically, a lawyer. David Chung is a pioneer in cultivating and growing prominent nightlife establishments. Currently he is riding this wave with Saint Yves (@styvesdc), and Abigail (@abigailnightclub).
Chung, who admires the luxury handbag maker Hermes, specialises in high-end bottle service boutique clubs and exclusive events. As he likes to say, I want to be in the business of luxury not commodities. Luxury is judged not by its necessity, but by its desirability. Commodities are interchangeable, luxurious experiences are not. Luxury is sought after, and his focus is on catering to those willing to pay a premium for it. For Chung, if he ever has to deal with bargain hunters, he'd rather go back to the practice of law.
Whether it’s a hip hop, gay or international night, the clubs have one mission – to cater to the cream of the crop. The mission is to cultivate a room of national and local artists, models, developing and successful entrepreneurs, athletes and innovators in a luxurious setting so they share ideas and personal stories
After drawing his inspiration from locations he visited during his summers in Moscow, Saint Tropez and Monaco, Chung was the first to spearhead exclusive high volume bottle service in D.C. Realising there was a gap in the way his competitors conducted business: cheap prices, cheap decor, and lack of exclusivity; Chung and his team let the other clubs fight for the masses while he focused on customers who were willing to pay for luxury. He targeted those who wanted to pay for a unique experience and rub shoulders with the rich and famous.
Things seem to be working well for Chung as his clubs attract prominent figures from NFL, NBA and European soccer, American political leaders, and well-known DJs and rappers. When the Spanish national soccer team came to Washington, D.C. to play a friendly match, they called Chung. NBA champions such as Lebron James, Kevin Durant, and Giannis Antetokounmpo have also made their way to Chung’s venues when in Washington. Additionally, Kamala Harris and Barack Obama carefully selected Chung’s venues because of their high attention to detail and intimacy. In the entertainment space, Travis Scott, Rick Ross and DaBaby have performed at Chung’s clubs, enchanting crowds with the ambiance of the venue.
As all extraordinary entrepreneurs, his businesses’ have weathered major storms of the past: 9/11, the economic collapse, and COVID-19.
In order to maintain longevity, Chung is vigilant about staying ahead of industry trends, current economic conditions, and understanding consumer demands. He seeks wisdom from his billionaire friends and does everything he can to adapt to the times by teaming up with the city's top promoters.
Looking forward, Chung is considering upcoming partnerships with hotels and stadiums. His perseverance, dedication, and consistency have paid dividends in his ventures and the future looks extremely bright for David Chung.