Stephane Cohen is more than a nightclub owner. ‘Mogul’ and ‘stalwart’ are just two labels that have been attached to this heavyweight of the Johannesburg club industry over the past few years, and they are apt descriptions.
A successful French export
Originally from Paris, Cohen settled in South Africa after visiting with a Stade Francais rugby tour 21 years ago.
‘I moved to South Africa to play rugby. After a few years, I was a bit bored by the local nightlife and started to organise parties in clubs. The small parties became bigger and bigger and I soon started to organise big raves.'
'One night I organised a fashion show in a deserted Chinese restaurant. The event was a success and the owner of the building suggested that I take the space and open a club.'
'He gave me a reduced rate until I got the required licences. My first club, Café Vogue, was born and would become a huge success in Johannesburg.’
Since then he has envisaged and enabled some of Johannesburg’s most successful elite nightclubs including Moloko, Hush, Icon, and currently Coco, Harem and Kong.
An inherent mixture of strength and sophistication have served Cohen well in this frenetic and competitive world, as well as a nightclub owner’s key super-power: shapeshifting.
Establishing the highly popular Moloko twelve years ago, Cohen has presided over its subsequent incarnations into Hush and most recently, the hyper-hip Harem.
A marketing creative
Catering to the jet-setting elite of South Africa’s ‘Big Apple’ is no mean feat; they have high expectations and a desire to feel part of a global VIP network. So what keeps the clients coming back? Cohen claims that the key elements are contradictory:
‘You have to be very consistent offering the same product all the time with the same music, the same dancers, the same staff - people like to know they will find exactly what they want.'
'But at the same time, you need to consistently entertain and surprise your clients. So you need to be creative offering new concept events, international artists, but making sure you keep in line with what makes your club so special.’
Cohen’s clubs play host to numerous events, often sponsored by leading vodka or cognac brands and featuring guest appearances from stars of the urban music scene.
Harem will also soon play host to a charity event that spans the continents - The Global Party collaborates with the world’s leading 5-star hotels, premier bars and nightclubs, uniting the luxury hospitality industry with VIP guests in support of the Global Charity Trust.
‘Being part of an event that spans 5 continents makes us feel very special…’ says Cohen.
Considering that Johannesburg is not a tourist magnet, Cohen’s clubs do very well. In fact, he claims that this is one of the greatest challenges for a nightclub owner trying to offer their clients worldly glamour:
‘We have to be very creative because we entertain the same people over and over. Very few tourists come to visit Johannesburg and there are hardly any International conventions or fairs bringing international visitors.'
'Cities like Paris, London, New York and Las Vegas are flooded with tourists which bring fresh new blood every weekend. We have to be very clever to keep our clients visiting us every week.’
An aesthete
He claims that regular image makeovers are key to keeping existing customers happy and attracting new clubbers:
‘I design my own clubs. We change the decor every 3 to 4 years to keep fresh and exciting.'
'I travel a lot - from Moscow to North America, Europe and South America every year to visit clubs and get inspired. I would never copy but take sometimes a few elements that I feel would work in our spaces.’
A professional
It may sound like a very glamorous life but Cohen is quick to point out that it’s not a career choice for just anyone wanting to party:
‘Becoming a club owner is a long process...it is a real job that requires training and experience. A lot of people open clubs thinking it’s a quick and easy way to make money and acquire fame or recognition. Most people open clubs for the wrong reasons and fail.’
A born host
Understanding and genuinely loving the world of hospitality should be part of your DNA if you are going to be a successful nightclub owner:
‘I come from a hospitality background - my parents used to own restaurants in Paris. I also learned a lot in America when I was young and worked in restaurants in L.A.'
'I love people and I always want to make sure they are having a good time. When you look after people and make them feel you are there for them, and not the contrary, they will give you the respect you deserve.’
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