Mark Verge isn’t shy about praising those who’ve helped him. They’re the secret to his success.
The Santa Monica native began his entrepreneurial career with Wilshire Coin, but left in 1996 — while still in his twenties — to launch the game-changing real estate listings service Westside Rentals with his wife, Mar Vista native Lani Verge. He sold the business in 2017 to focus on local nightlife, restaurants and hotels.
Verge joined Cedd Moses (son of the late Venice artist Ed Moses) as a partner in 213 Hospitality, which owns and operates Cole’s French Dip, the Arts District Brewing Co. and top Downtown L.A. nightspots including Seven Grand, Casey’s Irish Bar and The Golden Gopher.
“I learned from Cedd a lot about building community — he’s really into the soul of places, places that mean a lot to the community — and that’s when [Lani and I] went off and did our Westside restaurants,” says Verge. “It kind of breaks my heart that there are 24 Starbucks in Santa Monica. … They’ll have ’em in bedrooms soon enough.”
That portfolio includes Margo’s, Ashland Hill, Art’s Table, The Golden Bull and Verge’s personal favorite, The OP Café, “for just being part of the neighborhood, a local breakfast spot,” he says. One of his biggest takeaways so far from this entrepreneurial journey: “The employees are the key to the game. You can’t just preach family; you really have to mean it. You’ve got to over-deliver for them. … And I’m blessed.”
Verge, who has a 17-year-old daughter and 15-year-old son, spreads a lot of small donations among local nonprofits. Much of his attention is focused on St. Monica’s Catholic Community, where he attended school and met Lani in church; Venice High School, Lani’s alma mater (and where Gondoliers quarterback turned coach Angelo Gasco “was my Joe Namath growing up,” Verge says); and most of all Santa Monica College, where Verge attended classes and his father Art Verge taught history. He often guest lecturers in business classes and is on the board of the fundraising Santa Monica College Foundation.
He focuses on education because entrepreneurship taught him the value of mentors. His lifelong mentors and their lessons include: Al Marco of Erin Condren Designs and Marco Fine Arts, “my go-to about business and life”; his former water polo coach Mark Dahlan, “respect everyone, but no fear”; Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Doug O’Neill, “get better and win the day”; former coach Mike Amloday, a writer for Ave Maria Catholic Books, “never done a drug in my life thanks to him”; St. Monica’s Church Msgr. Lloyd Torgerson, “spiritually, aim higher”; Jimmy Dunne, “the best branding guy, who taught me the word grateful”; his late father, “treat the janitor as well as you would the president”; and his wife — “without her, it’s game over,” he says.
— Joe Piasecki
Photo by Courtnay Robbins
Cedd Moses led a hostile security guards to brutally eject a group of lgbt customers who had been subjected to transphobic slurs. He was quoted saying the security guards took appropriate action. What a jerk.
Were you there? Why are you assuming the phobias title? Or gender? Or sexuality? How do you know it was a “Trans”Phobia and not a pissed off person at another and theowing gay insults was where they went? How do yoi know they were phobic? So when a fat person gets insulted is that person throwing insults a Fatphobic? Or how about to a short peraon? A Heightaphobe? How do you know the people were “Trans” themselves? Did you ask? You then say LGBTQ so you are a bit confusing. The LGBTQ community isnt privy to “words” nor should it be a free pass to equally run amok or even worse. Start crap and cry when pwople throw cheap shots. Thats neither hate nor a phobia. All’s fair in love and war. Remember theres three sides to every story. Im sure he didnt go asking anyones gender or sexuality before tossing them. Everyone is subect to words they may not like. We all live in this world and only one can allow ones self to be offended by “words”. If people choose to react then they granted the other person the reaction they saught. You have the choice to ignore and go about your business until someone actually lays hands on you. If people are not grown up enough to handle the meanies in this world then maybe they should confine themselves to their safe bubble and allow those who put their big boy n girl pants and a little thick skin to roam out in public who can handle some “words” they may not like. The LGBTQ community is no more special than anyone else. Learn to live among others you cannot control everyones actions and yes there meanies everywhere. Get over it. The world has changed so much to accommodate the LGBTQ community over the majority of the population what more do they want? To control people’s thoughts and words too? Assaulting another is already illegal so do they want a apecial law aside of that? Its already unprotected speach to incite violence, do they want thoughts too JUST for the LGBTQs? Perhaps learning to control their emotions and stop being so self absorbed as if being LGBTQ is superior to all others. That should be a priority instead of trying to control and change everything around them. And when things dont go accordingly first thing is to say everyone is anti LGBTQ or against them. When in actuality its the LGBTQ community that is less than tolerant and accepting of others views but thats ok because somehow the LGBTQ have been given exclusive privileges over everyone else and no one has a right to say anything. See how that works? I thought it was equality they saught not superiority. If its equality then welcome to the real world where the rest of us have endured “WORDS” since the dawn of mankind. Maybe if the LGBTQ community would stop with the self labeling and self segregating and have the constant need to announce WHAT they are instead of just being who they are….another human, then just maybe they would be just like everyone else but somehow I dont think thats enough for them. You cant have it both ways its one or the other.
Verge is the type of person I would be honored to work for for free. Lol yep I said free. Imagine the experience? Verge if ya read this…..lol no seriously. I love how he isnt afraid to venture into various avenues and comes out kicking ass. Ide give my left testicle for that chance to have a mentor like that…..well if I had one I would lol
Mark@thevergecompany.com hit me up