James Langley

San Diego's businessman, James Langley, is a jack of all trades and constantly on a quest to find the next best thing to be part of within the ever-changing culture and community. Not only is Jimmy the Founder and President of Empress Family of Restaurants; he's a real estate partner at LDG Commercial Real Estate, a board member for Big Brothers Big Sisters, constantly involved in different philanthropic activities, and on top of it all, a husband and father of two. So, when does he have time to sleep, you ask? This local business mentor remains motivated by what the future has in store for his many work ventures. Growing up in a single-parent household, Jimmy had the morals of hard work and dedication instilled in his mindset at an incredibly young age. By twelve years old, he got his first job cleaning hotel rooms, and from that point on, he "worked whatever odd jobs possible in order to help provide and be the support system for my mother" at only 13 years old, Jimmy started working in the kitchen of a restaurant in his small hometown outside of Northern California, and this contributed to where his love for the food & beverage industry sparked.

If you know Jimmy, you know that his bigger-than-life personality feeds off personal connections and interactions. His genuine need to get to know who you are as an individual allowed him to thrive when working his way up in the restaurant business and recognizing the integral importance of every person's job within the industry, from the dishwasher to the executive chef. Eventually, Jimmy started waiting tables which allowed him to hone in on his strengths and gain essential life skills that he "now uses every day, like prioritizing tasks that are pressing or even how to read people and situations." The overall takeaway remains that a restaurant should be a family-feel environment where you all work together to have each other's back with the same underlying goals, to craft an enjoyable experience for your guests. Integrating these values into the core of what Empress Family of Restaurants was built upon was important, having a passion for hospitality, being a team player, giving back, going above & beyond, and always having fun. Jimmy wanted to build a team whose personalities aligned with his empire. Now owning and operating 4 brands and 6 locations throughout San Diego, his undying commitment continues every day that passes through the life of brands like Death by Tequila, Crafted Culture, Leap Coffee, and The Hen House.