Q&A: A Decade at WALL – Looking Back on 10 Years

Photography by World Red Eye on December 16th, 2019 in Editorials, Lifestyle, Nightlife

Jennifer Lopez & Pitbull at WALL on July 18, 2013

Miami Beach, FL – December 16, 2019 – It’s no lie that Miami loves to party… In celebration of WALL’s tenth year anniversary, WRE is taking a look back at the most legendary moments over the past decade. Located in the heart of Miami Beach on Collins Ave., right outside the garden at the W Hotel on South Beach, WALL is known as one of Miami’s top nightlife destinations. From A-list celebrities, musicians, actors and actresses, and more WALL provides the best of the Miami Beach nightlife scene.

Business partners and co-owners, Nicola Siervo and Navin Chatani, still manage to keep the party alive ten years later. Siervo and Chatani are joint partners of KNR Hospitality Group, a leading food and beverage management hospitality provider located in Miami Beach. We sat down with Siervo and Chatani to take a look back on some of WALL’s top moments and celebrated the tenth anniversary this past Saturday night. Read the full Q&A below.

By Marissa Scarpulla

Q-Tip & Janet Jackson at Wheres Q-TIP? at WALL on April 10, 2010

WRE: How did you get your start in the hospitality industry?

Navin Chatani: I moved to Miami in the fall of 1994 to attend the University of Miami. I was dating a model with Elite Model Management and I would take her and all her roommates out, between 8-10 girls at a time. The owner of the nightclub recognized that I was always with these girls and gave me my first nightclub job. It started with just a Thursday night at the club and just snowballed from there.

Nicola Siervo: In 1986 I was studying in NYC and was working as a waiter at night. Then I started helping my friend promote some party and I end up leaving school and working full time in the hospitality business. My love for the night and going out late all around the world took me to Miami in 1992, where I worked as a manager at a restaurant called Bang. Here I am today in Miami, my home.

WRE: Congratulations on 10 years! How does WALL manage to keep the party alive?

NC: 10 years is an eternity to sustain a high energy, successful nightclub. We have ridden all the waves of trends in music. That is because WALL is not really a DJ driven club. On any given night that WALL is open there are always beautiful people and good energy. This is due in part to us always being there. At any given time either Nicola or myself are always present. That makes a very big difference knowing that the owners are there. Clients like to see us and feel comfortable knowing that we are there with them insuring that they have the best experience at WALL.

DJ Prince & Drake at Drake’s NYE at WALL on December 31, 2010

Tony Shafrazi, Vladimir Doronin, Naomi Campbell, & Adrien Brody at DeLeon at WALL on December 1, 2010

WRE: Out of all the parties ever, do you remember one night that really stands out?

NC: We’ve had many nights for the books and so many crazy parties and memorable guests, but the one that has really had a lasting impact on me was in 2011 during Miami Music Week with Swedish House Mafia. This was the last show the 3 of them did together before they had split up. It was insane to have the 3 of them there in our venue playing. They usually play arenas, festivals and stadiums together, but to have them playing in our intimate venue was truly exceptional.

NS: Difficult to remember and define one great night at WALL in 10 years. But what I can say is that the nights not planned are always the best. Some nights that really stand out include Jennifer Lopez’s birthday, Justin Bieber jumping and performing in the DJ booth, Bono behind the bar making drinks for guests, nights like Swedish House Mafia, and many more.

Navin Chatani & Nicola Siervo at WALL Thursdays on May 18, 2017

At any given time either Nicola or myself are always present. That makes a very big difference knowing that the owners are there. Clients like to see us and feel comfortable knowing that we are there with them insuring that they have the best experience at WALL.

Navin Chatani

Diplo & Sam Borkson at Favela Beach at WALL on November 8, 2011

Alesso at WALL NYE on December 31, 2011

Jarred Grant, Karim Masri, Nicola Siervo, Rony Seikaly, & Navin Chatani at WALL’s New Look on October 24, 2012

WRE: In your opinion, what goes into creating such a successful nightlife spot?

NC: A lot of patience and hard work. Always being positive and reflecting positive energy amongst your staff and clientele.

NS: Passion – passion for what you do. Trying to create a place where your regular client is your every day celebrity. Always providing great service, great music, and paying attention to every single detail is really what makes WALL so successful.

WRE: What does WALL bring to the Miami club scene that differs from other spots around town?

NS: WALL is unique. Its an intimate space that provides the opportunity to really take care and look after every single person that walks in. I have fun every night at WALL and if you have fun and dance, it gives a good message to your clients. We have created a nice loyal family from the staff, to the promoters, everybody comes to work with a smile; its important to have your staff enjoying the place where they work because this means they will make sure everybody else is happy. We always try to create the new experience that people are looking for on each night that we are open.

WALL’s New Look on October 24, 2012

WALL is unique. Its an intimate space that provides the opportunity to really take care and look after every single person that walks in… We always try to create the new experience that people are looking for on each night that we are open.

Nicola Siervo

Kanye West & Kim Kardashian at WALL on December 6, 2012

Kim & Kourtney Kardashian at WALL on December 6, 2012

WRE: How have you seen Miami’s club scene evolve throughout the years?

NC: The club scene here in Miami and elsewhere has its ups and downs, things go in cycles. We saw a big wave of electronic music that started towards the end of the last decade and then hip hop made a really big come back over the past few years. Now latin music is starting to influence the main stream. We just have to adjust to the times.

WRE: How would you compare Miami’s nightlife scene to other major cities such as New York City and Los Angeles?

NS: The energy in Miami truly makes a difference…people in Miami party all night long. They go out to dance, they don’t stand around and pose – they know how to have fun. There’s also a mix of culture in Miami that creates a great vibe; you have the Latin community, Europeans, and Americans all in one space. Factor in Miami as a tourist destination, where people on vacation go out every night to have fun.