We recently connected with Jonas Brown and have shared our conversation below.

Jonas, appreciate you joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

How PH1315 Came to Be

PH1315 began as a personal project, inspired by romance and the desire to create the perfect first-date experience. As someone who cherishes quiet, intimate settings, I’ve always been drawn to places that set the right mood. Unfortunately, I wasn’t finding my version of romance around town.

My journey to creating PH1315 is deeply rooted in my culinary background. I’ve worked as an executive chef, owned and operated my own fine dining restaurant, and had the privilege of cooking for some of the largest and most prestigious hotels in the world. These experiences instilled in me a passion for creating unforgettable dining and wine experiences, which became the cornerstone of PH1315.

Working from my penthouse office at the tallest point in Aurora, I had access to something truly unique—a private terrace with breathtaking 270-degree views of the mountains, downtown Denver, and beyond. I began hosting a few first dates there, enjoying sunsets with a bottle of wine. Before long, a recurring theme emerged: my dates would marvel at the space and suggest I do something more with it. Their encouragement planted the idea to transform my penthouse office into something truly special.

The defining moment came when I invited someone to meet at “The Office,” as I jokingly called it. However, after she arrived in the parking lot, she turned around and left because she couldn’t find any information about it online. That’s when it clicked—I needed to make this place real. I realized that if I wanted to share this incredible space with others, I had to give it an identity and make it accessible. That’s when I decided to name it PH1315, based on its suite number, and start building its presence online to ensure no woman would face that confusion again.

With my background in fine dining and a deep love for wine, I envisioned PH1315 as more than just a space—it would be an elegant, intimate place where I could host memorable evenings. My experience as a chef guided the design of every detail. With the help of my 16-year-old son, we began transforming the space. We revamped everything—the ceiling, flooring, and lighting—to create the perfect ambiance. We added two stunning 8-foot smoked mirrors with backlighting, elevating the atmosphere even further.

What truly makes PH1315 special is its story. It wasn’t created as a business venture; it was born from the vision of a romantic soul looking to craft the ideal setting for a date and share his idea of love and intimacy. Along the way, I realized the effort and investment required to bring this vision to life, and PH1315 naturally evolved into what it is today.

To add a fun and nostalgic touch, I play 80s and 90s music videos featuring some of the greatest songs we all remember. This adds an element of joy and familiarity to the elegant atmosphere.

Jonas, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

In addition to my culinary expertise, I have a strong background in marketing, which has been instrumental in bringing my ideas to life. As the founder of Rank Kings, a marketing and SEO agency, I’ve spent years helping businesses stand out in competitive industries. This experience gave me the tools and strategies I needed to successfully promote and grow my wine bar concept.

From crafting a unique brand identity to implementing targeted digital marketing campaigns, I leveraged my expertise to turn my vision into a reality. Rank Kings allowed me to position the wine bar not just as a place to enjoy fine wine, but as an exclusive and sophisticated experience that stands apart from anything else in the area. By combining my creative vision with strategic marketing, I was able to draw attention, build anticipation, and attract the right clientele for this unique venture.

My journey in both marketing and culinary arts has shown me the power of storytelling and the importance of connecting with people on a deeper level. Whether it’s promoting a brand or curating an unforgettable dining experience, I believe that the details and the way you present them make all the difference.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

One of the most defining moments of my journey was creating my wine bar, PH1315, in a space no one believed could work—a penthouse office building. People told me it was impossible to turn such a location into a luxury wine bar and attract the right clientele. But I saw potential where others didn’t, and I was determined to make it happen, no matter the obstacles.

The biggest challenge I faced during this venture was securing my liquor and food licenses. After successfully obtaining the liquor license—a victory in itself—I realized another hurdle awaited me: to serve liquor, I also needed a food license. The problem was, I didn’t have a kitchen in the penthouse, and I couldn’t even serve crackers without meeting the requirements. Being on the top floor, bringing in a food truck wasn’t an option either. Every solution seemed to lead to another roadblock.

I wasn’t willing to give up, so I dove into research and sought advice wherever I could, including asking ChatGPT countless questions. After a lot of digging, I decided to reach out to someone at the health department for guidance. I explained that, as a former chef, I could obtain a catering license and prepare food elsewhere to serve at the bar. To my surprise, they agreed this could work. With that in mind, I found a small kitchen in the basement of the building and negotiated its use as a commissary kitchen. This breakthrough allowed me to secure both a restaurant permit for up to 100 people and a full liquor license. What started as a 500-square-foot office space was now transformed into my vision of an intimate, romantic wine bar.

When people ask why I put PH1315 in a penthouse office, the answer is simple: it’s the tallest point in all of Aurora, spanning 150 square miles. The location offers breathtaking views, unmatched by any other wine bar in the area. Moreover, I still use the space as my day office during the week. PH1315 is only open on Friday and Saturday nights, and while I plan to eventually transition it into a private members-only wine bar, its current setup has a distinct advantage—no rent.

PH1315 operates rent-free because my marketing agency, Rank Kings, already covers the lease. This means that even if I don’t have anyone show up for a weekend or two, it’s okay. Outside the one time converting from office to wine bar and the on going costs for wine and food, I have zero operational expenses. What other wine bar in the state can say that? This unique setup allows me to focus on creating a truly special experience without the pressure of high overhead costs.

The entire journey, from navigating licensing challenges to converting an office into an elegant wine bar, tested my resilience and determination. Today, PH1315 stands as a testament to perseverance, creativity, and thinking outside the box. It’s not just a wine bar; it’s a reflection of my vision, blending a romantic atmosphere with fine wine, breathtaking views, and the freedom to create something extraordinary.

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

I’ve started a few businesses and am working on another one right now, but I’ve never raised funding for any of them. For one, I didn’t know people with the kind of money I’d need to get my ideas off the ground. Secondly, many of my ideas are unique and haven’t been done before, which can make them seem too far-fetched for people to want to invest in initially. Of course, once the business is up and running and starts earning accolades, that’s when people want to throw money at you. At that point, money becomes much easier to access and cheaper to get—but in the early stages, when you have nothing, money is very expensive, and you can end up regretting giving away too much equity later on.

For anyone looking to start their own business, I’d say that while a friends-and-family funding round might seem like an option, it can also come with a lot of pressure. If things don’t work out, you may feel obligated to pay them back, and that kind of guilt can weigh on you. Personally, I’d rather take my time getting things going than feel that kind of responsibility. Building a business takes time, especially when it comes to establishing your marketing and SEO, so you might as well start with the goal of owning 100% of your company. When you finally gain traction and everything starts coming together, there’s no better position to be in than having complete ownership of what you’ve built.

The problem is that many people are impatient and want to rush to success, but here’s something to think about: would you rather generate $1 million in sales and keep $200,000 in profit for yourself, or do $10 million in sales and still only profit $200,000 because your ownership has been diluted? Sometimes, taking the slower, more deliberate path allows you to maintain control and reap the full rewards of your efforts.

Contact Info:

• Website: ph1315.com, rankkings.com