Jihan Roberts talks entrepreneurship and business legacy

Jihan Roberts is all about exploring new ventures through which she can showcase her joint skills as a businesswoman and creative. The stylist and fashion entrepreneur has decided to expand her profile, trying her hand at nightlife entertainment with a lively new spot at the Corner of Belle Smythe Street and Ariapita Avenue.

Named after her grandparents’ Laventille home, 36 EDR Bar and Lounge opened its doors last month.

“My grandparents’ house was always like a refuge,” Roberts recalled. “Most of my fondest childhood memories have come from there. [It’s] where my personality was formed.”

Although Roberts’ grandparents have since passed on, she expressed how important it was for her to honour the “integral role” they played in her becoming the woman that she has grown into since their passing about a decade ago.

She described the decor of the venue as “fashionable and chic”, a direct reflection of her interests and work in fashion, which she referred to as her “first love.”

The UTT Fashion Management graduate is also a sought-after fashion merchandiser, personal shopper and stylist, and the former managing director of Port of Spain shoe store, Fashion IS.

“I’ve always wanted to open a bar and lounge where people in their mid-30s can come and sit in a modern, chic place with good food, chill out and vibe,” Roberts said, commenting on how the other venues in the area are bars rather than spots where the patrons can enjoy a more relaxed environment. “We’re away from the noise, [toward] the end of the Avenue.”

Opening just in time for Carnival weekend, Roberts spoke about the “amazing” response from the onset. She addressed, however, the risks she knowingly took by opening a liming spot at a time where restrictions on public gatherings were heavily enforced.

“I was hoping that the country didn’t close again,” she said. “Here I am, opening a bar of all things; for the regulations to [become] strict [again], it would have been a catastrophe.”

With the rise in vaccinations and the impact of the restrictions, the numbers within the last month or so have shown signs of improvement. The recent decision to do away with the safe zone concept in light of the brighter numbers augurs well for the venue’s future and overall reputation, putting her initial worries at rest.

Roberts’ hopes for 36 EDR Lounge to attract a millennial crowd have only been half-fulfilled, due to the avid set of Gen Z patrons that also help to fill the venue.

This is her son, Issa Smith’s doing, and Roberts isn’t mad about it at all. In fact, she’s decided to ensure that he’s heavily involved in the running of the establishment as a way for him to get hands-on business management training.

“Any venture that I get involved in, it’s for my son,” she said, “I’m not doing [the bar] for me, I’m doing it for him.”

Jihan Roberts and son, Issa Smith

She added that Smith “learning the ropes of the business” would be beneficial to him in the long run, serving to complement his recently completed university studies by providing real-world experience that he may not have been able to gain in a classroom setting.

Roberts said that at times, she even allows him to run things on his own, reporting that “so far, it’s going really well.”

“Going into business with your son is a work in progress,” she explained. “At that age, they think they know everything.” Although she joked about some days “testing my patience”, Roberts said that overall, it’s been a fulfilling and enjoyable experience working alongside the young man she felt proud to have raised.

She discussed the importance of Black parents creating and leaving a legacy for their children, especially in business, something that many are unable to do due to a need to prioritise survival.

“As a parent, you always want to build [so that] every generation can be better. My parents weren’t able to do that for me,” she said, explaining that although her family struggled financially somewhat when she was younger, her parents were still able to give her and her brothers the tools and opportunities to launch themselves into successful adult lives.

“We’re breaking generational stereotypes,” Roberts affirmed. She said that despite the stigma and stereotypes associated with Laventille, she was raised in such a way that what she was exposed to and made aware of did not feed into those beliefs.

The business’ slogan–“History, Heritage, Happiness”–reflects Roberts’ ideals about legacy and leaving something for one’s children to inherit.

“I want to get [Issa] started…to give him a leg up,” she said. “I want to ensure that if I close my eyes today, he has something to build on.”

She hopes to expand 36 EDR Lounge into a daytime venue, to host brunches and open-mic nights for musicians and spoken word artists, while maintaining its current appeal.

“It can’t be everything to everybody,” Roberts said, “but so far, I’m happy with the direction.”

Look out for information on next Sunday’s brunch event, Safari Chic, and check out 36 EDR Lounge on Instagram for information on special occasions and events.