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ALUMNI PROFILE

Scott Sartiano ’97: Politician of the Night

By Dina Cheney ’99

Restauranteur Scott Sartiano '97

Scott Sartiano ’97 thought he’d end up as a politician. But rather than pursuing a law degree and entering the world of tailored navy blue suits and The White House, Sartiano found himself surrounded with bodysuits and house music. As co-owner of Butter, the acclaimed restaurant-with-a-DJ in the East Village, Sartiano spends nights cavorting with the likes of über-models Carmen Kass and Iman, Teen Beat demi-god Carson Daly and rapper Jay-Z. Not bad for a nice guy from North Carolina.

So how did Sartiano go from a tennis-playing political science major and Fiji member to a Tribeca-residing nightlife impresario with plans to expand into additional restaurants, hotels and casinos? Simple: Sartiano is an honest businessman with a Columbia education — not a dime a dozen in the nightlife realm. And, unlike many other entrepreneurs, he doesn’t seek the limelight: “I’m sort of a shy guy by nature,” Sartiano notes. “And I don’t want to be labeled ‘the nightlife guy.’ Labeling limits you. I eventually want to move on to bigger things.”

Sartiano’s integrity and entrepreneurial drive helped him earn the trust and acceptance of powerful New Yorkers in the nightlife industry, and his Columbia experience taught him how to interact with a variety of people. And, as he puts it, “Minor things change the path of your life. I made one wrong move after another and all of a sudden found myself in the club business.”

One of those “wrong moves” was breaking his wrist during his senior year. Forced to sit out from tennis, Sartiano soon began promoting parties at Life and other Manhattan clubs as a way to earn extra money. “I never went into a nightclub before I was paid to be in one,” he says.

After opening a small “no name” bar in the Village, Sartiano was noticed by nightlife big-wigs and, at 25, became executive director of the well-known establishment Spa. When a club colleague, Richie Akiva, suggested that they open a restaurant together, Sartiano agreed — he was tiring of the club life and ready for the next big thing.

After pooling their cash and raising money from investors, the pair launched Butter in May 2002. The hip and trendy restaurant soon was a success, written up in Time Out New York and New York.

While many would tire of the long hours and stress of opening a restaurant, Sartiano was hungry for more. He soon became partner in The Deck at Pier 59 Studios as well as his second restaurant, Salt, at the see-and-be-seen Hamptons nightspot, The Star Room. By adding these ventures to his already full plate, Sartiano’s workdays soon crept up to an occasional 20 hours in duration.

What has made Sartiano’s establishments so successful? “I create an environment that is better than people’s houses, whether through music, a scene, or food and drink,” he explains. “One of my friends calls me an ‘ambienteur,’ and I think that’s true. Plus, what I’m best at is putting a great team together. No man is an island. The keys to business are marketing and delegating — you need to know how to hire the right people.” And hire the right people he has: For example, the chef at Butter, Alex Guarneschelli ’92 Barnard, hails from Daniel Boulud’s restaurant, Daniel.

Now, Sartiano, who cites Ian Schrager and Rande Gerber as role models, is deciding whether to open another restaurant in New York City or Los Angeles, or perhaps a nightclub-restaurant in Las Vegas.

Despite this success, his dream of becoming a politician remains. “I’d love to run for office one day, maybe the New York City Council. I’d especially love to help small businesses.”

Dina Cheney ’99 is a freelance writer and recipe developer. She offers private cooking classes and guided tasting parties through her business, Cooking by Heart.

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