Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Aybil Goker.
Hi Dr. Aybil, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, you could tell our readers some of your backstories.
My current occupation is very different from what I pursued in the past. I went from being an academic and cultural anthropologist with a Ph.D. to co-founding Habitus Research, an ethnographic research company. I also own one of Orlando’s newest upscale restaurants/clubs, MYlounge Orlando. However, there has always been a commonality between these seemingly disparate pursuits. I have always loved hosting parties and serving others. What makes my role even more unique is that I am a female entrepreneur running both a restaurant and nightclub, which is rare if you don’t have experience working in the hospitality industry beforehand. We offer fresh, daily Mediterranean food prepared from scratch. Our ambiance and decor are something that we are proud of. Our entertainment is wider than DJs. We love going beyond with our fun rhythmic live drum show. We have created an atmosphere that allows our customers to eat well, drink our signature cocktails, and, most importantly, feel good! When running a business, I am a big believer that hard work pays off! This mantra has been my driving force since I started Habitus Research and now MYlounge Orlando!
Would it have been a smooth road, and what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Our restaurant opened its doors in Orlando, Florida, not during the hot season, which was frustrating but overall, it went well. Orlando needed an upscale restaurant with large outdoor and entertainment. Therefore our community accepted us faster than I thought. I remember our grand opening; it was a hit for me. We had to do much construction work at the restaurant and constantly plan, work, and get permits. It seemed that it would never end. I felt so nervous when I put my foot in the restaurant on the opening night. I was like, “is this happening? Then I looked at our slogan, “It’s WoW or Never!” which motivated and relaxed me. The beginning was very smooth because all the furniture, decor, plates, and silverware you see at our restaurant come from Istanbul, Turkey. Our restaurant provided what the Orlando community needed and welcomed us with open arms. Despite not opening during the hot season, we were still successful due to our hard work and dedication and by providing a WoW factor that no other newly opened restaurant could provide. It’s always a great feeling when your hard work pays off, and we are so grateful to be where we are today.
Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
At MYlounge, we take pride in our WoW factor. Our combination of great food, drinks, and entertainment is unmatched in Orlando. We work daily to ensure that our food is delicious and fresh, our cocktails are chic and inventive, and our ambiance is always on point. However, we want MYlounge to be more than just an upscale restaurant. We want it to be a truly unique dining experience. That’s why we offer live Jazz music on Wednesdays, an amazing Sunday Brunch with live music, R&B parties on Sunday evenings, and excellent weekend entertainment with drums and dancers.
At MYlounge, we always strive to provide our guests with the best possible experience. We understand that it is all about the experience, and we want everything to have that extra factor in making it truly memorable. We are constantly working and researching how to better ourselves and our offerings. I am from spectacular Istanbul, and my years living in different countries have given me a wealth of knowledge about nightlife and culture. My background as a researcher and cultural anthropologist has helped MYlounge immensely, providing valuable research to help expand our vision. Our goal is to achieve the ‘WoW’ factor, and since we’re not a chain restaurant, everything is unique and custom-made. It’s a lot of work, but it allows us to tap into our creativity. There is still a lot more progress that needs to occur before we reach this goal, but every day brings MYlounge one step closer to becoming the leading provider of the experience we envision.
Contact Info:
- Website: myloungeorlando.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/mylounge.orlando
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mylounge.orlando.39
