Reed Landry
"Restaurantrepreneur" Reed Landry ’99’s
Mission: Hosting You!
By Megan Corey
Celebrating a milestone with work colleagues or just having a night out with friends at any of Reed Landry’s locations – Mission Dupont, Hawthorne, Mission Navy Yard, The Admiral, Salazar, and Royal Sands Social Club – evokes reactions as varied as the venues themselves: “A vibrant saloon.” “An amazing late-night experience.” “Brings the beach and bar vibe of Florida.” “It’s like a fun house.”
Reed, the co-founder and managing partner of Mission Group, says, “We think in terms of multiple purposes and keeping busy from open to close. Primarily we aim to provide a bustling bar scene, but we also offer comfortable dining and versatile private event spaces that can accommodate groups of all sizes. We cater to a young, professional crowd looking for high-energy venues. Our motto is "It’s more fun to eat in a bar than drink in a restaurant.”
After graduating from Potomac, Reed went on to study psychology and Spanish at the University of Virginia, where he was also a walk-on to the wrestling team. By his mid-20's, this budding entrepreneur who was working in Internet advertising had opened a bar in Georgetown and begun to reimagine the world of DC nightlife.
Reed says, “During my 20's I started throwing large-scale events for New Year's, Halloween, St. Patrick's Day, and so on at museums and stadiums. My first event was a 2,000-person Halloween party, and it grew from there to events that were as large as 6,000. It seemed straightforward – I was leveraging my relationships and connections to make sure people got together and had fun. And the bottom line was it was more appealing to bring my own friends and acquaintances together than to attend someone else’s event."
He continues, “Eventually, based on the success of those events, I was approached by two people who owned nightclubs in the DC area. We partnered and opened my first bar, George, in Georgetown in 2008.”
Almost immediately, Reed began imagining bigger and better spaces and engineering more varied and engaging experiences for his patrons. He recalls, “That first venture was of limited scope as far as weekend late-night business. One of my partners and I wanted to expand our horizons and do something different. We envisioned much larger venues, great food, and being open seven days a week, with multiple private events every night.”
In 2014, Mission Group's first venue, Mission Dupont, was born. Since then, Reed and his partner have opened five additional venues in Washington, DC, including the city’s two largest bars – Mission Navy Yard and Royal Sands – each with a capacity of over 1,000.
Reed emphasizes, “From a concept perspective, my partner and I have always agreed we’re not out to impress people we meet at cocktail parties. We don’t want to do upscale dining or entice restaurant critics. We take the food seriously and invest a lot of resources into it, but our number-one priority is atmosphere. Everyone is of course welcome, but we are laser-focused on providing super high-energy environments that attract young professionals. I feel energized, even as I get older, when I walk into packed venues with our guests having a great time.”
Everyone knows that life sometimes throws you a curveball – but no one could have predicted, or planned for, the chaos the COVID pandemic unleashed on the hospitality industry.
Reed says, “I won’t lie; for the first two months I thought we were doomed. After a variety of miscalculations about how long the pandemic would last and how we would be allowed to operate, I shifted my mindset to try and focus on the opportunities instead of the challenges. So we dug in and tried to make the best of it while navigating the ever-changing regulations.”
He recalls, “For more than 15 months we had to operate with tables six feet apart, limited hours and capacity, no standing, and no bar service. It was quite a transition for a bar-centric company, but we did our best to make it happen and still try to make people feel like they were at a party. We were nimble, but we were also very lucky. We had a lot of advantages like outdoor patios, streateries, and a staff that was eager to keep working – all of which made it easier for us to navigate COVID than many other operators. Suffice to say, we were relieved when the city opened back up in June of 2021. I don’t think the nightlife industry is ever going to see a period like the one that unfolded over the next year. It was special to be part of the pure joy that people exhibited while reconnecting with friends in venues like ours.”
Now, with the pandemic in the rear-view mirror, Reed is again fully focused on his thriving businesses, the services he provides, and ways to enhance his customers’ experiences.
Reflecting on his career path, he notes how much he gained during his 14 years at Potomac: “The teachers instilled a work ethic and made it clear how much they cared about us as students. Some of it was humbling, like the barrels of red ink Mrs. O’Marah and Mr. Riley used on my essays. I remember Ms. Stein and Mrs. Landry going above and beyond with math lunches to help students who were struggling. And I have great memories of coming together as a school for assemblies, plays, and concerts. It’s special to see so many of these traditions living on today, as well as the same dedication and caring being shown by current teachers toward two of my sons who are now in the Lower School.”
Reed concludes, “Potomac is a special place. You have to learn how to manage your time and navigate the academic challenges. It may sometimes be stressful, but a Potomac education helps you build resilience and self-confidence. And those are strengths that will serve you well in the future.”
Get to Know Reed
Potomac School Leadership Roles: Current Potomac trustee, past president of the Alumni Governing Council
Favorite Cocktail: Dos Margarita at Mission Navy Yard
Currently Reading: Conspiracy by Ryan Holiday
Work he’s most proud of: "Working to raise three great kids (two current Panthers) with my wife Julie."