50 years of the Great Western Steak and Hoagie Co.

Hoagie’s celebrates 50 years in Venice! Check out this interview we did with Hoagie’s Sergio Perez in 2021!

Today the Venice Paparazzi spotlight shines on local entrepreneur Sergio Perez.

The Venice Paparazzi’s “In the Spotlight” is an interview series that highlights people and organizations in the Venice community. The purpose is to shine a light on all the positive things being done by the fantastic folks in our town!

About The Great Western Steak & Hoagie Co.’s: Old-school, counter-serve spot doling out Philly-style cheesesteaks & hoagies in cash-only digs.

How many years in Venice?

My family has been in Venice since the 70s

Give us a brief bio of yourself:

I was raised in Venice and manage my family’s food business. Organizations that I am a part of are:

Member of the Venetian car club
The Venice Mexican American Traquero Committee
The Venice Cinco de Mayo Parade & Festival Committee.
The El Grito committee.
Annual feeding the unhoused a Thanksgiving Dinner at Venice Beach Committee.
On the board of Venice Pride, though, along with years of service.

Tell us about your company.

The iconic Great Western Steak and Hoagie Co. on Lincoln Blvd, a venerable Venice institution.
Outlasting fabs and trends.

How long in business and how did you get started? Where did the idea or inspiration come from? And, how did you come up with the name?

The Great Western Steak & Hoagie Co.
Established in 1973.
The name is an homage to The spirit of the Wild Wild West. Although we did not come up with cheesesteak concept, Hoagies (street cred), as it’s known to locals, has been slinging Philly cheesesteaks for decades.

Photo courtesy of @hoagiesvenice

What accomplishments are you most proud of?

My family’s business always steps up to fundraise for our local schools and youth and to help community members in need.

I want to say above all is being able to provide a meal to first responders.

Photo courtesy of @hoagiesvenice

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What advice would you give someone starting out in your field?

Know there’s a more significant role you have to play in this rich, diverse and resilient community that comes with being a business owner in Venice.

A few personal questions:

Define success:

If you work really hard and believe what you’re doing positively affects people, the payout in the end is not just money but feeling rich within yourself and your community. It’s a different kind of wealth than most people look for, but it’s what you need.

What is the best advice you have received?

Keep doing what you are doing! You have an impact on our community.

Favorite affirmation, mantra, or quote:

You write your narrative, which reflects upon your city’s identity.
-Sergio.

Favorite book, band or movie?

Book: One Hundred Years of Solitude
A novel by Gabriel García Márquez
Band: Rhc
Movie: Chinatown

List 1-2 things on your “post covid” bucket list?

Venice Italy
Franchise

Anything else you want to share about yourself to the world? Fun facts or accomplishments.

For many years I have organized holiday toy and food drives and partnered with local institutions like the Fire Department and LAPD to make them successful.

Describe Venice.

Just like we enjoy listening to the echoes of those generations who I don’t know who paved the way, rode the wave, shredded the way, to where we are now, a lingering secret, a nostalgic myth that only locals know.

V’s ✌️🏼

What do you do for fun in Venice during Covid times?

I tried to reach out to the community and made sure they were okay.

Craziest or fondest Venice moment?

There are countless moments, good and bad, some I’d like to share and some I like to keep; what keeps coming up is the faces, the smiles, the sense of being home.