Justin Romme has been living a wild roller-coaster ride over the past few years, professionally speaking.
He helped managing partner David Sikora open ProgressBar Chicago, and while still in the construction phase, they were already in negotiations with the then-owners of Hunter's Nightclub in Elk Grove Village to purchase that property.
A few months after Progress opened in Chicago, they closed on the property in Elk Grove Village. After a quick flip, it opened as Phoenix Bar & Nightclub in October 2013.
This past March, the owner of all three locations, Robert Brumbaugh, tapped Romme to open the location in Wilton Manors, Florida. ProgressBar South Florida is opening this summer.
"With each new location comes a new learning experience and an amazing journey," said Romme, who previously worked for Hilton Hotels.
His career highlight, he said, "is what I'm doing right now."
Plus, he can drink for free, he said with a smile.
"I love the social interaction with new and interesting people everyday," Romme said.
The worst part of his job is simple: having to fire someone.
And you can bet there have been plenty of fun times, many that can'tor shouldn'tbe printed in a family publication.
Romme said he has limited free time, but isn't complaining. "I love what I do, so, it doesn't feel much like work to me," he said. "If I can slip away, I like a nice dinner out, a quiet night on the couch, anywhere warm with a beach."
THE STATS
Age: 34
Neighborhood: Uptown
Hobbies: "I love building things with my hands, mainly woodworking. I recently built myself an upholstered headboard; it's fancy."
Relationship status: "It's complicated."
Job title: Director of operations for ProgressBar ( ProgressBar South Florida, ProgressBar Chicago, and Phoenix Bar & Nightclub in Elk Grove Village )
Favorite TV show: Boardwalk Empire or House of Cards
Favorite movie: "I've seen Shawshank Redemption more times than I'd like to admit."
Long-term goal: "I'd like to settle down with someone someday and retire early."
Little-known fact: "I have a twin brother named Marty; he's straight."