Jacob Shaw didn’t have a lot of time to think about it. The West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce board asked him to take over, and his first call was to the staff.
“I wanted to make sure I had their support moving forward,” he said. “The Chamber’s strength has always been its people.”
Shaw co-owns Beaches Baja, Beaches Tropicana and SoCal Payroll Services. He’s been on the Chamber board for years, most recently as Vice Chair of Events. The board came to him on May 29. Len Lanzi was out. The State of the City was weeks away and all was not well. Lanzi replaced Genevieve Morrill, who headed the Chamber for 16 years. The Chamber needed a steady hand — stat.
There’s no denying West Hollywood has taken its hits. COVID emptied businesses and restaurants. For lease signs seemingly everywhere. Storefronts stayed dark. The City is even running a grant program for small businesses struggling to stay afloat. A tabloid rag just sent someone out to stroll the Strip and point out some of the mess. The narrative has not been kind. But all is not lost. Business are opening up (Mic Drop, Sweetwater, PUBLIC West Hollywood, Guac Daddy, Louisa Coffee, and Tres La Bistro to name just a few). There’s also a vibe in the air that maybe, just maybe we’ve turned a corner and things are looking up.
Shaw says momentum in West Hollywood is real right now. Some businesses are still hurting. He knows that. But he sees something else happening too. “West Hollywood has never stopped reinventing itself,” he said. “That is why I believe in our resilience and long-term success.”
He said running his own businesses gives him a ground-level view that’s hard to fake. Payroll. Permits. Foot traffic on a slow Tuesday. “I’ve had to make difficult choices, face what felt like insurmountable challenges, and solve problem after problem,” he said. “Pandemics, fires, changing customer base, economic pressures. But we’ve always come through it.”
The 2026 State of the City is tomorrow, Tuesday, June 23, at The London West Hollywood at Beverly Hills. Doors at 11 a.m., done by 1:30 p.m. US Bank is presenting. Mayor John Heilman and City Manager Jackie Rocco are headlining. Chamber Board Chair Dr. Raja Sannidhi will also speak.
The main panel — “West Hollywood in Motion: Partnerships Driving Growth and Opportunity” — puts four organizations in the same room: the Chamber, Visit West Hollywood, The Sunset Strip, and the West Hollywood Design District. Greg Rang moderates. Tom Kiely, Caitlin Penny, Brett Latteri, and Oliver Gabay round out the table.
Ian Schrager is getting the Ed Levin Award for Design Excellence. His fingerprints are all over West Hollywood’s hospitality landscape. His newest project is PUBLIC West Hollywood.
Shaw says he went to his first State of the City years ago as a bar owner who didn’t know what to expect. “It showed me that as a business I was not alone,” he said, “and provided me with so many valuable connections and friendships that had a measurable impact on my business.”
On the permanent CEO search, he was measured. The board is running the process. His job right now is to keep things moving. “Right now, my attention is on supporting our staff, strengthening relationships with our members and community partners, and delivering a successful State of the City,” he said. He didn’t say whether he wants the job permanently.
For anyone still on the fence about sponsoring, he makes the case directly. “Sponsoring the event puts your business in front of an audience that is deeply connected to the city’s future,” he said. “Beyond the marketing value, it’s an opportunity to help strengthen the business community we all rely on.”
For business owners who still haven’t joined the Chamber, he had a sincere pitch. “Whether you’re a small startup, a family-owned business, or a larger company, membership gives you access to relationships, advocacy, networking opportunities, and visibility within the community,” he said. “The Chamber serves as a bridge between the business community and local government. West Hollywood is an incredible place to do business, but it also presents unique challenges. Being part of the Chamber means you have a partner in your corner.”
“No business succeeds in a vacuum,” he said. “We’re stronger when we work together.”
Tickets and sponsorship information are at wehochamber.com/state-of-the-city or (323) 650-2688.
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I’ve known Jacob Shaw for 15+ years. He is a genuinely good man who deeply cares about others and this village we all call home. I’ve watched as he’s put his full back into Beaches and now Beaches Tropicana. He’s fully committed to his employees and the community they serve. The Chamber is in good hands with Jacob in my humble opinion.
I’m grateful The Chamber of Commerce exists in a city that has turned its back on cultivating and retaining small businesses. Unfortunately I can attest the city and staff completely destroyed us after verbally stating they wanted us to remain in West Hollywood. Lied through their teeth on what they were promising to gain possession of property. Unfortunately , The Chamber proved to be little help
Although some of the City Council members don’t appreciate the vital role the Chamber of Commerce has played throughout West Hollywood’s history, even before incorporation, we should be grateful to Shaw for his willingness to step into a leadership void during this critical juncture. Shaw has lots of other, more lucrative things he could be doing with his time, but instead is committing himself to a huge responsibility in order to help the community.