the PRIVATE BANK of CALIFORNIA

Spotlight on Joan McNamara of Joan's on Third

Our Client for Over Two Years

01.10.13

Joan McNamara is a very special person and a valued client of The Private Bank of California.  Like the Bank, Joan runs a thriving, relationship-driven business and knows the value of personal attention and care.  As owner of Joan's on Third, a gourmet marketplace, café and full service catering and event planning company, Joan McNamara has built a superior reputation on years of experience and excellence.  Joan knows the importance of caring for both her customers and her employees, seeing this as the key to success.  Her efforts have carried the company from a single employee operation to an L.A. institution that employs 140 people and is preparing to celebrate its 15^th year anniversary on February 14^th, 2013.

“I so appreciate being able to call my Bank, talk to a live person that knows my family, my business and what I am striving to achieve, and discuss with them my ideas on how to move forward and expand,” says Joan McNamara, Founder of Joan’s on Third.  “To be able to rely on my Bank and to know that they are genuinely enthused about our growth is invaluable.  The process of switching over to The Private Bank of California was so smooth and I couldn’t be happier with my decision.”

We recently interviewed Joan to gain some insight into her background and growing establishment:

Q:  Joan, when did you become interested in food and the food service industry?

A:  Well, I’ve been passionate about food since I was a little girl.  I started cooking at 10 years old.  In terms of the food service industry, my interest piqued when I ran a cooking school in New York and I fell in love with French classical cuisine and Italian cuisine.  After running the school, I helped open an omelette store in New York City that I eventually bought and ran until I moved to California. 

Q:  What inspired you to open Joan’s on Third?

A:  New to California, I raised my two daughters and volunteered at their schools to help with food and entertainment tasks.   Once my girls went off to college, I bought a small catering company and did my best to grow it via word of mouth.  After three years, we were still growing but I missed interacting with the customers and public…so I leased the space next door and opened Joan’s on Third.  Somehow I knew what it was supposed to look like aesthetically.  I always had the entrepreneurial spirit and I truly enjoyed applying my love for design and food into this special place.

Q:  What has been your biggest professional accomplishment thus far?

A:  When I bought the catering company back in 1995, it was a small purchase and I started with no experience in the market.  I began with no funding and one employee, besides me and my daughter.  Now, we have 140 employees that are part of the family and everyone enjoys health benefits, 401K plans, paid vacations and more.  We still have our first employee!  I love that people can come here and grow with the company.

Q:  What has been your biggest personal accomplishment thus far?

A:  I am very proud of the fact that while I started this business later in life, I have been able to grow it into a successful company.  Moreover, the most rewarding thing is that my two daughters work with me…and even after a long week of work they still call me and invite me over for dinner.  I am blessed with two grandchildren, Molly (2) and Henry (5), whom I adore and I am so happy to provide an environment in which working mothers can still spend time with their children. 

“We truly respect Mrs. McNamara's commitment to her business and family and are grateful that she was referred to us by a highly regarded CPA who is connected with other major existing clients," says Jacqueline R. Harrell, Senior Vice President Relationship Manager at The Private Bank's Century City headquarters. "I admire her drive and dedication to her business, which makes her the well-known successful restaurant entrepreneur that she is!"

The Private Bank of California appreciates Mrs. McNamara's continued support and looks forward to helping her expand her very successful business throughout Los Angeles.  For more information on Joan's on Third, visit JoansOnThird.com.