When career software executive Mike Zerkel stepped into the hospitality industry just over a year ago, he wasn’t looking to open a bar but to build community. The result has been a full-circle transformation of SOCIAL Costa Mesa, located at 512 W 19th Street, a once-thriving local favorite that’s found new life under his direction.
Zerkel acquired SOCIAL in May 2024 with a longtime business partner, following the sale of their product development firm in 2021. After three decades in software, the duo sought a new venture that aligned with their small-town upbringings.
“My town was all about community and involvement,” Zerkel tells What Now Media Group in an exclusive interview. “Everybody knew each other. And there were always a couple of cafes, restaurants, or pubs where everybody congregated.”…