Some romantics build shrines à la the Taj Mahal to their lovers. Others, well, they name a bar after their former flame. That’s what nightlife impresarios Brett David, 34, former GM of Sons of Essex, and whiskey authority Steve Yorsz, 35, did. While brainstorming for the perfect name for their new downtown whiskey bar Rochelle’s, which opens Friday boasting 70 types of American whiskey, they turned to their shared ex. The “Rochelle” in question is Rochelle Lee, 27, co-founder of jewelry company Holst + Lee, whose parting gift from her former flames is her name in lights — blue neon lights. The Post sat down for a chat with the two bar owners and their muse.
Brett David: I’ll never forget when I first met Rochelle. She was this gorgeous ingénue hosting at Pastis. This was 2006.
Rochelle Lee: I was 20 years old. I’d recently moved to New York from Austin, Texas. New York still seemed so big to me, and Brett definitely made it feel smaller.
Brett: I was running my own catering company back then. For the first year we knew each other, she was way too cool and I had no game.
Rochelle: He invited me to Miami for the weekend, and we had the time of our lives — dancing on the bar at Mango’s.
Brett: But we realized real fast that we were meant to be friends after some trial-and-error dates. Basically, she told me, ‘We’re just meant to be friends.’
Steve Yorsz: I’ve known Brett for almost a decade and had heard Rochelle’s name a million times. It wasn’t until one of his legendary barbecues in his old UWS pad that I met the fair Rochelle in 2009. When I got his blessing, it was on.
Brett: Who said I gave you my blessing?
Steve: [Looks down at his drink.]
Rochelle: We connected right away. When you tell a wine-and-spirits authority that your drink is Jameson on the rocks, he’s going to pay attention.
Steve: We’ve had our fair share of whiskey together — I taught her a few things.
Rochelle: There was lots of whiskey together. It was a great six months — we were young and crazy.
Brett: We had this business plan for an awesome whiskey bar that’s both neighborhood and destination for the past year.
Steve: We had to come up with a name — something we had in common.
Brett: I told Steve, ‘We have 1,000 things in common, but leave Rochelle out of it.’
Steve: I said, ‘You’re funny, but you’re also a genius.’ And we knew that was the name: Leave Rochelle Out of It — or Rochelle’s for short. Obviously, it wouldn’t have worked if her name were Jill.
Brett: Rochelle is just about the coolest name ever. We knew the name for six months, but I didn’t tell her because I’m scared of her boyfriend!
Rochelle: A month ago, I got a text from Brett with a picture of the bar and my name in lights. I stared at my phone for 20 minutes. It’s so crazy — it took me a while to process the whole thing. But it’s them, I really couldn’t expect any less.
Steve: I wanted to surprise her when she walked in for the first time.
Brett: That’s Steve’s way of saying he’s also scared of her boyfriend.
Rochelle: Thanks for the courtesy, guys! My boyfriend said, ‘That’s weird,’ and then moved on. He’s not threatened. I still love these guys, but not as much as they love each other.
Brett: I talked Steve into starting a tradition where we send out holiday cards of the two of us every season — Christmas, Valentine’s Day. I guess we’re a package deal. These hulking, bearded, tatted-up dudes who live in ripped T-shirts gracing your holiday mantel.
Steve: She’s the only ex who I still talk to — or who will talk to me. You sort of owe us now. Big-time.
Rochelle: Now I feel like I have to design a men’s jewelry line for you.
Brett: You know I have very delicate bone structure.
Rochelle: We’re family — humorous people who do lighthearted things in a funny way.
Brett: If we didn’t think she was such a badass, we wouldn’t have done it.
Steve: Every time she walks in this bar, we’ll announce who she is. She hasn’t been too demanding with the terms.
Rochelle: I told them I’m fine with the name on one condition: I drink for free for the rest of my life.
Rochelle’s, 205 Chrystie St., rochellesnyc.com