ALEXANDER DURAN
With the steady success of Son Cubano, Alexander has taken his experience and applied it with the opening of VENTANAS at the Modern.
RestaUrateur
Alexander Duran
Alexander “Mr. Duran” Duran is a visionary entrepreneur recognized as one of Industry Magazine’s “10 Most Influential Businessmen” and inducted into the prestigious Marquis Who’s Who Biographical Registry. With a strong background in business development, branding, and hospitality, he has built and led multiple successful ventures across industries.
Mr. Duran’s entrepreneurial drive stems from his parents, who emigrated from Colombia for better opportunities. After earning his college degree, he played a key role in expanding his family’s transportation and export business, growing it into the nation’s largest Hispanic export company before selling it to its employees in 2015.
His business acumen later led him into the hospitality industry, where he redefined restaurant branding and experience-driven concepts. He played a key role in Son Cubano’s evolution and later founded VENTANAS at The Modern, a landmark dining destination. Most recently, in 2024, he launched SOLÁZ Mediterranean Restaurant & Full Swing Golf Suite in Jersey City, further expanding his footprint in hospitality.
Through Duran Creative Group, Mr. Duran combines his business, branding, design, and marketing knowledge to help businesses craft compelling brand identities and immersive customer experiences. With a deep understanding of hospitality, nightlife, and lifestyle-driven businesses, he and his team develop strategies that elevate brands and drive lasting success.
Beyond business, Mr. Duran is deeply committed to his community. He co-founded Sowing Seed School, an early childhood education center, with his wife, Marilyn, and established the Duran Scholarship Foundation to support local students. He also serves as Chairperson on the Palisades Medical Center Foundation Board and the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey.
For Mr. Duran, true success is defined by business achievements, character, community impact, and family legacy. His three adult children—Travis, Tristan, and Gabriella—now work alongside him at Duran Entities, helping to shape the next generation of branding and business innovation.
VENTANAS RESTAURANT & LOUNGE
200 Park Ave, Fort Lee NJ 07047 • +1 201.583.4777
