J&R Steel and Welding, Inc. created stainless steel brackets to support the glass structure for this two-story building in Santa Monica.

Sons Nir (left) and Coby Cohen (far right) enjoy working in a family business environment with their dad, Joe Cohen (center).

Not every Los Angeles area restaurant, celebrity home or office building can have stairs suspended by a cable, or extremely creative glass and steel stairs—only those that call J&R Steel and Welding, Inc. (J&R) of Tarzana, California.

“Since 1988 we have been a steel fabrication company doing all types of construction projects involving structural steel and ornamental iron,” says Founder Joseph Cohen’s son Coby, “but we have recently become known for making some very cool, high-end fabrication custom creations.”

However, some of the company’s “wow factor” projects are top secret, pending client announcements and timing. For example, when J&R provides custom engineering concepts to architectural firms and Hollywood celebrities and music moguls, oftentimes a nondisclosure agreement requires the employees to keep design details and photos on the down low. Never fear, architectural and engineering firms observing these J&R results help spread the company’s reputation. Each employee also has a wide network of relationships built over several decades in the industry.

All in the Family

“Being that our business is primarily a mom-and-pop shop,” adds Coby, “each family member has certain responsibilities, but we all get to dive into multiple aspects of all the projects as well, and that is the fun part of our job.” In fact, Coby admits his career doesn’t even seem like a job. “Work isn’t really work when you get to do what you enjoy while you hang out with your dad and brother,” he adds.

Coby spends much of his time selling and estimating jobs and providing support in the shop—even if that involves sweeping or driving the forklift. According to Coby, his brother Nir excels at detailing, designing and inventing. After getting measurements, Nir creates plans and coordinates with engineers and architects while Joseph oversees all fabrication and installation. “Our other two longtime employees, Alex McKee and Sebastian Gonzales, are like my brothers, too,” Coby says.

He is thankful that his parents started the business in 1988, after moving from Israel to California in 1985. “J&R stands for Joseph and Ruth,” says Coby, “and my mom still provides administrative support to make sure our licenses and bookkeeping stay current, and that our materials are ordered.” At the outset, J&R was primarily an excavation firm before moving into the structural steel business in 1991.

Since Coby and Nir are close in age, J&R has experienced an interesting family dynamic over the years. “We grew up being very competitive,” Coby jokes, “and that translates over to the business. While we know our dad holds the reins, we both try to ‘drive’ the company on occasion.” Luckily, he adds, the brothers can almost read each other’s minds and that cohesiveness helps them get the job done productively.

Pride in a Job Well Done

According to Coby, working in the steel and welding business can be a bit frustrating when the infrastructure you build for a bridge, for example, gets covered up in cement. He says the company does its share of beams, columns, gates, railings and fencing, all of which are profitable but somewhat tedious.

“That’s why we really like the design-build projects where we pick the material, and lately that has involved marrying glass with steel,” he says. Among the cool projects of late, J&R has recently finished a storefront in a high-end architectural office park that features twisted steel coming through the glass window and into the parking lot. Explains Nir, “The development company wanted us to help them do something funky to attract the attention of additional architects who appreciate off-the-wall creativity.”

While several of J&R’s “portfolio projects” are hidden within the private residences of high-profile athletes and celebrities, another public example of custom work is Otium restaurant in downtown Los Angeles next door to the contemporary art museum known as The Broad. “This project was custom engineered and designed in 90 days,” Coby says, with two sides of the building hanging off a bridge, showcasing exposed steel and glass. According to local foodie publication, theinfatuation.com, “There is a lot to like. The [Otium] space itself is gorgeous…”

Achieving the “wow factor” on high-profile buildings brings J&R a desirable level of community visibility. The recognition helps build a reputation for creativity, customer service and attention to detail that keeps the phone ringing. “We love combining steel and glass and would like to do more stairs that involve metal,” Coby says. “Each custom project is unique and challenging in its own way, giving us a chance to help create every client’s vision.”

He adds, “Out of respect for privacy, we are often asked not to take pictures or share details of our residential creations, but I always hope they will share photos when they get professional pictures taken.” When it comes to unique residential projects, Coby has enjoyed being a part of building a huge backyard trellis and also a small bridge that a homeowner needed to cross over a creek and into their garage. “In the commercial world, I would never have been able to be as involved as I was in creating this cool miniature bridge for the owner’s home,” he adds.

A Heart for the Elderly

Coby has always had a fond appreciation for his grandparents and others of that generation, but when he spent a year in a wheelchair after a horrific motorcycle accident, he gained even more empathy, especially about mobility challenges. “We get calls from older people living in tiny post-WWII homes and they thank me for answering the phone because they feel other companies ignore them,” says Coby. “The callers tell me their home has no stairs or railings, maybe their spouse has fallen and their house needs modifications—and I’m glad to do it.”

Staying in the Inner Circle

For as long as he can remember, Coby wanted to hang out with his dad. “I’ve always joked that I would like to be on dad’s key chain,” he says. “As a kid I wanted to be with him no matter what he was doing, so I was glad when I officially joined the staff in 2001.”

Joseph and Ruth have taught their children not to give up. “We know dad started with very little and now has a successful business and very cool equipment, so we have all learned that there can be a payoff when you put in the effort,” adds Coby. He is not anxious to inherit the business, but instead hopes his dad stays involved, which seems to keep him young. “When dad took a break from the job at the start of the pandemic he seemed to age more quickly, so we have encouraged him to not even say the word retirement; he might as well keep doing what makes him happy.”

All of the members of the J&R Steel and Welding family like the company culture of teamwork and collaboration. Employee Alex McKee says, “After working with Joe and his sons for over six years, I may as well be family because I know they are there for me. It’s also been enlightening and educational as we take on bigger and more exciting projects together.”

Coby knows firsthand the realities and benefits of working in a family business. “Since we are all so passionate about our work,” he says, “we certainly bicker and argue for our point of view on occasion, but we are giggling together the next minute. Frankly, I consider it a privilege to work with my family every day.”