One of Kentucky's leading CEO recruits recalls that in the process of weighing whether to relocate to Lexington from one of the nation's major cities, he and his wife were "on the fence" and decided to discuss it over dinner. It was the experience of an evening in the cultural and ethnic-rich ambience of Natasha's Bistro, they said, that sent them over the edge. Today the couple and their family call Lexington home.
On hearing this anecdote and others like it, and considering the regular, heavy turnout they've hosted of late, Gene and Natasha Williams are feeling ambitious after years of patiently persevering in the downtown location they opened on the Fourth of July in the fateful year of 2001.
Now that patience is being rewarded. The Williamses have secured new partners in their unique blend of restaurant, retail and performance venue businesses known to many as at once quirky, edgy, fun and sophisticated. The fresh infusion of capital is financing major renovations and expansion with preparations underway for a late summer opening of "Props," a new consignment art gallery and gift shop in neighboring space on the corner of East Main and The Esplanade. And talks are underway with the city about temporary expansions of Natasha's sidewalk cafe into at least a portion of the street.
The partnership with Art Shechet and Bruce Barnett "also brings talent that we need," said Gene Williams, an energetic and creative entrepreneur with a penchant for all manner of headgear. "Bruce's special interest is in developing a film festival. He's been working on doing independent film festivals all year long in our restaurant. We'll have a screen and the ability to black out the space. Art is my primary consultant for the development of a bar and entertainment venue, and he's going to be helping in general with my wine and restaurant development."
Shechet, a native of Queens, N.Y., and a psychologist who stepped down last November from his position as vice president of the Blue Grass Mental Health and Mental Retardation Board, was "looking to engage in something different that would tap into different parts of me that I want to explore or utilize. I heard that they might be looking for partners, and I always had really admired their business because it had lots of moving parts. It's an interesting business trying to be a mixture of things: a restaurant as well as arts and entertainment. I have interest in all those things." Shechet said he has thrown himself into all aspects of the operation, bringing an expertise in management and personnel along with a shared passion to fire up the local arts and entertainment scene. "I wouldn't call me silent partner," he said.
Barnett, who hails from Winchester and has taught arts and humanities at Bryan Station High School for 12 years, has a degree in film and video production from UK as well as his own video production company. "Natasha's has always been my favorite place in all of Lexington," he said. "When Gene approached me with an opportunity to get involved, I leaped at it."
Barnett's role will revolve around presentations of independent film productions and the visual arts. "We hope to have a microcinema component," he said. "The Kentucky Theater, in my estimation, is one of Lexington's greatest treasures. It's done a lot, but it's formatted for just 35mm, so productions done on a smaller scale are very limited in the capacity to show their works. With this digital revolution that is just beginning to take off, microcinemas have been popping up all over the country, and we want to fill that gap here in Lexington."
According to microcinemascene.com, the term "has come to describe an intimate, low-budget style of movie shot on relatively cheap formats like Hi-8 video, DV, and (less often) older do-it-yourself stock like 16-mm film. A classic microcinema offering, explains the site, "is a film that probably would not exist if new technology hadn't allowed its creators to cut costs or inspired them to try something different."
"We really want to highlight Kentucky filmmakers. We want a place that is both a venue for showing local and regional films and a gathering place where people can go after the movie to meet the director or just discuss the film," explained Barnett.
Lexington videographer Arthur Rouse, founder of the Master Filmmaking Certificate Program at Bluegrass Community and Technical College, is thrilled. "I've told Bruce, Gene and Natasha that I'm excited about their developments," he wrote in an e-mail, adding "I'll take every opportunity to bring some action to the microcinema. I know for certain that BCTC will have screenings and our graduation premiere event there."
Once the Balagula gift shop business is relocated next door and transformed into Props, Williams said plans call for a reorientation of the entire space. As part of his role, Shechet is overseeing the installation of a full bar in what is now the rear of the restaurant with a small, intimate outdoor cafe located outside a separate rear entrance. The space now occupied by the gift shop will be transformed into a theater equipped with lighting and sound for productions of Natasha Williams' non-profit Balagula Theater projects, as well as live music performances by local and national artists. "We're stepping up to a new level of music venue, as well," he said.
"The way we are reorganizing that space will be interesting," Natasha Williams explained. "It will allow us to create a stage anywhere. With curtaining, it can become true black box theater with the capacity of playing in the round or on a normal stage. And we will also create a backstage area." This portion of the renovation also provides space for additional seating, "so we won't have to turn anybody away, hopefully," Gene Williams added.
"Theater, for us, is not a business, but it's also not a hobby," said Natasha Williams. "It's a very serious part of what we do in life."
What is business for the Williamses is the sale of unusual merchandise. With the opening of Props in the new corner location, Gene Williams explained, there will be a change in presentation. "Our previous 'Balagula' approach used the bazaar look to emphasize the broad appeal of travel and volume. 'So much to choose from' now becomes 'I can actually see what you have to offer.' By framing single items in a more relaxed gallery setting, the customers can choose quietly and more intelligently props for life." The couple is in discussions with potential arts partners with an interest in sharing the high-profile downtown location for exhibitions.
Farzin Sadr is another who believes in the value of patience in growing a business. It's why the owner of the three-story, mixed-use building housing Natasha's as well as the new Cottrell Dance Center above, has waited over the years to see what the Williams could do with their street-level bistro and gift shop, generously giving the couple a say in what sort of businesses occupy neighboring spaces. Sadr is a proponent of developing "social nodules" throughout the downtown area and envisions his building as a cultural hotspot. "Farzin is a rare example of a landlord who is willing to work with his tenants to develop art," Natasha Williams said.
Props is expected to open "within weeks," Gene Williams said, with a grand opening event to be announced.