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Photographer: @rarifilmz
Hair: @tytheglamking
Styling: @troy_clinton
Chef outfit: @seni_chic
Glam: @makeupbybarbee
Inventive Course/ PR: @iameboyne @divineinfluencepr
The Trailblazer
Sometimes you meet somebody whose presence not solely impacts their group, however impacts the world. And that somebody is none aside from Ebony Austin, famend restaurateur, serial entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Ebony has devoted her whole life to giving again to others, and from her latest milestone, she is simply getting began! Ebony’s extremely acclaimed grits line, Nouveau Creations by Nouveau Bar & Grill, is now obtainable in 45 Meals Lion shops all through Georgia, with an unimaginable initiative to help HBCU college students by contributing 100% of all proceeds to scholarships, making greater training extra accessible to aspiring students.
Most just lately, Ebony celebrated her 2 yr anniversary for Nouveau Bar & Grill by shining a lightweight on HBCUs at her yearly Stomp the Yard occasion with all proceeds from her grits line going to rewarding college students with over 30 scholarships starting from $500.00-$5,000.00! Along with the quite a few scholarships, Ebony additionally gave away comforters, air fryers, and fridges; to assist college students get acclimated with faculty residing. For her timeless and traditional magnificence, and most of all her real coronary heart for the betterment of others, Ebony Austin is undoubtedly Hype Hair’s illustrious Lady of the 12 months.
In honor of Black Restaurant Week, Hype Hair sat down with the enduring trailblazer to debate her coronary heart for HBCUs, the legacy and soul of Nouveau Bar & Grill, and naturally, all issues magnificence and elegance.
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We’re tremendous excited to characteristic you as an unique digital cowl story throughout Atlanta’s Black Restaurant Week! Congratulations on having your finest promoting grits being bought in over 45 Meals Lion Shops in Georgia! What’s equally as wonderful is that each one proceeds out of your grits go to serving to HBCU college students go to school! You might be making such an impression in the group, and on the earth! What impressed you to do that?
It was all impressed by my battle in faculty. I attended an HBCU–I attended Langston College in Oklahoma. However I struggled a lot from the time I registered. I struggled till the top, and I believe that God blessed me and put me able to have the ability to assist different college students not undergo the identical struggles that I went by means of. I believe that’s why my grits line is so expensive to my coronary heart as a result of truly all the proceeds return to HBCU college students. And I believe my faculty expertise was the toughest time of my life, however but it was probably the most fulfilling time of my life. I’m simply so grateful to be on this place to provide again, and it’s so necessary to dedicate your life to the lives of others. Just like the Bible says, ‘to whom a lot is given a lot is required.’
You’re completely killing the restaurant recreation proper now, and wanting flawless whereas doing it. So inform us in regards to the conception of Nouveau Bar and Grill, and the staple bestsellers in your menu?
I come from customer support, and I labored as a enterprise improvement supervisor for years. And so for me, once I went into actual property, it was an incredible concept. However I discovered that I used to be lacking one thing. I really like cooking, and I really like individuals. I noticed that I was lacking the 2 issues that I cared about probably the most. So whereas I used to be profitable in actual property, there was nonetheless a void there. And so actually, I’d simply pray like God, and ask Him to indicate me what it was. And I’ll come all the way down to Atlanta for the weekend and I used to be like, ‘Hey, I ought to open up a restaurant in Atlanta, as a result of I really like Georgia.’ And it actually took me three years. It took me three years to search out my location. Wow. Proper. And that’s why they are saying ‘God bless the plan.’ It took me three years. And it’s loopy as a result of the identical realtor that I met three years previous to me opening, was the identical realtor that I opened my first location with that yr, and she was truly retiring. So the whole lot was actually simply in alignment with God’s plan. However it actually introduced me again to what I really like, and what I’m most obsessed with. As a result of success is one factor, however in the event you’re doing one thing and also you’re not obsessed with it, then at that time, I really feel such as you’re probably not residing your finest life; and your finest life must be with the ability to assist individuals. Should you’re simply doing issues solely due to you, I really feel such as you’re shedding, you’re not successful as a result of you will have to have the ability to assist individuals alongside your journey.
What we love about you Ebony, is that you just actually are visionary, Nouveau Bar and Grill each places in Faculty Park, a private favourite of mine and Jonesboro,are at all times jam packed and full of pleasure. Your R&B Thursday’s at all times carry out among the greatest names within the trade. We’ve seen Rick Ross there, we’veseen 2 Chainz and so many extra. How do you proceed to maintain your eating places so modern and recent?
You already know what? Exterior of prayer….I’m simply going to be sincere, I pray for my restaurant each single night time. I pray for my workforce identify by identify each single night time. So exterior of the prayer, I simply assume that it’s at all times been about having the ability to create an expertise. Folks will at all times keep in mind how they had been handled, proper? It doesn’t matter what superstar is within the constructing, it doesn’t matter what’s going on, what they care about most of all, is that have and the way they felt. The truth that we lit 20 candles and we launched 20sparklers for somebody’s grandmother’s eightieth birthday, like they’ll always remember that. The fantastic thing about it’s we carry households again collectively. We carry coworkers in for time in an incredible surroundings the place they’ll simply again, calm down, and unwind. So for me, it’s the expertise that we’re capable of create for the households. I additionally assume that I needed to be taught that throughout the pandemic that we took a lot stuff without any consideration, one thing so simple as having dinner with your loved ones. So for me that simply form of lit a hearth beneath me to say ‘hey, each time a visitor involves Nouveau it must be an expertise for them everytime. We ensure that we cater to our prospects’ wants. However most significantly, we ensure that we give them an expertise each single time.
It undoubtedly is. Each time I’ve been to Nouveau, it’s form of like its personal universe when you stroll within the door… Like its personal full entity, and it’s at all times time. It’s at all times an enormous vibe.
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Sure, thanks. I actually inform my workforce on a regular basis that it’s necessary that you just get to know our visitors. I inform them to get to know our visitors and get private with them. After I opened up Nouveau, I mentioned that I wished to be just like the ‘Cheers’ in the neighborhood…To be the place the place everyone knew one another, and I would like that kind of relationship with my employees and our prospects. I additionally really feel that it’s necessary to have that very same relationship like I do with my prospects and in addition with the colleges. And people are the reason why I made positive that Nouveau could be in partnership with the college programs in Clayton County with the surrounding college programs. We’re not solely sending youngsters to faculty, however we’re nonetheless doing groundwork. Once more, simply having that relationship and being in a group, being within the college programs, understanding what’s occurring and the way we will help, is one of many causes I obtained on the Board of Schooling to have the ability to assist as a director to be of assist in order that we are able to assist our youngsters excel in faculty with out the monetary burden.
Atlanta is filled with so many wonderful eating places, particularly with that Southern aptitude. What do you assume that makes Nouveau stand out from all the remainder?
That’s actually a tough query for me, as a result of all my mates are restaurant homeowners. However I thinK for me, what units us aside, in my thoughts, is the truth that I’m in my restaurant 24/7.So I do know when one thing’s improper, and I understand how to educate at that second. And I believe that with the ability to coach my workforce within the second is totally different and units us aside. I believe that having that one on one with my workforce, and with the ability to coach them in a second and present them various things has helped us. Actually, the distinction is I’m behind my bar, making drinks with my workforce, I’m in my kitchen cooking with my workforce, and I’m internet hosting that door. So I get to see the place some errors are made and proper them, encourage them and coach them in a second of the best way to do issues… So sure, I believe that’s what sort of units us aside.
You’re a true mover and shaker! I hear you might be increasing Nouveau Bar & Grill! What are you able to inform us about that?
Yeah, I’m on the brink of develop and we’re truly on the brink of go to Texas, which we’re finalizing this week. So we’re tremendous enthusiastic about that! I additionally simply began a vegan idea that may open on the finish of September in Atlanta. And Nouveau can even be increasing quickly to Tennessee as properly. We’re visiting some places in Tennessee now, however Dallas is certainly just about signed, sealed and delivered. So Nouveau Bar & Grill will formally be heading to the Dallas market location!
At Hype Hair we’re all about hair, model, and wonder! You at all times maintain it elegant and enjoyable, and may I add, we’re loving your new look, that Barbie Pink on you is the whole lot! What are a few of your favourite magnificence must-haves?
Properly, my Nouveau Bar & Grill apparel is my go-to! Exterior of that I’m a Louis Vuitton Queen although. I believe most of my closet is Louis Vuitton! (Laughs) So between LouisVuitton and GoYard… I’d say, these are my two favorites that I’ve been rocking for like a very long time. However more often than not I don’t depart my home with out one or the opposite. And I undoubtedly don’t journey with out them…These are my two prerequisites.
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What’s your favourite coiffure and why?
I really like a very, actually cute blonde coiffure…Okay, blonde with brown tones. So more often than not with my hairstyles, I’ve full lace wig on. I love with my hair lengthy. In my latest picture shoot it took me fully out of my consolation zone. I’ve by no means put my hair up in a ponytail. After which the Barbie pink costume with the chef’s hat–I completely liked it, and it was very new to me….Due to Eboyne and the workforce, as a result of that was enjoyable and was such a really totally different search for me. I’m very, very primary. You’ll at all times see me with a 26 inch, lengthy straight full lace wig with a center half…Candy and easy. However this lookactually took me fully out of my consolation zone and I actually liked it.
What die-hard hair merchandise are you able to completely not dwell with out?
I really like Kaleidoscope hair merchandise. Actually. I find it irresistible. I additionally love Mielle Organics, so these are undoubtedly my prime two go to merchandise that are in my home.
OK…Ebony, now let’s get into some rapid-fire questions. Are you prepared?
I’m prepared.Let’s do it! (Laughs)
What’s your favourite Hype Hair cowl?
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Positively Ari, Kendra and Joe…These are my favourite colours and they’re hearth.
What’s your favourite dish from Nouveau?
Our seafood and grits…I’m a grit lover so I really like my Final Cajun Seafood and Grits.
Who’s your superstar crush?
God forgive me for saying this however hear, I’m a Jay-Z lover. (Laughs) Beyoncé, I really like you however I really like Jay-Z. (Laughs) I went to the 40/40 membership when he first opened it. I’m a fan, however he’s taken. So for any individual that’s not married, I’ll say Tyler Perry.
What was the final music you listened to?
Jay-Z ft. Beyoncé “On the Run.”
What has been the best spotlight in your profession as a restaurateur?
I’ve so many wonderful highlights. I undoubtedly assume one of many best highlights for me was once we celebrated and one of many younger women who’s my intern now, who misplaced her mother as a consequence of COVID-19. She was one of many college students who despatched me a video for my scholarship program and I believe having a relationship along with her yearly and doing a scholarship devoted to her mother’s identify and honor, is it for me. So for me, I believe it was assembly this younger girl named Savannah and with the ability to be part of her journey. I believe that was one of many finest. I keep in contact along with her; she involves all of Nouveau’s occasions. Creating recollections, creating impression, I’m so blessed that God permits me to have the ability to expertise that.
Who was your favourite artist for R&B Thursday?
Ohhh, Tank! Sure, Tank was my favourite.
What’s subsequent for you?
Increasing Nouveau Bar & Grill into main cities is certainly coming subsequent. I would like Nouveau to be an expertise all world wide so when individuals are touring they’ll additionally expertise Nouveau. So we’re in talks proper now about some issues and increasing into a number of airports proper now. I additionally wish to proceed constructing my actual property portfolio in order that I can construct communities for underprivileged and low revenue households which is one other challenge that I’m engaged on now. I really feel so blessed and I’m so grateful for all that God is doing in my life proper now.
Maintain Up with Ebony Austin of Nouveau Bar & Grill: @nouveaubaratl @ebonyakira
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