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Culture opens to facilitate community through food and entertainment

The Culture ownership team, from left, Robert Lee, Joan Sullivan, Sheree Lee and
Michael Towns, ready to reopen the establishment following three months of pandemic restrictions. (Provided photo)

The old Grape & Grain location became Culture Food & Entertainment at a New Year’s Eve grand opening and had been off to a good start before the pandemic hit. 

Chef Robert Lee shows some of his specialties. (Provided photo)

Culture is a partnership of three families: Joan and Michael Sullivan, Sheree and Robert Lee and Michael and Joy Towns. 

The idea of Culture, according to Towns is “to have a supper club-type establishment the combines live entertainment and a full-service restaurant. It’s been a challenge with the externalities, but unbelievably rewarding,” he said.

Realizing that goal was delayed during the state-mandated pandemic restrictions that began in mid-March.

Culture offered carry-out service, and staff has closely following state and CDC guidelines. After Phase 3 of the state’s Restore Illinois plan went into effect at the end of April, Culture added limited outdoor seating. 

When the state implemented Phase 4 of the plan on Friday, Culture opened for indoor dining.

Customers can choose from a limited menu of food and drink offerings with some specials, like a $12 taco special on Thursdays, a $15 fish special on Friday and soul food specials on Sunday ranging from $15-$20. Currently, Culture is open Thursday and Friday from 5 to 10 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

In the wake of recent protests and civil unrest, Culture has seen a lot of community support as a black-owned business, and the owners acknowledge that they have a unique opportunity to build community and bring people together. 

“I must say that before COVID-19, the response by the Homewood community family as well as the broader South Suburban community had been outstanding. Culture itself enables one of a kind experiences. Folks would come and then be transformed into die-hard supports,” said Towns. “Well recently, there has been an order of magnitude acceleration in the level of social media engagement and support. We have been overwhelmed, appreciative and yet deeply concerned. We have been wondering if this moment is a sea change or yet again more fleeting. 

“Our view isn’t just in regard to Culture, but for the larger space of social justice as well as public accountability. We are talking not just of those who serve, but also the citizens who set the expectations for those who serve. 

“We at Culture recognize that community takes work. It’s why we say to stop by and spend time meeting and talking with your neighbors. Take some time to embrace and re-discover local. Take some time to earn the privilege of a great community. This is the advantage of being a local independent restaurant. In a small way, we can and do facilitate community.

“We separately and collectively are people committed to our communities, the arts, food experiences and entrepreneurship. We have demonstrated our ideals through our individual and collective efforts in our churches, in the creation and marketing of life changing gospel music.”

The Lees are pastors and life coaches and Robert is the executive Chef. Sheree is the entertainment director and serves as artists and repertoire director of four independent label imprints. 

Joan is a former Citibank vice president is a seasoned CEO. She runs Kingdom Records, Inc. gospel music imprint and is senior partner of consulting firm Urban Ideas Limited Partnership, which focuses on working with budding entrepreneurs, creatives, municipalities and corporations. 

The team at Culture is happy to be able to continue with the food component of the business, but the live music is something that is definitely missed. 

“The live music model is in a state of change,” said Towns. “Previously the big idea was to have great music experiences to entice as many people as one’s capacity could accommodate to come into the building for an awesome food and cultural vibe. Well, social distancing has ended that approach for the foreseeable future. Now we are working more in partnership with artists. We are no longer able to pay artists, but we are streaming ,giving them an audience as well as more of an ability to directly appeal to people to support them via their cash apps. We typically show this in marketing and onscreen promo. We are exploring other ways to assist artists by also thinking about approaches on our label and consulting sides.”

Carryout orders can be placed at thatstheculture.com and online ordering is the preferred method to allow for the best carry-out experience, said Towns. 

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