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Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •October 21,2021
HONORING THE LEGACY OF KARIAMU Ike & BG’s Restaurant Opens By Gail Wells Downtown Location and Announces Groundbreaking on Buffalo’s Eastside This afternoon, supporters and elected officials gathered in downtown Buffalo for a ribbon-cutting and grand opening for Ike and BG's Restaurant's second location. Steven Butler, the restaurant's owner, was joined by Mayor Byron W. Brown, Legislator Howard Johnson, and Council President Darius Pridgen for the occasion. The restaurant's founders Ike and Betty Gray, also attended. The new barbecue and soul food eatery is located at 56 Niagara Street near the corner of Franklin Street, only steps from Buffalo City Hall. Guests enjoyed music and food samples from the restaurant's downtown menu. "I congratulate Steven Butler for not only carrying on the culinary traditions of his godparents, Ike and Betty Gray, who founded Ike & BG's on Genesee Street in 1998, but by now bringing their great BBQ and soul food menu to downtown Buffalo," Mayor Byron W. Brown said. Ike and BG's Restaurant is a soul food staple on Buffalo's eastside. Before opening the downtown location, the restaurant's customers had to order from the takeout-only location at 1646 Genesee Street. There is an area for a few guests to dine inside at the second location, and if the weather permits, there is space outside. This location is more accessible to residents on Buffalo's west side and appeals to a downtown crowd interested in soul food options. In addition, Ike and BG's Restaurant Downtown has new menu items it is eager to serve, like fried catfish dinners, fried lobster, and lobster mac and cheese. "Ike and BG's is excited to have a presence in the heart of downtown Buffalo", said Butler. "There are plenty of great restaurants downtown, but there is only one Ike and BG's. We look forward to gaining some new customers. For years I have imagined how and where to expand. Buffalo is my home, and Genesee Street is Ike and Bg's neigh-
Ed. Note: Kariamu Welsh, pioneering dancer, choreographer, dance scholar, author, poet and Temple University professor, made her transition on October 12 at age 72. Gail Wells, one of the original members of the Black Dance Workshop /School of Movement founded by Kariamu, chronicles an important and culturally rich legacy of this celebrated icon’s Buffalo, roots.
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RIBBON CUTTING: From left, restaurant employee, Council President Pridgen, Legislator Howard Johnson, Denise Wilson, Steven Butler, Mayor Brown, and another Ike & BG's employee. Street Legacy Photos by Darvin Adams
borhood. We intend to grow even more in Buffalo. After today we will be working attentively on Ike and BG's Restaurant's huge rebuild in our eastside neighborhood." Following the ribbon-cutting, Butler announced that Ike and BG's Restaurant will break ground to build a multi-use development in April 2022. The new build will happen at the Genesee Street location on a total of eight vacant lots between Colorado and Montana Streets. Earlier this year, Buffalo's Common Council approved Ike and BG's $4 million plan for the total rebuild of the establishment on vacant lots that had been an eyesore in the neighborhood for years. The new complex will include Ike and BG's Restaurant with a dining space, a banquet hall, three commercial retail units, 12 twobedroom apartments, and a parking lot. While this project is underway, Ike and BG's will only operate out of
the new downtown location. Ike and BG's has served the 1st Legislative District for over 23 years, and its impact on the WNY community is far-reaching," said Erie County Legislator Howard Johnson. "Residents travel from all parts of Buffalo for this wonderful culinary experience. The new rebuild in 2022 will be a big win for the community. This is much needed in the district as there is a shortage of affordable housing and dine-in-style restaurants. This will add value to our community." Ike and BG's Restaurant was founded in 1998 by Butler's godparents Issac "Ike" and Betty Gray. The two ran the business for years and hired their godson to work after school and on weekends when he was 14 years old. Butler acquired the Ike and BG's Restaurant in 2017. Since taking over, he has worked towards establishing ways to expand and improve its neighborhood along the way.
LEGACY: Steven (center) is pictured with his godfather and founder of Ike and BG's Restaurant, Ike Gray, and Betty Gray (BG) who recognized his culinary talent as a young teen. 2017, Steven acquired Ike and BG's Restaurant. Today the millennial grill-master is expanding his business to continue his family's legacy. Street Legacy Photos by Darvin Adams
uffalo has been long been known as a place where exceptional artists have gotten their start. Kariamu came from Brooklyn NY to attend the University of Buffalo as a member of the most diverse class of incoming freshmen students in its history. It was during the historic Black Arts movement in the late 1960’s that Dr. Welsh Asante honed the skills that eventually provided her success and recognition as an choreographer, accomplished dancer, dance historian and prolific poet and author. As an undergraduate student majoring in English with a dance background. Kariamu started a student organization/troupe known as the Black Dance Workshop. After identifying a core of dancers, Kari began choreographing dances expressing the culture shift stimulated by the music of Nina Simone, the Last Poets and progressive choreographers like Alvin Ailey, Pearl Primus and Katherine Durham. Against the backdrop of intense interest in reclaiming African heritage, culture and history Kariamu opened up the School of Movement, Kariamu where she began developing her own unique style of movement, which she coined “Umfundalai”, a technique that combines its movement vocabulary from traditional African dance elements throughout the Diaspora with African-American derived rhythms. In the fall of 1971, Kari opened up the Black Dance Workshop/School of Movement at 11East Utica which was purchased using investments from a core group of dancers (Glendora, Tina ,Frances, Gail, Yvonne, Kari). It was a series of choreographic awards, administrative decisions and creative accomplishments lasting more than a decade that propelled Kariamu to national prominence as she recast the dance school into The Center of Positive Thought. It was at the Center where dance, theater and music icons such as Pearl Reynolds, Ed Smith, Spider Martin and Emile Latimore collaborated on artistic projects. Kari’s leadership, creative talents and vision became a launching pad for other artistic endeavors (Ujima Theatre) as she inspired countless artists. Kariamu elevated dance to a level that remains unmatched. She will be missed but her influence will never be forgotten as we honor her legacy. (A celebration of life will be held for Kariamu on Thursday, October 28 at noon at New Covenant Church, 7500 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19119. The family is accepting condolences at 72104 Moseley, Chapel Hill, N.C. 27517)