Tantra Art Cafe showcases art, jazz and barbeque

An exciting new venue for lovers of the arts has opened just a few blocks north of the Fox Theatre. The stylish Tantra Art Cafe engages all the senses with its unique combination of gallery art, live jazz, and fine barbeque cuisine. The cafe has been two years in the making, with owners Natalie Barry and Brad Grizzle partnering up and risking all for a chance to live their dream.

It all started when Ms. Barry, who was enjoying a highly-successful career in Washington D.C., received an unexpected phone call from her grandfather. He asked Ms. Barry to come home and take over the operations of the Morrison Room Banquet Center, which had been in the family for generations. A somewhat reluctant Barry agreed and came home to find the building dilapidated.

Ms. Barry began to envision new life for the building, and a new purpose. She envisioned a cafe for the arts, but she needed to find a culinary artist to compliment her. After searching the major culinary schools, she responded to an add on Craigslist from Brad Grizzle, the owner of Boar Run Barbeque. It was love at first bite.

After undergoing major renovations, the result is impressive. Tantra Art Cafe has the menu and friendly service of a restaurant, while retaining the relaxed atmosphere of a bistro. Flat-screen TVs and a comfortable couch are surrounded by candle-lit tables in a dark and warm atmosphere. Jazz permeates the room, and consummates the marriage between the elements. “I wanted to create an inclusive atmosphere, aimed at a mature audience. Something non-segregated and non-racial”, Barry explains. “Jazz exemplifies that.”

The unlikely partners also exemplify inclusivity and non-segregation while performing their complimentary roles. Grizzle, a mild-mannered young man from the county, takes care of the kitchen operations while Barry, a pleasant and outgoing young woman from the city oversees the front of the house. When asked about the purpose of jazz in Tantra Art Cafe, Ms. Barry responds, “People want entertainment while spending money in this economy. They want more of an experience.”. Looking to the future, Mr. Grizzle speaks with resolve, “We both put everything on the line, and we’re confident of who we are and what we can do.” He pauses for a moment before adding, “The American dream is still alive.”