Don’t fret, Steph Curry is not planning on leaving the Golden State Warriors to return to his native Charlotte. But he and his wive Ayesha are bringing three of their restaurants to a hotel in the Queen City.
Steph, Ayesha, and frequent collaborator Michael Mina are planning to open three different restaurants, all inside the Ritz-Carlton. Yes, Steph Curry is a man of the people, as we have seen in his housing activism in Atherton. In a busy summer for Curry business-wise, and in a year where his feature
film debut “Goat” made nearly $200M — Curry plays a giraffe roarball player who is also an aspiring rapper — the restaurants are one more node in the Steph Curry Businessmatic Universe.
Here’s what the Mina-Curry team is opening:
Bourbon Steak, which is the same steakhouse franchise that Mina and Curry opened in Union Square last year. According to BourbonSteak.com, the restaurant is “a tribute to the classic American steakhouse, elevated by Chef Mina’s innovative approach to cuisine. Our signature offerings include prime cuts of beef, fresh seafood, and an extensive selection of wines and spirits, including rare and vintage bourbon selections that have become a hallmark of the Bourbon Steak experience.” It would be weird if they had rare and vintage tequilas, right?
The Eighth Rule, which also accompanies Bourbon Steak in its San Francisco location. It’s a speakeasy-style bar, because people very much want to escape to a magical era called “The 20’s,” where the president is embroiled in scandals about secret payments to hush up extramarital affairs and corruption among cronies he appointed to high office. It’s a fantastic world where rampant financial speculation has led to stunningly-large fortunes, decadent conspicuous consumption, and a United States economy on the verge of a bursting bubble and financial collapse.
Also there’s flappers. Their signature libation is also bourbon.
Sweet July Cafe, officially a “lifestyle-forward cafe” from Ayesha Curry. There’s one in the Regent Hotel in Santa Monica, which sells pastries, salads, pitas, and smoothies which are influenced by Curry’s Jamaican heritage. Honestly, looks pretty good.
Ayesha Curry and Mina previously had a restaurant called International Smoke, while the Mina Group, Mina’s restaurant empire, was founded with tennis star Andre Agassi. Curry’s friendship with Mina is also how Ayesha became close friends with Mina’s friend Lindsay Lohan, with whom Ayesha starred in the Netflix rom-com, “Irish Wish.”
Does this mean Curry is considering a move to Charlotte? Probably not, since two-thirds of these restaurants already exist in San Francisco. All of them seem a little too upscale for Thrive City outside the Chase Center. Though, since the luxury suites already have wine cellars and private butlers. Maybe they could have a speakeasy you can only access by ordering a specific combination of items at Bakesale Betty’s.
It does mean there should be a real nice team dinner whenever the Warriors make their lone trip to Charlotte next season. And who knows what they might drink? (It’s bourbon.)
