Today we’d like to introduce you to Teshia & Mecca LeSane.
Hi Teshia & Mecca, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
We were inspired to open because Teshia (Co-owner) is a musician and vocalist. She has been in the arts community of RVA for close to 20 years. It was her dream and then a collective dream to open an Entertainment venue to focus on love, healing, the arts, and all people. It just so happened, Boogaloos was formerly the restaurant located at 210 W. Brookland Park Blvd, and alsoTeshia’s home base for performances with her band, solo, and other shows she promoted. The previous owner of Boogaloos decided she wanted to sell the restaurant after coming out of the pandemic and told Teshia and Mecca over a late night conversation after a successful show that she wanted to sell her business to a woman of color. That conversation was in September of 2021 and Harlym Blue’z opened January 1st, 2022. Teshia and Mecca were up for the challenge, as they had been looking for a place of their own since before the pandemic. It was divine intervention. They already had their business plan, the business’s name and every detail to how it could be successful. We just needed a chance. The hope is that Harlym Blue’Z bridges gaps between the LGBTQ+ community and the general public, by providing understanding, inclusivity for all, a safe space to communicate, ask questions, interact, but most importantly a hub for God, community, healing, and love.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Things started off great coming into business out of the pandemic. The people were looking for lots of things to do. Harlym Blue’Z quickly became a small hidden gem. Today, things have pivoted a bit, as business has succumbed to growing economic hardship for the consumer. Financially we haven’t been as successful, but we continue to stay the course with revamping and rebranding inserted along the way as needed. Economic challenges are among the greatest which impede our ability to be more visible in comparison to other businesses like ours. We started this business with our savings, no loans, no credit, no legacy, just us and that was hard. We aren’t able to do some of the things that businesses with financial backing can do which in turn makes us less competitive with promotional and marketing opportunities. We have to rely on word of mouth and God’s grace to get people into our building especially with so many families being hit by the economy woes.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We are the only female, minority, and LGBTQ+ owned business in our city. We specialize in food, music, drinks. good people, and entertainment of every magnitude. Entertainment ranges from Karaoke night, to live Jazz, Live Blues, Open mic night with a lvie band, Game Night, Line dancing, Game night, and Live DJs. What sets us apart is that we have some form of entertainment every night of the week, and we literally day in and day out work every aspect of our business. Our community partnerships are what make us most proud, from community fundraising, to an official partner of the VMFA with their “Giants” exhibit, a partner of VA pride. We think the biggest accomplishment thus far has been having a featured article in CNN. Even more than accolades, we are proud of how we are able to pour into our communities and help to build around us. We are branded on being God first, Community second, and they we pour back into the business lastly. Our approach is different, and some may think that there is no longevity in putting others first, but trust and believe that God has our steps ordered to not just be what people want, but what they need. We have catering services, entertainment services outside of the business delivering to other venues and events.
What makes you happy?
We want people to not just fill up, but leave with a sense of being fulfilled. That’s why the entertainment and the food come together to create the overall experience. We’d like to think we want everyone to leave feeling “nurtured”. Which takes a different perspective than just going to get good food. Being nurtured is a feeling that meets more than just one sense and that’s what we strive to do. Seeing our customers have a part of them filled that they didn’t expect to get is what makes us happiest. The saying people don’t remember how you treat them, they remember how you made them feel is the best way to describe when we feel happiest and we value how we treat our patrons, but the lasting effect is how we made them feel. On slow nights when we still deliver the highest quality of service in all areas, and we have those patrons who give us so much energy and love, even when it’s not packed, now that feeling is one to cherish and enough motivation to keep going.
Pricing:
- Food $
- Drinks $
- Entertainment most nights free & $5 on Saturdays
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.harlybluezrva.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harlymbluezrva/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/harlymbluezrva
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/teshialesane1
