Nancy Novak planning to debut new night spot for ladies

On June 6, the Vital VOICE sat down with Nancy Novak at the bar and grill that bears her name – Novak’s – to discuss her new, lighter menu, major changes within her staff and the opening of a new establishment targeted towards the ladies.

Novak gave the VOICE a sneak peek at the revised menu, which will include a veggie plate, a steak quesadilla and a buffalo chicken wrap. The revised menu also promises the use of trans-fat and cholesterol free oil as well as antibiotic and hormone free meat.

The Vital VOICE: What motivated the decision for a lighter menu?

Nancy Novak: Customers have been asking for a lighter menu. I’m very much into working out and eating better.

VV: Who had input on it?

NN: The entire staff had opportunities to send me ideas, but for the most part talking to customers [gave me ideas].

VV: When will you put [the new menu] in place?

NN: It’s going to be unveiled June 16.

(Novak promoted Jimmy Zensen to general manager, as was announced via press release June 1. He will replace Christine Dawson, who will now act as operations manager.)

VV: Tell me about the new general manager. What is his background?

NN: His family was involved in the bar and restaurant business ... He’s been in management at other bars in St. Louis. He’s been a bartender since he was 21.

VV: What do you hope he’ll do for Novak’s?

NN: He’s just a really, really nice guy, and I hope for him to ... when I’m not here to be me. He’s nice to the guys and the girls.

(Novak disclosed that she is currently negotiating the lease on a property that will eventually house her next establishment, a yet unnamed “girl bar.” The property is close to Novak’s.)

VV: What will the new bar feature?

NN: It will have an older feel. We’re really young down here, and the older lesbians haven’t been coming out. I’d like to see them come back out. [I’d like to] bring back the older bartenders that used to work for me, and [have] the music not be so loud. And a little bit of 70s and 80s music.

VV: Is there a tentative opening date for the new location?

NN: No, but we have started getting signatures for the liquor license, and that usually takes six to eight weeks. So, I’ve put a date down in my head of July 31.

VV: You’re pretty successful here. Do you think having a bar expressly for women will be profitable?

NN: Very much so. It’s going to get those people out that haven’t been coming out because it is so big here and it is so loud and young. There’s something different about being around all women. The old Novak’s – we always welcomed men, women, straight and gay there, too – but the majority of the staff was female. It stayed on the lesbian side, but then we came here and our staff is almost about half and half now. That encourages the men to feel welcome here, and men are going to be welcome at the lesbian bar. They call this place a lesbian bar, only because there’s a lesbian owner.

Finally, Novak addressed concerns about comments she made the last time she spoke to the VOICE that suggested men were not welcome at the bar.

NN: When I heard there were some rumors, I immediately sent an e-mail out saying that I have always welcomed both, and any guy that knows me knows they’re welcome here. Whoever was passing that rumor was definitely either jealous or a competitor or was mad or something because the guys know that I want them here.

You can e-mail Chris at c.boning@gmail.com.