The 10-year DJ career of Bartlett native Lernard Chambers helped shape the identity of his three-year-old restaurant called The Genre. 

“Pretty much we always used to be known as genre DJs, which meant we would be able to do a Caucasian wedding, a Latino wedding and still be able to make everybody happy,” Chambers said. 

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“So that's one thing that I kind of took and ran with, and I just was like, ‘I would like to create a restaurant that’s not just one genre, but multiple genres.’”

The bistro at 200 Poplar Ave. Suite 105 is one of 29 restaurants participating in the ninth annual Memphis Black Restaurant Week, which begins Sunday, March 17 and ends on Monday, March 24.

Established by local event strategist Cynthia Daniels, the promotion, during which restaurants offer an array of special menu deals, allows people to support local Black businesses.

“Memphis Black Restaurant Week was created to bring more awareness around minority-owned eateries and to give them more exposure,” Daniels said. 

And support has grown beyond Memphis throughout the event’s nine years.

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“It’s truly become like a family reunion,” Daniels said. “People take this week to plan meetups with old friends, co-workers and invite people from other cities to join them. It’s been amazing to see people travel from Little Rock; Jackson, Mississippi; and St. Louis to experience great food in our city over the years.”

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For the past two years, The Genre has become a staple during Memphis Black Restaurant Week. The nightclub vibe balances music, food and drinks for its customers — known as The Genre’s celebrities.

The Genre provides simple food with a gourmet flare, like grilled catfish, blackened salmon and marinated lamb, among other popular dishes.

With a dark atmosphere, a dance floor and vinyls adorning the walls, customers find themselves immersed in the music, which is important to founder Chambers. 

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Chambers said one of the most significant parts of Memphis Black Restaurant Week is bringing more attention to his bistro.

“There’s always somebody new that’s never tried our restaurant,” Chambers said. “So, I like the expansion of the market that we’re able to tap in.”

The promotion increases The Genre’s business by 25% to 30%, an important boost for the restaurant’s maintenance. 

“I like how they understand that the additional proceeds allow us to get through the wintertime,” Chambers said. “Also, different restaurants like to do upgrades for the summertime, so this helps us grow through the summer and be able to do our modern upgrades.”

With the Memphis Black Restaurant Week festivities underway, Daniels had one takeaway she hopes participants — and even fellow businesses — can get from the celebration.

“It’s important to support these restaurants year-round and not just during one week,” Daniels said. 

For a full list of participating restaurants, click here.