By the time the band strikes its first note at Empire State of Mind, the intention is already clear.
This is not a club built on chaos or clout. It’s a grown-folks room — pressed shirts, measured pours, live jazz drifting through candlelight and conversation. A space where people come to sit down, listen, eat well, and be treated with care.
Behind it is Victor Allotey, a former NFL defensive tackle whose post-football journey has been defined by ownership, discipline, and vision. His Harlem-by-way-of-Brooklyn–themed supper club in Houston isn’t just nightlife nostalgia—it’s a deliberate return to an era when Black spaces centered elegance, community, and culture.
“Empire State Jazz Café has been open for about three and a half years,” Allotey said. “Before that, it was an event space for about three years. Then I rebranded, remodeled, and opened it as a New York–themed supper club.”
The club sits in a shopping center that Allotey has invested in for a decade. Long before Empire State of Mind came to life, he had already planted roots.
“I’ve been in this shopping center 10 years now,” he said. “I own Nyammings Fusion Bistro next door. I used to own a daycare here, too.”
From Brooklyn to the NFL…and beyond
Allotey’s path to entrepreneurship started long before professional football. Raised in Brooklyn, he learned early how to hustle — with purpose.
“I’ve been an entrepreneur since I was nine,” he said. “I started cutting hair at nine. Started DJing at nine. Threw my first party at 11. It just went on from there.”
That instinct never faded, even when he made it to the NFL, playing for the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs.
“Even when I was playing football, I owned places,” Allotey said.
Football gave him structure and discipline, but business gave him longevity. He understood early what many athletes learn too late: The league is temporary – ownership is not.
Reviving the Supper Club tradition
Empire State of Mind is intentionally different from the typical nightlife scene.
“We call ourselves the adult choice,” Allotey said. “Forty-five and up is our typical demographic. It’s just a good grown-folk time.”
There’s no smoking. No one is standing on couches. No reckless energy.
“People are respecting each other. Respecting each other’s mates,” he said. “World-class entertainment. World-class food. World-class cocktails.”
It’s a modern interpretation of the classic supper club — spaces that once served as cultural anchors in Black communities, where live music, conversation, and cuisine all mattered equally.
“I’ve owned jazz clubs. I’ve owned big hip-hop clubs,” Allotey said. “But as you get older, your taste changes. Well, my taste never changed. I just don’t want to deal with certain elements anymore.”
The New York influence is unmistakable and intentional.
“I’m from New York. I’m from Brooklyn,” he said.
Though he’s been in Houston for 16 years, the city’s pace and opportunity made it home.
“I moved here to get away from the cold and the hustle and bustle of New York,” Allotey said. “I said, ‘This is it.’”
Food as culture and connection
Next door to Empire State of Mind is Nyammings Fusion Bistro, where Caribbean, Creole, and soul food come together. The restaurant has developed a loyal following, with some customers traveling significant distances just to eat there.
That success led to a second Nyammings location in Richmond, but expansion hasn’t been without challenges.
“I was looking to open in Sugar Land,” Allotey said. “A landlord reached out with a beautiful space. But I can’t find any employees, so I had to put that on pause.”
He attributes the staffing challenges to the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“During COVID, people would ask, ‘How are you paying me, under the table?’ And I don’t do that,” he said. “They didn’t want to mess with their unemployment.”
For Allotey, integrity and sustainability matter more than fast growth, even when it means slowing down.
A space for real-life moments
The atmosphere Allotey envisioned is resonating beyond regular nightlife crowds. Families, celebrations, and milestones are increasingly finding a home there.
Raquelle Wooten, who recently celebrated her son’s birthday at Empire State Jazz Café, said the space delivered exactly what she was looking for.
“My son loves live music, so I gathered friends to come for Sunday brunch to enjoy the jazz artist,” Wooten said. “Not only was the music amazing, but the food is off the chain. Victor has created an atmosphere that will truly make this one of my favorite spots.”
That response is precisely what Allotey had hoped for — a space that feels both elevated and welcoming, intentional yet joyful.
Building an empire, not just a venue
Empire State of Mind and Nyammings Fusion Bistro are part of Allotey’s larger vision under the Empire State Group, which includes transportation, graphics, construction, restaurants, and event spaces.
This is not about chasing trends. It’s about Black ownership, community-centered spaces, and building something that lasts beyond one season or one spotlight.
When guests walk through the doors, Allotey wants them to feel the difference immediately.
“You’re going to be treated like royalty,” he said. “Free parking. You don’t have to worry about your vehicle. You’re going to have great food and a good time.”
Empire State of Mind is open Fridays and Saturdays from 7 p.m. to midnight, with Sunday jazz brunch and curated Supper Club Sundays featuring live musicians and special events.
Visit www.empirestatejazzcafe.com.
