Hampton residents know them for their Mango Mangeux bistro, The Hampton event venue, two Simply Panache Place boutique hotels, the Simply Panache Nail Bar & Pedi Spa on Mallory street, and now their exclusive lounge, Noir — The “Simply Panache Group” is conquering Phoebus and growing their lifestyle brand one business at a time.
“We have a restaurant for people to partake in food and fellowship, a venue for people to celebrate their milestones, hotels where they can get away, and a spa where they can relax and rejuvenate,” said Lakesha Brown-Renfro, owner at Simply Panache Group. “This was just another element to that, adding an entertainment component to what we consider our lifestyle brand.”
Noir: A Simply Panache Lounge is something unique to Hampton as an exclusive and members-only social space that Brown-Renfro said she and her two partners built for the city.
“It’s really about all of us in Hampton coming together and having something exclusive, something that is Hampton’s own,” she said. “We don’t have anything like this but let’s make sure we do…the more we maintain in our city, the more people will want to come to our city and build businesses and experiences.”
Only clients who’ve paid for an annual Modern, Social, or High Society membership prior the lounge’s opening on Nov. 30 will be admitted that night with the goal is to attract professionals, intellectuals, and creatives who’ll network while immersing themselves in cultural experiences, Brown-Renfro said.
Nightlife at Noir will feature poetry, book signings, art exhibitions, and of course music with, The Fuzz Band, a fusion urban and rock act who was featured at President Barack Obama’s Inaugural Ball.
“Simply Panache,” Brown-Renfro said in French means style and flair but she and her partners, Tanecia Willis and Nzinga Teule-Hekima, create the vibe in their businesses without “being pretentious.”
The team grew from event planners who created their own gourmet mango preserve, Mango Mango, which sold out on QVC five times after their debut on ABC Network’s “Shark Tank” in 2013. Then Mango Mango hit the shelves at Whole Foods and other specialty grocery stores in the region.
“Since then, the revenue for ‘Mango Mango’ soared to over a million dollars in sales. With our earnings, we decided to invest in our community by bringing new and niche businesses to the city of Hampton,” they said on the restaurant’s website.
Simply Panache offers movies on the rooftop and Creole cooking classes at Mango Mangeaux, or unique experiences Brown-Renfro said is important to bring to the city.
Noir: A Simply Panache Lounge is at 221 East Mellen St. in Phoebus and opens with musical performances featuring The Fuzz Band and Grammy-nominated artist, Major, on Nov. 30 at 9 p.m.
For more information or to learn how to become a member, click here.
