Chef The Block Bistro and Grill

By Terry L. Watson

Terry Anthony is the owner of The Block Bistro and Grill, based in Indianapolis, IN. Terry is a native of Louisville, KY. He attended Murray State University, the school where he received a college education and played basketball. He later moved to Indianapolis after being awarded a football scholarship and would soon settle for a corporate-America career.

In 2015, Terry exited corporate America and purchased his first Subway franchise in Indianapolis. He would eventually purchase several other Subway franchises, and everything was going great, and then the Covid 19 pandemic happened. Terry lost all but one store. From that ordeal, Terry endured the social unrest that occurred in Indianapolis due to the deaths of Brianna Taylor and George Floyd, among others. The unrest resulted in much of the downtown area of Indianapolis being destroyed. During that time, a downtown area property owner reached out to Terry and asked him if he would be interested in opening his business there. He was onboard and opened The Block Bistro in 2021 and hasn’t looked back since.

The Block Bistro is the first African-American-owned business in the heart of downtown Indianapolis. “In the fall of 2020, I started a business while no one was outside. I applied for my license online, rolled up my sleeves, tore down some walls, and now we have what the world experiences today,” he says.

Football was Terry’s first passion, not food. “I thought that football would be my ticket,” he says. He also says his mother instilled hard work into him at an early age, and those values helped to prepare him for what he is doing today.

His advice to those who may follow a path similar to his is to believe in yourself. You might not make it if you don’t believe in yourself enough to fight for what you want. There will be some hard days and some tough days, and you must want it more than you want to breathe. If you don’t have those values, you may not make it,” he says.

While there have been some good times along his journey, Terry says there have been some tough ones also. He shares how his marriage has been compromised, and he wishes that he would have invested more time spent with his family while building his business. “There have been some sacrifices I had to make to make this happen for everyone else. I wish I could have done some things differently.” www.theblickbistro.com h

Moving forward, Terry plans to open additional locations of the Block Bistro around the country. “I just want to do what God has called me to do, which is to serve everyone, regardless of who you are or where you come from,” he says.

Please visit their website to learn more about Terry Anthony and the Block Bistro.

May 08, 2023

The Greensboro Chapter and the Southeast Region are excited to serve as hosts for Las Amigas, Incorporated’s 62nd Annual National Conclave in the city of Greensboro, North Carolina. Greensboro is the residence of their 21st National President, Agatha Bouvìer Martin Grimes, and their Southeast Regional Director, Faye Stanley. The chapters in the Southeast Region are Cumberland, Fayetteville Elite, Greensboro, Lumberton Robeson County, Raeford, Raleigh Durham, Red Springs, St. Pauls/Bladen County, Whiteville, and Wilmington. This is the first time the National Conclave has been held in the city of Greensboro since 1991. We will not have an opportunity to showcase our city, Greensboro, for another 30-plus years. Sisters from the states of Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia will convene to manage the business of the organization. The Conclave will be held at the Embassy Suites located at 204 Centreport Drive from June 21 – June 25, 2023.

Las Amigas, Incorporated is a 501c3 organization of women founded by two educators, Mary Q. Moore and Dora R. Mason. The organization was founded on the principles of Sisterhood and Service. The Greensboro Chapter has been known in the city since 1967. The chapter continues to keep the legacy of the Co-Founders alive and address the organization’s five programmatic thrusts: Education, Economic Development, Health, Family, and Political Awareness, by providing numerous community service projects, including serving meals, providing tutoring, awarding scholarships, participating in COVID-19 vaccination programs and projects, voter registration drives, Comfort of Love blanket donations, supporting the annual MLK Breakfast and Lupus projects and programs, street cleaning in the Fisher Park Neighborhood, and supporting Hayes Taylor YMCA and Bennett College.

The public is cordially invited to join us at the following Conclave activities as we paint the town pink and orchid:

Thursday, June 22, 2023, Opening Town Hall Meeting from 6 pm to 9 pm at the International Civil Rights Museum (ICRM). It includes a museum tour, heavy hors d’oeuvres, music, and greetings by City Officials. The cost is $50.00.

Friday, June 23, 2023, Las Amigas Got Talent Show from 8 pm to 11 pm. The cost is $70, and it includes entertainment, music, a talent show, and dinner. Our distinguished panel of judges will be First Lady Debra Pierce, Ms. Shayla Thompson, and Ms. Tam Yelverton.

Saturday, June 24, 2023, Dora R. Mason Awards Luncheon from noon-3 pm. The cost is $75.00 and includes an awards luncheon, a stellar speaker, Bishop Valerie Melvin, recognition of Las Amigas Most Outstanding Chapter and Most Outstanding Member Awards, Humanitarian Award, and Community Service Award recipients. Our judges for the Most Outstanding Chapter and Most Outstanding Member Awards are Mrs. Beverly Cleveland, Dr. Michele Eley, Mrs. Bettye Jenkins, and Ms. Linda Wilson.

Saturday, June 24, 2023, Mary Q. Moore Orchid Gala from 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm. The cost is $125.00 for this formal affair which includes a live band, the naming of three Honorary Members, Honorable Congresswoman Alma Adams, North Carolina Senator Gladys Robinson, and the Honorable Judge Diane Surgeon.

Saturday, June 24, 2023, The After Party from 11 pm to 1:00 am. The cost is $50.00 and the attire for this affair is Sweat Suits and Sneakers and includes music, dancing, and games.

Co-chairs for Conclave 2023 are Felicia Andrews, LaSonya Holmes-Boulware, and Brenda James.

If you have any inquiries or if you would like to purchase tickets, you may contact LaSonya Holmes-Boulware, Greensboro Chapter President - (336-580-2306). h

Greensboro Chapter Members

AGATHA BOUVIER MARTIN GRIMES

LASONYA HOLMES-BOULWARE

TINA GRAHAM

JAMILLA UPCHURCH

ADRIENNE WOODS

DR. AISHA MILLER

LOLA ANNE MCADOO

RUTH GOLDSTON

BRENDA JAMES

FAYE P. STANLEY

FELICIA ANDREWS

BIANCA WOODS

RHONDA WILSON-HENRY

CHANDRA GREEN

EVELYN FARMER

JOANN W. WILLIAMS www.lasamigasincorporated.org

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