Katya actually came to Nebraska with a passion for STEM and an intent to study chemical engineering, but the major proved to be incompatible with the grind of basketball’s extended calendar. She switched to communications, and in addition to working as a television anchor, as a model, and in restaurants and event planning, she’s put her communications degree to work as something of a social media influencer. All of that experience, plus the Suhs’ passion for social justice and racial equity, comes together in Kaya. Kaya means “dope” in Jamaican, and that is what the bar — and its cocktails — are meant to be as well. Manager Kyle Sanders, formerly of Multnomah Whiskey Library, originally consulted with Katya on her “Kicks & Cocktails” content; Micah Camden, whose MMMco. company is a consultant for the bar in addition to its involvement with the other Alberta Alley restaurants, originally introduced them. Katya already had lots of her own restaurant experience in the front-of-house trenches, and her keen presence on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube is also no small thing in today’s restaurant world. Ndamukong has also been reluctantly but gamely dragged into the social media world of his more gregarious wife, for memes and reels and peeks into their life. “I’m a little bit more energetic and a little bit more talkative — just a little,” Katya says with a chuckle. But Ndamukong is becoming less shy, and his analytical mindset — whether about construction, business or football — also makes him a broadcasting natural. He had an audition with NBC last summer that, according to The Athletic, had insiders raving, and spent the first portion of this season doing commentary for Sky Sports in the United Kingdom when the NFL had games in London. While Ndamukong says he’s “blissfully uninvolved” in Kaya, of which Katya is the sole owner, he does co-own the building, and that — plus the fact that it is part of Alberta Alley’s larger whole — means it starts out with a more stable foundation than the average fledgling bar. As they describe it, Ndamukong has always been a source of advice for her, as she has been for him. “One of the most important things personally, for me, when I have people in my life is that they challenge me,” says Katya. “I don’t think that a good relationshop is one who always tells you ‘Yes.’” To her, the Suhs’ partnership — whether in business, family or philanthropy — is one where they can say to the other, “‘I understand your vision because I know you that well. But why don’t you look at something a little bit differently?’ It can broaden your perspective.” Kaya is meant to be fun and experiential but also high-end and cerebral — Sanders mentions the Chicago bar Aviary as an inspiration, with the promise of “Rube Goldberg-type cocktails: a little bit over- engineered and visually appealing.” In other words, something that’s great to drink but that also demands you take a photo and post it on social media. Naturally, that will include what had become Katya’s signature recipe online: an espresso martini made with tequila, espresso, chocolate and coffee Katya Suh in her new bar, Kaya. Behind her are portraits of Jay-Z, Biggie Smalls and Tupac Shakur by artist Jordan Barros. Katya shows off some custom Nike sneakers at right. 22
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTcxMjMwNg==