Nami, a new modern Korean steakhouse in Butchertown, is best known for being the latest concept by celebrity chef, author, and restaurateur Edward Lee. But when it comes to daily operations at the new eatery, there’s another name that’s absolutely worth knowing. Meet Stacie Stewart, the general manager of Nami, who helps curate the fabulous experience Louisville residents and visitors can expect!
Describe a typical day in your shoes.
When I get in, the first thing I do is check the reservations and make sure there’s nothing that needs to be attended to. I make sure no one has accidentally booked a two-top for eight people or has seats reserved in the karaoke lounge when they’re trying to have a romantic dinner. Then I create a floor plan and plan out the evening. After that, my job is handling accounts payable and human resources. I handle payroll, accounting, and bank deposits. I’m also the bar manager, so I make all the bar orders and do the inventory as well.
How did you get your start in the restaurant industry?
I worked at Wendy’s when I was 16, and then when I was 17, I got a job waiting tables at a Ponderosa. Waiting tables was always just what I did until I figured out what I wanted to be when I grew up. One day, it dawned on me that I was really good at what I was doing, and I thought I should cultivate it.
I remember in 2006, I was waiting tables at Proof on Main — and I was so bad at it. My coworkers called me “the gardener” because I was always in the weeds. Then one day, they had some bar shifts open, and they put me behind the bar on a Friday night. I didn’t know what to do. Thankfully, it was before the big craft cocktail movement, so it wasn’t the level of bartending we do now.
From there, I had a couple of bar gigs and landed a bar management role at Harvest. While I was there, I got connected with Edward through a friend who worked with him at his Old Louisville restaurant, 610 Magnolia. I started working for Edward in 2012, and we opened Milkwood in downtown Louisville. When that happened, I realized I’d made the right decision going into the restaurant industry.
What happened between opening Milkwood in 2012 and Nami in 2023?
I actually moved away in 2019, before the pandemic hit and Milkwood shut down. It was so sad; that restaurant was my baby. It was really heartbreaking to be far away and learn about its closing. But I moved back into town in May 2021 and acted as general manager for the reopening of Decca — and I stayed with them through the last year that they were open.
Now you’re at Nami. What’s your favorite part of your role there?
I love my staff. A lot of them came with me from Decca after that shutdown. I just love having such a tight-knit group. We all watch out for each other and work together as a team really well.
On the flip side, what’s the most challenging aspect?
There’s a lot more going on at Nami than at any other restaurant I’ve worked for. We have two levels of dining space, plus a karaoke lounge and a noodle shop. I have a bigger staff than I’ve ever had and more seating than I’ve ever worked with.
What do you like to do when you’re off the clock?
I don’t have a ton of free time, so I spend most of it sleeping and showering. But my partner and I live in Clifton, and we like going to brunch at Chik’n & Mi before spending the afternoon hanging out in our backyard with our dog. That’s really kind of my happy place — walking around our neighborhood along Frankfort Avenue.
Where else do you like to eat and shop around Louisville?
Eatz Vietnamese, for sure. We also love bar Vetti. And we hit up Osaka for sushi. I also really love hanging out at Mellwood Antiques & Interiors. It’s my favorite place to spend a couple of hours.
What advice would you give someone who is thinking about following a similar career path?
Whatever your passion is, make that your job. I got really passionate about cocktails when I was bartending, and I realized I could do that for a living. It became something that I could do well and feel good about. At the end of the day, I made money, and I was happy. So, follow your passion — but remember not to lose yourself in the identity of whatever path you choose.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
I [worked] at a high-end, fine-dining restaurant, and we were getting ready for our very first night of service. It was a highly anticipated occasion, and I think everybody was nervous. Our manager said, “Hey guys, we’re not curing cancer. We’re just feeding some people dinner.” That might sound a little harsh or seem insensitive, but the meaning behind it was simply that what we were doing was not a life-or-death situation. We were just there to serve people dinner. Yes, we were going to do our best and make some people really happy — but if everything wasn’t perfect, that was OK. It would all be fine in the end, and we were going to do our best to make people as happy as possible.
Aside from faith, family, and friends, what are three things you can’t live without?
Coffee, The Simpsons, and compression socks. My parents wouldn’t let me watch The Simpsons when I was a kid because they were afraid I would act like Bart Simpson. So, I never got into it as a child. But now, my boyfriend and I have Disney Plus just so we can watch it. We put it on every night before bed. And I just discovered compression socks a few months ago. When I’m working a 14-hour day, and the last nine of those hours are spent on my feet, having something to hug my calves is really great.
Be sure to say hi to Stacie if you see her making the rounds on your next night out at Nami!
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Meet more inspiring women from Louisville and across the South in our FACES archives!
