Collectors Gene Radio: Donna Lennard - Founder, Il Buco
Hosted by Cameron Ross Steiner
Release Date: February 5, 2025

Introduction

In this engaging episode of Collectors Gene Radio, host Cameron Ross Steiner delves deep into the inspiring journey of Donna Lennard, the visionary founder behind the iconic Il Buco family of restaurants and the lifestyle brand Il Bucovita. Donna shares her unique path from working in restaurants to establishing a revered antique shop, and eventually transforming that passion into a celebrated dining and design empire. This detailed conversation explores the intersections of collecting, culinary artistry, and community-building, offering listeners a comprehensive look into what it truly means to possess the "Collector's Gene."

The Origins of Il Buco

Donna Lennard’s journey began amidst personal turmoil. After the tragic loss of her fiancé to a brain aneurysm, Donna found solace working as a bartender at Arcor Restaurant in Tribeca, New York. It was here that she met Alberto Avalle, an eccentric Italian with grand ideas about collecting Americana to export to Europe. Alberto's passion for antiques, including items like old radios, tools, toboggans, tricycles, and American quilts, ignited Donna's interest in collecting.

“The spaces at El Buco, all the restaurants have, you know, a piece of that original space. I think there's nothing like the Bond street space because it's so… it was never intended to be a restaurant. So it has what Bob Guccione Jr. Said to me once. It's just slightly awkward, Donna, and that's what makes it so wonderful.”
— Donna Lennard [00:00]

Transition from Antique Shop to Restaurant

Donna’s transition from antiques to dining was organic. Initially, Il Buco started as an antique shop on Bond Street, filled with a curated collection of primitive American country items, including beautiful tables, dark woods, pine cabinets, and a vast array of 1940s and 1950s radios and quilts. The store also featured vignettes with items like a big potbelly stove, creating an immersive experience for visitors.

Realizing the potential for a more profitable venture, Donna and her team began serving afternoon lunches in the back of the store using a makeshift kitchen setup. This evolving setup impressed their landlords, leading to the establishment of a tapas bar within the antique shop. Over time, the antique business was phased out in favor of the burgeoning restaurant, blending culinary art with antique charm.

“We invited our landlords over for lunch one afternoon, and when they saw what we did with the space, they were pretty bowled away and agreed to everything and agreed to let us become a little tapas bar.”
— Donna Lennard [05:48]

Parallels Between Collecting Antiques and Sourcing Ingredients

Donna draws fascinating parallels between her love for collecting antiques and sourcing high-quality ingredients for Il Buco. Both endeavors prioritize authenticity, craftsmanship, and a deep connection to their origins. Whether selecting a handcrafted piece of furniture or the freshest farm-to-table ingredients, Donna emphasizes quality and the stories behind each item or ingredient.

“I think everything I do is very much about quality and really looking for, like, kind of the purity also down to earth ingredients. You want to get the best beet or the best piece of meat grown with love in an open field, you know…”
— Donna Lennard [12:42]

Preserving Ambiance and Charm in Il Buco

Maintaining the original charm of the antique shop was crucial for Donna as Il Buco evolved into a restaurant. She meticulously preserved elements like whimsical chandeliers, antique bottles, ceramic tables, and even old brick walls and joists from the original lumberyard. These features create a warm, inviting atmosphere that feels like a home rather than just a restaurant.

“There's nothing like the Bond street space because it's so… it was never intended to be a restaurant. So it has what Bob Guccione Jr. Said to me once. It's just slightly awkward, Donna, and that's what makes it so wonderful.”
— Donna Lennard [16:22]

Expansion into Vita: Lifestyle and Home Goods

Recognizing the synergy between Il Buco’s aesthetics and lifestyle, Donna expanded into Il Bucovita (Vita), a line dedicated to craftsmanship and cultural heritage in home goods. This expansion allowed Donna to bring the same level of artistry and authenticity from her restaurants into people's homes. The Vita collection features artisan-made ceramics, hand-blown glass, recycled glass artworks, linens, marble mortars, pestles, and carved wooden cutting boards—all echoing the same dedication to quality and cultural storytelling.

“With Vita, we're able to bring that into people's homes. So I think my desire right now is to follow that path.”
— Donna Lennard [27:27]

Balancing Changing Tastes with Consistency in Il Buco

Despite evolving tastes and expanding collections, Donna maintains a consistent brand identity across all Il Buco restaurants. Each establishment, while unique in its ambiance—ranging from industrial elements in Alimentary to modern touches in Al Mare—upholds the core values of quality ingredients and an Italian-Mediterranean sensibility. This balance ensures that patrons can expect a familiar yet fresh experience at any Il Buco location.

“Each of my restaurants has Il Buco in the name. And even if they may vary slightly in terms of some sort of tonality, there's a connection with the food and the ingredient-driven menu and the Italian Mediterranean sensibility.”
— Donna Lennard [19:19]

Personal Significance of Collections

Donna holds certain pieces in her collections with deep personal significance. One such item is the large pine table at the heart of the original Il Buco restaurant, which she considers the soul of the establishment. This table has been a silent witness to countless stories and memories, making it irreplaceable and cherished.

“The table in the middle of the restaurant, the big, long table, nine. It's been there since day one. It's a pine, beautiful, you know, ten foot table. That really was kind of the soul of the restaurant.”
— Donna Lennard [26:10]

Future Directions and Projects

Looking ahead, Donna is excited about expanding the Vita collection beyond Italy, exploring influences from Spanish ceramics and potentially integrating elements from Moroccan rugs. She envisions creating spaces where food and home goods coexist, offering customers a holistic lifestyle experience that embodies the warmth and craftsmanship synonymous with Il Buco.

“Maybe we'll bring in some beautiful antique Moroccan rugs or beautiful pieces from Spain. … Maybe there's a place that has the food element, like our little alimentary out east in the Vita store where you can see the two things live together.”
— Donna Lennard [27:27]

Collector's Dream Rounds

In the concluding segment, Donna shares her perspectives on collecting through a series of lighthearted questions:

• What's the one that got away?
  Donna humorously notes that nothing ever really gets away, as she always finds something new to pursue.

• Unobtainable Items:
  She dreams of acquiring exquisite Japanese chairs with leather-woven backs and pieces from the Noguchi Museum in Japan.

• Page One Rewrite:
  If money were no object, Donna would collect more art, reflecting her deep appreciation for artistic craftsmanship.

• Inspiration:
  Donna admires her friend John Darien and the late Marty Jacobs, whose Splendid Peasant in Massachusetts exemplified exceptional American folk art and primitive furniture collection.

• Hunt vs. Ownership:
  While Donna enjoys both the thrill of the hunt and the satisfaction of ownership, she has a slight preference for the latter, savoring the memories and stories each piece holds.

• Collector's Gene:
  Donna acknowledges her innate tendency towards collecting, even if she hadn't initially identified with the label. Her passion and dedication underscore her natural inclination to collect and curate.

“I guess I'd say it's kind of a soft, innate gene. … I don't necessarily think of myself as a collector. … But after chatting today, it's no doubt.”
— Donna Lennard [35:08]

Conclusion

Donna Lennard's story is a testament to the profound connections between collecting, culinary excellence, and creating communal spaces. Her ability to seamlessly integrate antique charm with modern dining experiences has not only redefined Il Buco but also inspired a lifestyle that values quality, authenticity, and cultural heritage. This episode of Collectors Gene Radio offers invaluable insights into the art of collecting and its powerful influence on business and community building.

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