There is very little air in the club. Instead - an infusion of herring, vodka and overcooked sunflower oil. There is no air, but there is a toilet. One of the dirtiest in the city. Despite the dirt and oxygen deficiency, the O.G.I. club they began to take out-of-towners on excursions and call them “the cultural center of the city.” And all this is very strange.
According to the director of the United Humanitarian Publishing House, Dmitry Itskovich, the club was conceived as “a literary cabaret, where people drink and eat and at the same time listen to poetry.” The fact that the project is beginning to bring tangible profits, and the fact that Mitya Borisov, another director, begins to complain to Itskovich: “It’s a hard evening. Money is coming from all sides. Three thousand stuffed into pockets,” this is even more strange. It seems like no one has ever made money from literary cabarets.
Regulars of O.G.I. and "PR O.G.I." They are waiting in horror for October, when another O.G.I. will open, and everything will be completely confused, and they will move from one point to another, and will not know where their comrades are: in a new cafe, in an old club or in a club with a fireplace. The fact that a club operating in the format of a literary cabaret has grown into an intricate network is already very strange. The good thing about establishments like Stray Dog and Music Box is that they cannot be cloned. But that’s not even the strangest thing. The strangest thing is that this powerfully developing club and restaurant chain is led by Dmitry Itskovich, Dmitry Borisov and Nikolai Okhotin.
Itskovich. Of all three, he looks most like a business person. Older than his companions, wears a substantial beard, laughs very loudly and authoritatively. It was he who came up with the “United Humanitarian Publishing House” in 1997. Circulation: five hundred copies. Repertoire - books about the economics of the Stone Age and the dynamics of Russian verse. People involved in such projects are either businessmen for whom the Stone Age is a hobby, or mysterious creatures who are ready to tear anyone apart for the dynamics of Russian poetry. Itskovich doesn’t look like a businessman, to be honest. Borisov. In a minute of communication at the club, I managed to shake the ashes into my cognac, drink from someone else’s glass, understand what had happened, smile and wave my hand. In the evenings he is often drunk. A girl I knew from high society, when Borisov was mentioned, said: “Well, Mitya, I remember him when he was very young. He always came drunk and talked about the poet Novalis.”
Okhotin. Of all three, he looks the least like a business person. His companions call him Nikolka. What can I say?
How did you two meet? Itskovich drank vodka at the philologist Kotrelev’s house. Mitya arrived here. His face was broken. Well, off we go. Borisov came to visit the philologist Kotrelev. And there sat a very drunk Itskovich. I don’t remember how I met Nikolka. Okhotin and Mitya went to the same nursery. And Itskovich and I worked together at Journal.ru.
What is O.G.I.? Itskovich "O.G.I." this is “O.G.I.” Borisov "O.G.I." is the brand under which I and the people I love work. We have worked under it and will continue to work. Okhotin This is the business that I began to do when there was nothing else to do after the August crisis.
Who goes to your club? Itskovich Normal people walk. Borisov In "O.G.I." people from three to seventy-five years old walk, and all of them consciously. The financial range is from beggars to millionaires. In half the range everything is also quite wide. Okhotin Most are my friends.
What is the design concept? Itskovich Business people call this concept like this: “I invested a penny, I received a ruble.” In fact, the principle is the following: our worldview plus tough pragmatics. Borisov Complete lack of principles. Okhotin Yes, we thought about each chair here, why it looks the way it does and not another.
How many clubs are going to open? Itskovich One club is enough. He will be the last. Borisov Clubs, maybe a couple or three, but there are countless cafes and other public institutions. Okhotin There is no end.
Did you get rich thanks to O.G.I.? Itskovich No. Borisov I find it difficult to answer. Okhotin Yes.
What is the secret to the success of O.G.I.? Itskovich What, is there already success? Borisov Trade secret. Okhotin We agreed not to tell anyone about this. THE END