Davis and Bradley are holding down The Bureau Bar and Velvet Lounge in the South Loop. They’re entrepreneurs, too. Both started their own mobile bartending services, where you can hire competent bar staff for your next shindig.
Lisa Nicole is doing great things as lead mixologist at The Promontory in Hyde Park.
Doss is kicking ass as assistant bar director at The Aviary in the West Loop.
There are awesome people of color holding down the Black-owned bars at Vice District and M Lounge. The renaissance is here, guys. We have to support our own.
When I was coming into my own as a bartender in Chicago six years ago, I didn’t have a support system like this. I didn’t have a community of people cheering me on and wishing nothing but the best for me. I didn’t know about the USBG (United States Bartenders’ Guild) or how to get involved in cocktail competitions. My Chicago peers are pushing the boundaries of what people expect from Black bartenders. We’re more than Long Island Iced Teas and Blue Motherf*ckers. We’re masters of our craft.
By turning your attention to the greatness of Black bartenders in Chicago, you have less time to dwell on the people and places that don’t accept our skin color. Let’s, instead, revel in this blossoming Black bartenders renaissance. I would love to see people following their favorite bartenders like they follow DJs in Chicago. I would love to see people going to cocktail competitions to cheer on Black Chicago bartenders.
I love Chicago, and I want to see my bartenders win. Please appreciate and support them before they skip town, like I did.
Article Appeared @https://thetriibe.com/2017/06/forget-racist-bars-support-the-black-bartenders-renaissance/