Finally, after months of navigating the Arkansas Health Department, the Dreamland Lounge got its on-site inspection and permit. With that permit I was able to pick up my already-approved ABC liquor license and open our doors for business.
Which I did this week, on Thursday, September 24th.
Currently, we have no kitchen (that’s phase 2), so our Lounge’s drink menu is extensive. We offer lots of complex, carefully crafted cocktails with the freshest ingredients and no high fructose corn syrup on site.
The bartenders, which are mostly me and my metal sculptor friend Jeff, are novices. We are still learning all the different kinds of drinks: Negroni, Manhattan, French 75 and 95, Gimlet, Lemon Drop, Amaretto Sour, Aperol and Hugo Spritz, and Martinis of every ilk, etc. The list of hand-crafted drinks we offer is long.
With that said, my graphic designer fortunately made Jeff and me a recipe book worthy of a Barnes and Noble offering. (Being a forever forward-thinking entrepreneur, I may one day bind our little recipe book and sell them in the Lounge.)
I promise
Our opening night was just the right amount of busy. Jeff and I had time to read recipes and consult each other on the best ways to make the best drink.
At 8:30 with our early patrons heading home for the evening, Jeff and I found ourselves alone. So, I erroneously said, “I guess we will close. Bring in the sign” … Oops.
Shortly after that decision, people and cars started coming again for the last rush of the evening. But by now I have put everything up!
I met the latecomers on the sidewalk and apologized profusely. Promising them a drink for their forgiveness and vowing to never close early again.
Then I begged off with the truth: I’m still learning.
About the Author
Kerry McCoy founded FlagandBanner.com in 1975 with just $400 and a dream, building it from door-to-door flag sales into a multi-million dollar enterprise. With over five decades in the American flag and banner business, her insights into patriotic trends and flag sales patterns come from serving customers nationwide during times of celebration, crisis, and everything in between.
Kerry is also the host of Up in Your Business with Kerry McCoy radio show and continues expanding her business empire through Kerry McCoy Enterprises while sharing the entrepreneurial wisdom gained from decades of building the American dream.
