Today, we’d like to introduce you to Sarah O’Donnell.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Of course! I’m a mountain girl at heart, but was born and raised in the midwest. In 2012, I made my way out west to live near the mountains. I found my place in the rock climbing community, which has not only been a significant part of my professional career but has also taken me all over the world to climb.
One brisk morning just after the start of COVID-19, my partner, Tyler, asked me what I would do if I started a business “tomorrow”. The words strong drinks fell out of my mouth. (Great idea, Sarah – start a service-based business while the world shuts down). Tyler has been pivotal in not only encouraging me to chase the idea but also in bringing the Mecca vision to life. With over a decade in the climbing industry, where I honed my skills in event planning, operations management, and client experience, I merged my passion and expertise to create Mecca Bar Co., a boutique beverage catering business born in 2020.
Mecca is more than a beverage catering company – it’s an extension of our passion for hosting friends and family, as well as the values that we care deeply about. A few examples are Community and Sustainability.
-Community: Mecca means “a place of gathering” (originally coined from the holy city in Saudi Arabia). Mecca Bar Co. exists to facilitate connection beyond the “cheers”.
-Sustainability: We recycle glass and aluminum cans, even when venues don’t offer these recycling services. Additionally, using fresh ingredients helps us to cut down on packaging waste. We’re proud to be one of the few, if not only, bar services to bring fresh juice to events (and that’s a hill we’ll die on).
Let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
I would say that one of the biggest personal challenges has been imposter syndrome. Each time we level up or book an event that stretches us, imposter syndrome creeps in. I’m fortunate to have an incredible support system and talented team, so it usually doesn’t last too long. Perhaps it’s not such a bad thing, though (if it can keep us humble!).
One of our other challenges has been visibility. From Mecca’s inception, we’ve been committed to using fresh ingredients – particularly house-made syrups and fresh juices. Our pricing reflects all of these values, so it has taken time in the market to get in front of clients who share these values and see the difference in the experience Mecca provides.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us a bit more about your business.
Mecca Bar Co. is a boutique liquid catering company known for its beautiful hand-crafted bar rentals, garden-to-glass cocktails & mocktails, and mobile espresso. We’re known for our commitment to fresh ingredients and delighting guests with craft beverages they wouldn’t typically find at events. We call it laid-back luxury: an approachable, fun vibe mixed with craft beverages.
Blending our love for the outdoors with beverage experiences is something we truly love. We look to Mother Nature’s bounty when creating recipes and particularly enjoy using herbs and floral ingredients in our cocktails. While we specialize in cocktails, we also LOVE bringing our non-alcoholic creations to events.
We’re stoked to announce some new rentals that we’re adding to our fleet! Utah’s first and only ski gondola rentals will be ready to roll to events this summer. We have two available to rent: One is a beverage bar equipped for espresso and bar service. The other is a photo booth, kitted out with vintage ski props (yes, we’re stepping out of the beverage lane). These gondolas will be event centerpieces – a truly unique experience that Utah needs.
How do you define success?
Success looks different for everyone. Personally, success is defined by freedom. It’s not a certain amount of money in the bank or any sort of status. Success is the freedom to choose what to pour myself into each day.
As any entrepreneur will attest, there is always work to be done and something to do in the business, but it’s important to me that other aspects of my life don’t suffer because of the never-ending to-do list. It’s important to me to have the freedom to pour into aspects of life that truly matter: relationships, friendships, well-being, and fitness… the list goes on. I’m immensely grateful for the flexibility and freedom that in Mecca has allowed.
Success is also the satisfaction of standing behind something I’m truly proud of. These can be things in my personal life, like athletic achievements, or in the business, like landing a client that aligns with our values.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.meccabarco.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/meccabarco
