Today we’d like to introduce you to Corrie Scully.
Hi Corrie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
MiddleBar began in the middle room of our shotgun-style apartment. We wanted to build the world’s best library bar in the comfort of our own home. So, we built a long narrow pub height table from beautiful redwood, which invited people to stand up, lean in, and engage. Back then, cooking and cocktailing were just a hobby. We’d go to the farmer’s markets, see what looked gorgeous, and take it home for all to enjoy!
MiddleBar was our space to gather with our loved ones, relax, and enjoy some precious moments on earth. It did not become a business for years. But at some point, we kept hearing “you guys should do this!” So we started saying YES to various opportunities that came our way. We catered and cocktail-catered events, and even got calls to host people at our home, at MiddleBar! It was hilarious to us.
Our friends had named it MiddleBar—to differentiate it from the bar we’d built in the front room. It was a joke at first. They named it a place on Facebook and began checking in there. We developed a speakeasy-style system wherein we’d leave a certain window open, so when friends came by, they could kaw kaw, and be let in, and served food and drink and our particular brand of hospitality.
Over the years, we evolved from a food lab and blog, into a catering and cocktail catering service, and then made our way into local farmers’ markets and foodie events. We’ve been voted and named BEST BLOODY MARY in both LA and New Orleans. We opened our commercial kitchen to the public for JAZZ BRUNCH on Sundays in Inglewood.
During the Pandemic, we pivoted away from the restaurant and began to sell our Award-Winning MiddleBar Mary in local shops throughout Los Angeles. We began with 3 shops at the beginning of the Pandemic, and now we are sooooo excited to be in over 300 stores in 10 States! But it all began as a way to GATHER with loved ones, RELAX, and ENJOY some precious time here on Earth.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart. There is a near-constant pace of “obstacles”. Most recently, of course, has been navigating through a global pandemic. I won’t bore you with the woes but sufficed to say we are extremely grateful to have come this far.
We know so many wonderful artisans and local businesses who have had to go under, and we are humbled and ecstatic to be bringing our AWARD WINNING MIDDLE BAR MARY to the ROCKY MOUNTAINS.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
We specialize in craft cocktailing & mocktails. Our multiple Award-Winning MiddleBar Mary has been voted Best Bloody Mary in both LA & NOLA. We set out to create the world’s BEST Bloody Mary experience. Something with that perfect blend of citrus and spice and depth.
Something for both the drinkers and the non-drinkers in our lives. Something that would help people gather with loved ones, relax, and enjoy some precious time here on earth. And we’ve done just that. Very PROUD of our MARY.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you.
Honestly, we feel very lucky, fortunate, and blessed in our lives and business. Like what are the odds we would ever get to do this? So, ya Luck definitely has a role. We also work really really hard and try to make good choices. So that has something to do with it too.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.middlebar.com
- Instagram: @middlebarla
- Facebook: facebook.com/middlebar
- Twitter: @middlebarla
