Today we’d like to introduce you to Holly Shay.
Holly, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I am from the Western Suburbs of Chicago. My husband had been flying down weekly for the last 2 years for work to Jacksonville as his company bought another business and he was here to run it. I knew we would be eventually moving to Jacksonville. During COVID, when we were shut down, I decided that I did not want to do Marketing in a corporate environment anymore.
I wanted to own my own business. I had owned my own stationery shop for 6 years when my kids were little. I wanted to have the flexibility to form my own schedule and time. I have always kept a foot in the wedding/event industry and I had run across an article in one of the trade magazines about “The 26 cutest mobile bars”. It hit me then, this is what I wanted to do. I love the wedding/event industry and that every moment tends to be about a celebration in life.
I also thought it was a great way to get out and meet people and learn about Jacksonville since I would now be living there. I ended up contacting Get Cozy Bars and bought part of their franchise for Bubbles and Brews for the Jacksonville and surrounding area market. I started on September 20, 2021.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
COVID, COVID, COVID!!!! Ugh!!!
Lol, it actually has been a fairly smooth road. I got started later than expected due to COVID and supply issues for my truck coming over on a container from Italy. I also feel this industry really started taking off about 3 years ago, so not having strong relationships in Jacksonville yet, I have a limited number of personal contacts.
I have really just had to beat the pavement and get my information out there as best I can. With weddings, they tend to schedule most of their vendors a year out, so I am just starting to get booked in the late summer-fall of 2022 for weddings.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Originally from the streets of Italy, our Vintage Piaggio Ape was recently refurbished into our mobile bar Bubbles & Brews. We affectionately call her Blossom (Orange Blossom is Florida’s state flower) She offers seven taps that can serve a variety of beverages ranging from beer, Prosecco, wine, craft cocktails, cold brew coffee, Kombucha, and mocktails.
However, we are not just a tap truck. We can be a primary bar with full service as well. With our ability to pre-batch cocktails in kegs, it allows for efficiency, cutting the long lines of guests waiting for a traditional bartender to craft one cocktail at a time… we simply batch, ice, tap, and garnish!!
We pride ourselves on the experience you will have with our staff and bar. It also doubles as a photo booth, using the front of the cab of the truck! While we trailer our Piaggio Ape to our events, she does drive to her final destination at each party. Blossom can also fit into a lot of small spaces, such as freight elevators, double doors, courtyards, backyards, and more. The measurements are 10.5′ long, 5.5′ wide, and 6′ tall.
We are perfect for celebrating those big moments in life such as weddings, baby showers, birthdays, and private events. However, we are also perfect for businesses looking to have a client appreciation, promotional event, activation program, store opening, or anniversary! Our mobile bars can be custom branded adding that extra touch to make each event memorable.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I feel pretty lucky, I have worn many “hats” in my professional and personal life. I am blessed to have 5 amazing children and a wonderful husband who is so supportive of anything I do. I was able to stay at home when they were really young.
I then found myself the owner of a custom stationery shop, which allowed for the flexibility to still play a large role in my children’s school and extracurricular activities. Then when I was ready to get back into corporate marketing again, a great job seemed to just fall in my lap. The owner had come from a large family and had 5 children of his own, so he was very supportive of a great work/family balance.
Now with Get Cozy Bars and Bubbles and Brews Jax, I am part of a great group of people that are from all different backgrounds and careers. There are 26 other locations and the support system has been amazing in supporting me and getting me up and running in my market.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://getcozybars.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bubblesandbrewsjax/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bubblesandbrewsjax
Image Credits
@thebluffvenue, @dayeightstudios, @youvebeenpopped, @tuscanrosevineyards, @tuscanrosevineyards, @tuscanrosevineyards, and @sheexposure
