Today, we’d like to introduce you to Meg Paradise. Meg was introduced to us by the cofounders of élevé sparkling water, Tanya Major and Dianna Aguilar.
Meg, thank you so much for joining us today. We’d love for you to bring our readers up to speed – can you introduce yourself and share your story?
The idea behind Umbrella Dry Bar… It came to me in a lucid dream in Sept. 2021. I was reading “Quit like a woman: the radical choice to not drink in a culture obsessed w alcohol” – this was when I first started intentionally not drinking during specific events. Unless I’m flying for work (aka not with kids), my only reading time is just before bed, which I try to do for at least a few minutes each night. It sets the tone for where my subconscious takes me while dreaming! Anyway, the author was talking about how it would be nice to have more physical spaces that offered non-alcoholic options, and that maybe one day it would be mainstream. I guess that’s where I went in my dream that night and started imagining this beautiful new option, and in a half-asleep half-awake state started thinking of what to name it, and it just came to me. What keeps you dry (not drinking)? An umbrella (well, also a raincoat or rain boots, but that just didn’t make for a great name or aesthetic)! After the dream, I started thinking (obsessively?) about the possibilities of opening a dry bar, and what that would look like. I started researching business plan templates and how to go from a seed to something real. I filed the LLC the following month, and then continued to explore and craft, learn, iterate, dream some more, and continue to bring it to life while also surrendering to the plan for how exactly it happens. We have opened a satellite location – first – before the flagship downtown Raleigh location because of opportunities knocking and timing. The satellite location is called Umbrella in the Garden, and is located within a nursery – perfect for sunny daytime non-alcoholic drinking.
What led me to start?
Approx 6 years ago, I was pregnant with my first son. At the start, I felt like I was “missing out”/restricted by not being able to drink while pregnant because I was still attending all events, parties, neighborhood hangs, etc that involved alcohol. After a few months, I realized I wasn’t the one missing out – I was the one true living life, while also creating life, which is such a blessing! Between baby #1 and baby #2, I went on a pretty strong “health” kick, mostly because I became so enamored by the capabilities of our bodies! (I’ll spare you the soapbox here – but this was a pivotal shift for me, trusting myself and wanting to encourage women to find ways to be more in tune with what our bodies are telling us and not ignoring our intuition. We are capable of amazing things) At that time, I set a better foundation for myself health-wise, and didn’t drink much. After baby #2, more opening of eyes to life without alcohol, and a broadening of intuition and trust. I stumbled upon “quit like a woman”, and decided to start a personal experiment with no end goal or parameters besides not drinking at events or activities that I typically would. The first one was a work trip to Austin. I met my work friends (via bike) at a brewery but didn’t have a beer. We went to a few unique restaurants, and I didn’t sample the creative cocktails. It felt amazing – I was going to the gym before work, fueling my body, was so on point in meetings, still attending dinner functions, and getting great rest. That led to more experiments – no wine at book club, no champagne on NYE, etc… but instead, I found so many fun alternatives, and each day was feeling better, stronger, and clearer-headed (is that a word?). The thing missing was the SPACE to have social, adult interactions that also didn’t revolve around alcohol. A few restaurants and bars have started adding no/low alc sections to their menu, but the environmental pressure still exists to drink there. I’ve added other positive aspects to my routine that prepares me for these events, and it no longer is even a second thought. I don’t feel like I’m missing anything – and that’s exactly my goal for opening Umbrella. There is no lack or missing out – it’s BETTER than a night of drinking, in every single way.
Please tell us more about your brand, Umbrella Dry Bar
We are a strictly non-alcoholic full-service bar and retail bottle shop, along with in-house and pop-up events. No matter where you’re at in your wellness journey, Umbrella exists to serve you. Because you deserve the non-triggering, comfortable space to be social while sober — whether for a short time or a long time. Nestled in a thriving, accessible section of downtown Raleigh is where you can experience the familiarity of a craft cocktail bar and retail bottle shop — without the alcohol. Our zero-proof menu, bottle shop, and event space welcomes you to sip + stay awhile. Together, we can mindfully consider our habits and rituals, expand our wellness journeys, and enjoy stronger connections and the vibrancy of life through clear(er) eyes. Our core values are: creating space to feel seen & respected From the minute you walk through Umbrella’s doors, you can breathe easy knowing this is a non-triggering space — no matter where you are on your health & wellness journey. Here, your choices are heard, seen, and respected because we know how deeply personal they are. We’ll drink to self-love, affirmations, presence, and creativity in abundance. inspiring a love for trying new things You were made to grow and experience new things. With Umbrella, you can expand your horizons through unique, novel, and exciting products and events in a single location. Our functional configuration allows for experiences to take place around self-growth and rising passions — all while serving up zero-proof beverages, of course. choosing conscious consumption & connection Mindful drinking is an umbrella term for a variety of non-linear, self-reflective, meditated choices. While our paths may differ for arriving at this point in our personal wellness journeys, we share the desire for restorative habits. Want to (re)awaken your mind & body to the vibrancy of life and socialize sober for deeper, more aligned relationships? We’re here for it all. What sets us apart from local restaurants and bars that have expanded their non-alcoholic options, where so much of the vital socialization aspect still centers around alcoholic drinks. We are… 1. purely non-alcoholic, warm, welcoming space – we make room for people to come together to fully experience being free from alcohol in socialization 2. intentionally crafted, transparent cocktail menu and curated retail bottle selection – we take time to pour up our offerings so consumers can feel confident and empowered to further their journey beyond the bar 3. thoughtfully apply a multi-dimensional wellness approach – from social wellness (designing an attractive space for people to come together) to physical wellness (presenting non-alcoholic offerings in combinations with yoga pop-ups, etc) and intellectual wellness (encouraging community members to learn more about the alcohol-free experience / journey)
élevé has been a great friend to us and I know you’ve got a great relationship as well. Maybe you can tell our audience a bit about élevé and your experience with them.
I discovered élevé on Instagram, and found where they were distributed. I was excited to taste the product after reading about it. Stunning packaging, super clean ingredients, and a functional aspect all intrigued me. When I tasted élevé, I knew we needed it in our non-alcoholic retail bottle shop. It has been a perfect fit for our customer base. We carry it at Umbrella in the Garden, and also take it to pop up events (where it sells itself!)
Website: https://umbrelladrybar.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umbrella_drybar/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/umbrella-dry-bar/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umbrelladrybar
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/umbrella-in-the-garden-raleigh
Image Credits
Michelle Brinn of The Vibrant NC
