Blog Post Title One

My story begins with a difficult but life-changing decision I made this past February: to cut alcohol completely out of my life. Working in the restaurant industry, drinking was woven into the culture—it was normal between those walls. So normal that when I stopped, I noticed my invitations to events disappeared, because alcohol was always expected to be part of the gathering. It was a lonely realization.

When I moved to Columbus in 2023, I didn’t know a single soul. I’m someone who feels whole when I’m surrounded by people I love, so the first year and a half here was tough. I worried I’d never find that close-knit circle again. But before I started my sober journey, I stumbled into a community of the most creative, kind, and thoughtful people I’d ever met. They encouraged my choice to live alcohol-free, and for the first time in a long time, I felt like myself again.

Still, my biggest fear in quitting was losing my personality. I was the “fun drunk,” the life of the party. Without alcohol, I didn’t know how to show up. Add in anxiety and chronic fatigue, and I often avoided social events entirely. That’s when I discovered kava.

Kava helped me lower my anxiety and feel comfortable in social settings again. From there, I started exploring the world of holistic wellness, adding reishi to my routine for focus and mental clarity, and CBD for calm and recovery. These three natural nootropics—Kava, Reishi, and CBD—gave me what alcohol never could: balance, confidence, and connection.

That’s the foundation of SO Bar.

SO Bar is an alcohol-free mobile bar concept that serves handcrafted mocktails enhanced with natural nootropics. Kava promotes relaxation and connection, Reishi supports immunity and focus, and CBD provides calm and recovery—all without the effects of alcohol. Beyond the drinks themselves, everything we serve will be organic, non-GMO, and sustainably packaged.

But SO Bar is more than just drinks—it’s about community. After COVID, so many of us lost the art of gathering. We hide behind our screens, waiting for connection to happen. SO Bar is built to change that. My mission is to create spaces where people can come together, meet new friends, and feel included—without the pressure of alcohol.