Opening with the Business

As Park Bar’s first bartender, I had the opportunity to witness the growth of a small business firsthand. Alongside the freedom to design my own cocktail menu came challenges that pushed me to grow both professionally and personally. People often say, “don’t mix family with business,” but when your business operates in a 7x7-foot space, you don’t have much of a choice. It was about creating a tight-knit team that could navigate personal and professional challenges together—pseudo-professionalism wasn’t going to cut it. It meant curating a space that felt authentic, inclusive, and approachable for both customers and staff. and thie echno'd into their communication style, creating authenticty, and curating an eniroment where people weren't ariad to wind down, bring their family, or have some late night gossip after work. and spoke to people who want to engauge in the local community. rather than flashy ads and indepth cusuie descritions.

As Park Bar’s first bartender, I had the opportunity to witness the growth of a small business firsthand. Alongside the freedom to design my own cocktail menu came challenges that pushed me to grow both professionally and personally. People often say, “don’t mix family with business,” but when your business operates in a 7x7-foot space, there’s no avoiding it. It became about building a tight-knit team that could handle both personal and professional challenges together—pseudo-professionalism just wasn’t going to cut it. We had to curate a space that felt authentic, inclusive, and approachable—a place where people could unwind, bring their families, or share some late-night gossip after work. This sense of authenticity extended into every part of our communication style, speaking directly to the local community instead of relying on flashy ads or overly polished descriptions. It was about connection, not perfection.

As a brash young creative, I set out to be as expressive as possible in this role—but that came with its own challenges. The power of community soon became clear. One of Park Bar’s biggest strengths lay in Grace’s involvement with local schools and her volunteering efforts, which built trust and engagement with the neighborhood. It taught me that real, meaningful connections can outweigh flashy campaigns or short-lived gimmicks.

I also learned the importance of communicating what people already love. If someone talked about how much they enjoyed the lychee martini, I’d make sure to highlight it on social media. Posts like that sparked engagement, with customers commenting and sharing because it resonated with their experiences. That’s when I realized that effective communication isn’t about trying to be clever—it’s about being relevant and responsive.

Consistency was another key takeaway. To build trust and anticipation, I understood the value of having a content schedule. Giving people a reason to follow wasn’t about the frequency of posts—it was about making sure every post mattered.

At Park Bar, I curated a cocktail menu that reflected the tastes of our community while experimenting with bold, creative ideas. I got to know the neighborhood, adapted to our customers’ preferences, and grew alongside the business. My time there wasn’t just about making drinks—it was about learning the art of connection.

감사합니다 & ありがとう, Park Bar—thank you for the lessons and the memories.