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Inspiring Conversations with Sarah Kim of Our Bar ATL

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Kim.

Hi Sarah, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My story can be summed up as a long series of decisions that probably weren’t the best, usually not the worst and most importantly, felt most right to me at the time.

I started off bartending in strip clubs around Atlanta, as one does. Around the same time, I worked as an executive assistant for a wig store. A few years later when I fell in love with poker, especially the art of the bluff, I took a hiatus to Las Vegas for a year. Playing poker and living life felt so similar to me in a lot of ways, and the game just resonated with me.

Homesick and missing the familiarity of Atlanta, I came back to launch a social commerce start-up, of all things, with some partners – only to fail at it a few short years later. It was the first time failing at something so publicly, and it clearly didn’t break my way, forcing me to grow up and face some hard realizations about myself.

I then found myself deep in the entertainment industry as an artist tour manager and music video producer, which is how a lot of my now friends and acquaintances came to know me. Since we all started working in bars over a decade ago, my friends and I have always wanted to open up one of our own and when the opportunity came up in 2019, we didn’t hesitate.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I don’t think my life has ever been a smooth one. Most of the people I know would probably say the same. However, I realized after a long time that I’m most comfortable as a “beginner,” even though I’m not the fastest learner by any means. I perform best when I’m in the state of just starting, learning what works and figuring shit out. I think I would be bored and my talents wasted on a smooth road, not when I have so much faith in my ability to adapt, pivot and overcome.

I got to where I am today because I love the prep process. I look forward to getting home with pen and paper to jot down my thinking, document my ideas, and make a hit list just to cross off my completed tasks. Sometimes, I write those already completed ones down just to pursue the rest with a feeling of accomplishment. To me, progress is progress, no matter how small. Sometimes progress is in your efforts, not your results – and that effort will never betray you.

These days, some of the biggest struggles have been remembering our fallen friends, both from long ago and more recently during the pandemic. For our grand opening two years ago, we worked really hard to make them proud, putting up murals, pictures, artwork, and memorabilia so that we’re close to them every day and to let them know they’re not forgotten.

Unfortunately, suicides and drug overdoses are far too common in our circles. As human beings, I think we can all agree that the only thing we never get enough of is love and the only thing we never give enough of is love.

Although time continues to pass, the holidays and birthdays haven’t gotten easier. I assumed they would but each time, I wish harder than ever that they were here with us. To our friends and family battling depression, please talk to someone, talk to us, and seek help as soon as you can because you are needed here.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Our Bar ATL?
Our Bar ATL is hard to explain. People often describe us as a community center or a safe space, and we can’t help but agree. I personally take the most pride in this identity – what we are known for and “specialize” in.

We’re messy, passionate, empathetic and chaotic. It can be frustrating sometimes, but I sincerely hope that we never lose this uncomfortable vulnerability and tenderness. We’re not perfect, we’re sometimes not even okay, but we’re trying to be at ease with who we are and who we’re trying to be. It’s a journey for each of us at our bar, and everyone who visits sort of gets taken along for the ride.

Of what success we’ve had in our neighborhood, most of it can be attributed to the fact that our regulars are people just like us and they understand, appreciate and relate to the reality that none of us know what we’re really doing. It’s all intuition and “as fuck” is our favorite unit of measurement.

If you’re new to our bar or even to Atlanta, you only need to know one thing: just come as you are.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
I’ve spent the vast majority of my adult life as an assistant to others, and it was embarrassing a lot of times to take orders from everyone above me. As a result, I learned to move with urgency and pay attention to all of the little details so that I can do the big things. Nobody likes being told what to do so just do it before they ask you.

As a social commerce start-up founder and failure, I learned too late what it means to cling to a mistake just because you spent a lot of time making it. Don’t make that same mistake.

Straight from the hard-earned experience of a former poker player: sure, you can trust whomever – but still cut the cards.

Just from living life and taking the hits that come with it, I’ll tell you right now that honesty is an expensive gift. Don’t expect it from cheap people.

Lastly, the most important decision you can make every day is to be in a good mood.

Pricing:

  • In-House Kitchen: $8-$15
  • Chef Pop-Ups: $8-$25
  • Full Bar: $5-$20
  • Cocktails: $9-$16
  • Water, Good Vibes & Great People: Free

Contact Info:


Image Credits
Matt Watkins; Javonte Ward

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