Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Flores.
Hi Rachel, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Six and a half years ago, I was making a career change and had moved downtown. I had previously been traveling a lot for work and wasn’t sure what was next but was looking at hospitality. I love creating experiences and making connections with people.
While checking out my new local watering hole, I made friends with a gentleman that come to find out later was an investor for a new bar opening that month. He asked me if he could read me a job description and when he was finished reciting the need for movers, shakers, and innovators, he said, that’s you, I can tell.
Aside from a restaurant job I had one summer, I didn’t have much experience but landed the interview anyways. I got the job as a bar back. Starting all over in a new industry. I was just excited to be apart of it. The business was being opened by two women who were more than inspiring and wiling to take a chance on me.
Covid hit 6 months after we opened and over the last 6 years we have adapted and I continued to move up and learn as a bar back, then apprentice, then a bartender, and then in my current role as the General Manager. of Homemaker’s and Fifty Fifty Gin Club If you would have told me back then I would be sitting here aspiring to own my own bar and being apart of this amazing community in Over the Rhine, I’m not sure I would have believed it.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
As it turns out, there’s a much to learn about the cocktail and hospitality industry. Throw a pandemic and economic uncertainty in the mix and you learn to sniff out much m ore than a good tequila, So many business have been forced to close. We have fought every step of the way. We were bartending out of an airstream i a parking lot in the dead of summer during social distancing. Serving trays full of glasses to people in pop up igloos during snow storms, creating to go food and cocktail programs, all while staying true to what we were trying to create. If it weren’t for the challenges of the pandemic we wouldn’t have opened our speakeasy Fifty Fifty Gin Club.
As a bar in an urban setting, it is a constant opportunity to help change the stigma of OTR. We keep a strong social media presence and are constantly planning fun and creative events and hosting cocktail classes to draw people here and create a comfortable space for everyone.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a General Manager and craft cocktail bartender. I came from a creative background and love to cook so my cocktails as well as our menu as a bar is very culinary driven while also keeping up with and elevating current trends. Personally, aside from making you your new favorite cocktail , I have the gift of gab, the ability to make friends anywhere , and make the best puns. I think I only got the job initially because I signed my thank you latter with a coffee emoji and said “thanks a latte”. People love a bad joke.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
It’s important to have bars and restaurants of all kinds. An ecosystem if you will. So, I think it has been and always will be important to collaborate with each other. As far as big shifts, people are drinking less out and more at home. They are also drinking more non alcoholic beverages. In order to keep up with trajectory, it’s important to create the same experience for those not drinking , or drinking less. For those drinking more at home, to maintain a true experience and interaction that people can’t get at home or from a tik tok bartender is crucial.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.homemakersbar.com
- Instagram: @homemakersbar
