Charleston Women-Winter 2020

www.CharlestonWomen.com | www.ReadCW.com | www.CharlestonBrides.com CW BY TANEKA REAVES A Bar Crawl to Success The Story of the Cocktail Bandits I t’s always fun to settle in with a glass in hand and tell the story of the Cocktail Bandits. We met many years ago at the College of Charleston, when we were both freshmen and excited about the future. We majored in political science at a school that was very homogeneous in both tradition and in thought, and we always felt we stood out as African American women. We developed a love for CofC and all that goes with college life – hanging out in different local joints, trying new food and, of course, dancing. Johnny and I were always aware that we were among a handful of African American women who frequented these establishments, and while we embraced it, we recognized the disparity. After we finished college, Johnny went to law school, where she studied intellectual property and trademark law, and I returned to the workforce. I had always worked in customer service, whether it was in restaurants or in retail, but never on the beverage side of hospitality. The first and only bar where I worked was in downtown Charleston on Market Street. The experience was life- changing and eye-opening. From there, I received several opportunities to bartend in high-volume bars around the North Charleston and West Ashley areas, and I continued to learn and grow in my trade. Johnny frequently visited me at any bar where I worked and sampled cocktail recipes that I created on the fly. She offered feedback, and when other customers saw her enjoying a cocktail not listed on the menu, they wanted to try it too. We both realized the complexities and possibilities of beverages in the craft cocktail industry, and we saw potential for careers that extended beyond the edge of the bar. Around this time, Johnny graduated law school and co-founded a business called “The Movers and Shakers Mix.” Created as a result of having difficulty finding work in the legal field and needing a forum to meet potential charleston women Johnny Caldwell stirring up an Everything Nice. Photo by Thomas Runion.