We had the good fortune of connecting with Breyuna Irby and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Breyuna, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
In 2016 the birth of Bar Queens began. Working at Twin Peaks in Augusta, GA as a bartender, I pretty much had an epiphany that I could cut out the middleman and I could learn how to create essentially an event planning/cocktail catering experience on my own.

I actually pitched the idea to my former bar manager, and then I thought of just going ahead and doing it myself. It has taken me years of frustration, loneliness, loss of relationships, and late nights to get to this point honestly speaking. But, I knew I could not stop, because it would eventually become greater than myself. I wrote down EVERYTHING that I wanted to accomplish, I promoted via social media, and pretty much word of mouth has been working to market Bar Queens.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Although there are several mobile bar companies around Atlanta, what really sets Bar Queens apart in our market is that we are a full-service bar staffing and catering company. Beyond providing beverages at events, we specialize in lavish bar setups and decor that match the host’s vision for their event, and we create a memorable experience with customized signature cocktails, liquor consulting, and thoroughly-trained bartenders that always provide a white glove experience for guests.

As a women-led cocktail catering company that specializes in high-end, large-scale events, we pride ourselves in creating a signature experience for our clients that reminds them of what warm hospitality is all about: personalized service that leaves a lasting impression with class, etiquette, taste, and poise.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’ll be completely transparent — I do not go out as much as I would like to. As a full-time mom and entrepreneur, my time is quite limited, however, I would definitely say a nice cocktail lounge and perhaps a spot with great scenic views of Atlanta would be absolutely incredible!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I definitely want to shout out my business partner, Ashley T. Pope! In 2021, I knew that I wanted to take Bar Queens to the next level to really make my mark on the industry, and I knew it was time to build a team. I rebranded Bar Queens and partnered with Ashley Pope, a Brand Strategist from Pope Creative, a local branding agency. Together, we’ve refined what Bar Queens will be known for in our industry and now we’re scaling at an incredible rate. Despite our growth, we’ve often faced many challenges such as managing a growing team of employees, tracking inventory, and even facing many peers who did not believe that two young black women in their 20’s could run a bar planning business with such large aspirations as influencing an entire industry.

What keeps us focused is our motivation to become an authority in the hospitality industry and to show other women who look like us what they can be capable of when you remain prepared to welcome new opportunities in business.

Website: www.barqueensatl.com

Instagram: barqueensatl

Facebook: barqueensatl

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