Meet Courtney Stroud | Bar Owner & Mixologist

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

Hi Courtney, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Originally from Atlanta, in my career I have worked for myself as well as worked in corporateAmerica. I’ve always enjoyed the idea of being an entrepreneur, but mostly existed in the Quality Assurance/ Management roles in manufacturing. I met my wife 10 years ago and we started traveling and envisioning having our own business…a place where people could visit, relax, have good food and drinks and hear great music. The vision began to grow after a trip to Barcelona where I was inspired to match great tapas with cocktails and my wife’s favorite wines…a wine bar!! In dreaming and planning, we ran across a perfect old Victorian styled home that embodied the vision. We immediately began planning, purchased the house and started remodeling and decorating. Initially, there was a thought of having someone provide the services but it didn’t match the vision. I decided to sign up for a bartending course and fell in love with the idea of creating and crafting cocktails. My brain is wired for quality, precision and consistency and I get to exercise that while crafting cocktails. Since opening the business in April 2022, we’ve won Best Bar 2 years in a row as well as Small Business of the Year in 2023.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
The art of bartending!
I believe what sets me apart is my dedication to excellence. Crafting and creating cocktails takes patience. Developing new drinks, making my own syrups, perfecting the final product to be both aesthetically pleasing and delicious is a passion! I’m most proud of the fact that people will travel to have drinks in other places and return to tell me that they couldn’t find one as good as mine. It is such a compliment to know that people tell others to make sure they come and try my cocktails!
I’ve learned that it is all a process and consistency is the key. I know that it is important for a bartender to be able to consistently produce the same drink over and over again. The customer expects the same quality drink each time, whether it’s a slow night or a busy one.
I am always open to feedback and growing, so I welcome customer response.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m into mountain biking so I would suggest some of the beautiful and numerous trails of Coldwater Mountain Bike Trails. There are enough trails to double back to that location several times in a week. I would love to introduce them to some of the BEST coffee around from Southern Girl Coffee or Called Coffee. I enjoy their lattes whether it’s an Old Fashioned Latte at Southern Girl or a Honey Lavender at Called Coffee. For a relaxed evening, I would treat them to a cigar at The Ligero Leaf Cigar Lounge.
We would definitely make reservations for dinner at LuLu’s on Noble Street. Some of the best appetizers and entrees around. And of course, completing the evening(s) at The Lush Garden Wine Bar and Lounge.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would be remiss to not mention my wife, Cotina Stroud. She had a long time vision for having a wine bar and shared the dream with me. Her dedication to detail, customer service and people’s experience is unmatched! She is my biggest cheerleader in whatever ideas I have. We also want to give credit to the people who started the journey with us! A local business owner and bartender, Kristy Farmer, was instrumental in helping get us off the ground. We have had a faithful and consistent server/bartender, Paul Langley, who is like family. I can’t leave out my mother in law, Donetta Bryant, who has been the host for 2 years and has her own following LOL!. The support of friends, family and the community is unmatched.

Website: https://thelushgarden.net

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelushgardenwinebar/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelushgardenwinebar

Image Credits
ClearVision Photography Tina Goodman