We had the good fortune of connecting with Sam Bail and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Sam, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I started running Third Place Bar because I wanted to create a space that wasn’t there yet in the form I was envisioning: A neighborhood bar with all the laid-back and communal atmosphere, just without it revolving around consuming alcohol. Since that didn’t exist I figured I should do it myself! I currently run pop-up events at other venues such as coffee shops and restaurants as I don’t have a brick&mortar location yet, but I’m hoping to find a permanent location eventually!
Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Third Place Bar is one of the few event companies and experiences in NYC that explicitly focuses on providing an alcohol-free space for those that choose not to consume alcohol, for whatever reason and duration. I’m proud of sticking to my principles in terms of the kinds of experiences and products I offer, and making sure everything is in line with my “personal brand”, which is informal, casual, and fun! I try to show to my audience how to enjoy activities such as trivia, movie nights, or cocktail classes without alcohol playing a role. This wasn’t and definitely isn’t easy – in a city like NYC there’s a lot going on, and allowing people to find Third Place and creating attractive yet accessible events is an ongoing challenge. But I enjoy what I do, and seeing people happy after mixing a non-alcoholic cocktail, or watching a buzzy room chat and have fun without any alcohol or substances always shows me that I’m doing the right thing.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Well, I don’t drink, so a lot of my activities revolve around food instead. In NYC, I would probably start by eating dumplings and getting some Portuguese egg tarts in Chinatown, that’s my favorite spot to wander around and eat. Alternatively, the food court in K-Town on 32nd Street is always a great place for food, and then maybe dip into one of the dessert places on the block. After that I would go and create some art at Happy Medium, an “art cafe” where you can pick artsy activities from a menu. I also just love sitting and people watching in Washington Square park or outside of MUD SPOT in the East Village. In the evening, I would grab dinner in the East Village and then head to Sing Sing on Avenue A for some sober karaoke – I LOVE karaoke!
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to give a shoutout to my friends and former coworkers who encouraged me to start Third Place Bar as a pop-up. I wasn’t sure how to approach starting a hospitality business from scratch, but their idea of hosting pop-ups at other venues lowered the barrier significantly.
Website: www.thirdplacebar.nyc
Instagram: @thirdplacebarnyc