Funny story…
2011: Having just opened the Detroit area’s first craft cocktail bar, we were getting an overwhelming positive response and our staff was kicking ass. I was devastated to learn that our kick-ass barback was leaving us; he was moving on to a really good opportunity in another city. It was the first time we’d lost a valuable staff member. I was happy and proud that he was able to secure a job with more responsibility in a very high quality place. We replaced him with a weird regular whose clothes fit too tight that randomly asked if we were hiring before we even had a chance to start looking around.
2012: The weird regular ends up being a really good barback and takes a lot of abuse from bartenders. Owner begins to realize that when he points out the weird regular’s mistakes they’re rarely made again.
2012: The bar suddenly and unexpectedly loses a core bartender and server. Shane (weird regular), unbeknownst to owner, has been studying menu, recipes, and techniques. He fills in seamlessly.
2013: He excels as a bartender and server, wins a contest, and subsequently will be flown to Las Vegas to compete nationally.
2013: Immediately following the Vegas trip, he will be flown to Madison, WI to guest bartend at an excellent craft cocktail bar there.
I am excited for Shane to meet the kick ass barback (who is now a kick ass bartender at an excellent craft cocktail bar in Madison, WI) that he replaced.
