We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Vergie Arandid a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Vergie , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.
Tell us the story of how you came up with the idea for your business?
– I READ ABOUT A SIMILAR CONCEPT IN A SOUTHWEST AIRLINE MAGAZINE. THE STORY HIGHLIGHTED A SOBER BAR IN AUSTIN, TX CALLED SANS BAR. THE FOUNDER HELD POP UPS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND TWO IN DUPONT CIRCLE IN WASHINGTON, DC. IT RESONATED WITH ME BECAUSE AT THE TIME, I WAS LOOKING FOR SOBER SOCIAL GATHERINGS AND IT ALSO NEAR THE HOTEL PROPERTY I USED TO WORK AT. I THOUGHT THE CONCEPT WAS BOLD! I NOW BELIEVE THAT COMING ACROSS THAT ARTICLE WAS A NUDGE FROM THE UNIVERSE.
Paint the picture for us so we really understand the context, circumstances, the emotions etc. Walk us through how you knew this was a worthwhile endeavor – talk to us about the logic of why you felt this would work?
– I DECIDED TO GO SOBER BACK IN 2017 AND BESIDE ADAPTING TO A COMPLETELY NEW LIFESTYLE, I ALSO PLACE MYSELF IN UNCOMFORTABLE SITUATIONS BY GOING TO PLACES THAT STILL SERVES ALCOHOL. I STILL ENJOYED DINING WITH FRIENDS, GOING TO BARS AND LOUNGES, COMEDY CLUBS AND SOCIAL FUNCTIONS. EVEN THOUGH THERE’S A RISK OF ME GETTING TRIGGERED BY ALCOHOL, IT ALSO GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO FACE THE TRIGGERS HEAD ON. I ASSESSED EVERY SOCIAL SITUATIONS AND FOCUS ON THE SERVICE AND HOSPITALITY ASPECT WHENEVER I’M OUT. I STARTED TO CREATE MY OWN SOCIAL HACK AND EVENTUALLY BECAME MORE AND MORE COMFORTABLE AROUND PEOPLE DRINKING BOOZE. I TRUSTED THE VERY SAME THOUGHT PROCESS AND HOPED THAT THERE’S OTHERS LIKE ME WHEN I CREATED THE CONCEPT FOR BINGE.
Were you solving a problem that no one else was solving?
– I CERTAINLY DID. BEING THE ONLY BRICK AND MORTAR ALCOHOL FREE SPACE IN DC, I WAS ABLE TO EXPERIENCE AND DISCOVER SO MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE NEEDING A SPACE LIKE BINGE AND THAT IT ISN’T EXCLUSIVE TO PEOPLE IN RECOVERY. ITS CROSS CULTURAL!
Were you offering a unique approach or what about this idea got you most excited?
– BINGE IS NOT YOUR TYPICAL BAR. WE OFFER ELEVATED COCKTAILS THAT ARE LOW IN CALORIES AND SUGAR, VEGAN WINES, COFFEE AND TEA THAT IS OWNED BY A LOCAL DC FAMILY, CALLED BLUE’S COFFEE & TEA CO. WE HOST MONTHLY WELLNESS ACTIVATIONS, EVENTS & PRIVATE PARTIES!
MOST RECENTLY, I PARTNERED WITH A VEGAN CHEF FROM LOUISIANA, JENNY LAWRENCE AND WE NOW OFFER CREOLE AND CAJUN DISHES IN ADDITION TO OUR BITES. BESIDE FROM THIS, I HAVE A COLLECTION OF BEAUTIFUL ART PIECES DISPLAYED ALL OVER BINGE BY AN UP AND COMING ARTIST, JASWANT PAKKI! BINGE HAS THIS AMAZING PULSE OF ENERGY THAT IS FELT BY EVERYONE, UPON ENTRY. COME AS YOU ARE, IS OUR SLOGAN AND IT RESONATES BEAUTIFULLY TO EVERY PATRONS!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
MY NAME IS VERGIE MAGBANUA ARANDID, BUT I’M KNOWN TO MOST AS GIGI.
I GREW UP IN SAN PEDRO, LAGUNA PHILIPPINES AND MIGRATED TO AMERICA IN 2002. I ATTENDED A DC PUBLIC SCHOOL SHORTLY AFTER MOVING TO THE U.S. AND WORKED FOR A COMPANY NAMED, UP AGAINS THE WALL, WELL INTO MY TWENTIES. I SPENT A GREAT DEAL OF MY WORKING CAREER WITH A STRONG FOCUS IN RETAIL MANAGEMENT, CUSTOMER SERVICE, RECRUITMENT AND FASHION STYLING.
WHEN I GOT SOBER, MY LIFESTYLE SHIFTED AND SO DID MY CAREER PATH. I WORKED FOR A BEAUTY AND WELLNESS FRANCHISE COMPANY CALLED, WAXING THE CITY AND BLO BLOW DRY BAR. THIS IS ALSO MY FIRST EXPOSURE TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP, EVENT HOSTING AND SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT/MARKETING. IT FELT NATURAL. THE DAILY CHALLENGES SUITS ME AND I WAS VERY EAGER TO LEARN THE INS AND OUTS OF BOTH BUSINESSES. I BECAME ONE OF THE LOCATION’S TOP SALES PRODUCER AND DISPLAYED A STRONG WORK ETHIC WHILE MAINTAINING SOBRIETY.
IN YEAR 2018, I WAS RECRUITED BY A CLIENT AND JOINED THE HOTEL AND LODGING INDUSTRY. I WAS ABLE TO TAP INTO MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS AND TOOK BUSINESS COURSES THROUGH THE COMPANY’S PEARSON’S COLLEGE PROGRAM BASE IN TEXAS. THEN THE PANDEMIC HAPPENED AND I WAS THE SECOND EMPLOYEE TO GET FURLOUGHED IN MARCH OF 2020. A TRUE BLESSING IN DISGUISE! BECAUSE IN JUNE OF 2020, THE BASEMENT SPACE THAT NOW HOUSES BINGE BECAME AVAILABLE. I DREW MY FIRST VISION BOARD AND PROPOSED THE CONCEPT OF A NON-ALCOHOLIC BAR TO THE LANDLORD. A YEAR LATER AND BINGE BAR IS STILL BREAKING BARRIERS IN THE FOOD, BEVERAGE, NIGHTLIFE AND WELLNESS INDUSTRY. ITS A MANIFESTED REALITY AND A STRONG BELIEF SYSTEM THAT SHOWCASES MY OWN MANY TALENTS AS AN ENTREPRENEUR AND PROUDLY PROMOTES THAT ABSTAINING FROM ALCOHOL ISN’T THE END OF SOMEONE’S LIFE STORY. IT IS THE BEGINNING!
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
I credit my background in retail and customer service as the most effective strategy for growing BINGE Bar’s clientele. I also embody a “story telling, story selling”, approach. Since Binge Bar is a huge part of my personal story in all aspects of life, I’m able to relate to each of my guests in a very non-transactional way. Every interaction is as organic as they come and Binge Bar’s design and aesthetic is super intentional from the friendly staff, vibrant lounge chairs, moss wall…down to the very details in the bathroom’s tiles.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
In February of 2017, I stopped a filthy habit of cigarette smoking. That same year in June, I stopped consuming alcohol and brace myself to the unknown world of healing and sobriety. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind that it can be done. Because, much like my journey to opening Washington DC’s first fully non-alcoholic bar…getting outside of my comfort zone and diving deep into an industry a hardly knew took both guts and resilience.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @bingebardc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bingebar
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/binge-bar/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/binge-bar-washington-2
Image Credits
Most shots are taken by myself, my staff and friends. Professional Interior shots of Binge Bar – Myrben Benerayan Professional Profile shot of myself – Myrben Benerayan