We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sam Bail. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sam below.

Sam, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

I started Third Place Bar as a series of alcohol-free pop-up events in NYC in early 2023. I had the idea in 2022 when, after almost two years of covid, lockdowns, and sitting at home, I realized I was going out to bars in my neighborhood a lot, just to get out of the house and be around people again. I noticed I was drinking frequently, not necessarily because I wanted to drink, but because of course, that’s what you do at a bar! When I tried to find other spaces that were open late but didn’t revolve around drinking, I came up empty handed. Aside from a kava bar and a couple of late night coffee shops, my only options were bars! That’s when I decided to start my own alcohol-free bar, to provide a space to anyone who wanted the community of a neighborhood bar, but taking alcohol completely out of the equation. My mission is to normalize *not* drinking and make people feel comfortable socializing while sober. I believe that in a world where socializing is almost equivalent with consuming alcohol, a substance that can bring so much harm to people, it is important to provided more alcohol-free spaces and raising awareness of the *option* of mindful drinking and sobriety. I still run Third Place Bar as pop-up events instead of having a brick & mortar location as that allows me to reach different neighborhoods and communities.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Founded in late 2022, Third Place Bar is a dynamic series of alcohol-free pop-up events in New York City. Third Place Bar creates a welcoming space for people to socialize and connect without the pressure to drink—whether they’re abstaining for the night, taking a break, or embracing a longer alcohol-free journey. Since our launch, we’ve hosted numerous events from simple mixers to zero-proof cocktail classes, movie & mocktail nights, trivia, non-alcoholic wine tastings, restaurant pop-ups, and sober comedy shows.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

When I first started Third Place Bar, I was determined to open a brick & mortar location within 6-12 months of launching. But as I got deeper into the non-alcoholic beverage industry, the hospitality business, and the sober (curious) community, I realized that a permanent location might actually be limiting what I can provide to my audience. In the last couple of months I’ve pivoted from hosting my own events to collaborating with other event producers and communities to reach a much wider audience and open up a conversation about non-alcoholic drinks, sobriety, and mental health in other spaces.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I firmly believe that “the rising tide lifts all ships” – supporting others in the industry will benefit everyone. I try to support and give credit to other businesses, authentically connect with the people behind them and not just to “do business” with them, and share resources where possible. I’m excited and passionate about the industry as a whole, and we’re all working together to increase our visibility in the long run.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thirdplacebar.nyc
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/thirdplacebarnyc
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spbail/
• Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thirdplacebarnyc

Image Credits

1st photo:
CourTney Collins, NonLinear Knitting

All others by myself