Hidden Gems: Meet Jamie George of Like A Virgin Sober Bar

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Jamie George.

Hi Jamie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
In 2022, during my last year of college, I faced some major challenges regarding my health and well-being. I was drinking heavily and going out to Nashville bars to escape from reality. I was struggling with a mental illness (Bipolar Disorder) that was undiagnosed at the time, so my remedy was alcohol. I liked drinking because it was a way for me to cure my paranoia and racing thoughts. I was a binge drinker, and I didn’t see the point in only having two drinks, so I would always go overboard.

These habits eventually led me to get a DUI, which landed me in jail. I was lucky enough to get pulled over without hurting anyone. After getting the DUI, I felt lost. It made me want to drink more. Eventually, after a couple more incidents with alcohol, I was encouraged to stop drinking completely. Drinking was the center of my social circle, and without that, I didn’t know who I was or how to have fun. After eliminating alcohol, I found myself staying at home a lot, and it gave me time to be bored. Boredom allowed my mind to wander, and a friend and I bonded over our struggles with alcohol.

We eventually came up with a goofy idea of opening a mocktail bar where we could create a bar scene with cool music and fun social games without the booze. One day, we started talking about it again and then eventually decided that we were going to try it out because why not? We had nothing to lose. We decided to call it Like A Virgin Sober Bar, and after that, I created an Instagram account and announced our first 70s-themed sober bar event. We ended up gaining a lot of attention from the local community and sold out our first event within two weeks of announcing it.

After the first event, I started to get booked for baby showers, weddings, and other social events that wanted nonalcoholic drinks at their social gatherings. Now, I have been sober for over a year. Sobriety forces you to look deep within yourself and face the realities that you have accepted in your life, even if you don’t love it.

It challenges you to face your thoughts instead of running away from them. Although it can be hard, it’s forever worth it. If I had never stopped drinking, I would’ve never created the sober bar, and I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to inspire others with it.

We all face challenges, but would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road. The hardest struggle was facing myself, pushing through my own doubts and insecurities while entering the business world. Being 23 and starting a business can be intimidating, especially when working with others who have been doing it for years.

I had to continuously find ways to make myself uncomfortable so I could learn to push through and conquer the feeling. I entered a business competition in 2023 and presented in front of 15 investors which helped me to get over my fear of presenting. The more I challenged myself, the more confident I felt. Aside from the business, I struggled with finding new ways to socialize when I first stopped drinking. When you take drinking out of the picture, it creates an invisible divide between you and most other people your age.

Going out and drinking is so normalized, and when you don’t drink, it can be hard to find places to go where you can actually create more meaningful, deep connections. It felt lonely at times, and it can still feel that way, but I am reminded by my business that I have other ways to connect and create opportunities.

As you know, we’re big fans of Like A Virgin Sober Bar. What can you tell our readers who might not be as familiar with the brand?
A Virgin Sober Bar caters to individuals who want fun, non-alcoholic drinks at their special events. I create signature mocktails and bartend for weddings, baby showers, business meetings, and other events. I believe my creativity sets me apart from others in the mocktail world.

I love to create my own botanical syrups so that my drinks can have a natural element to them instead of using cheap syrups made with artificial flavorings. I am mostly known for my lavender lemon drop mocktails made with my all-natural lavender syrup.

I am most proud of the way my brand can connect with others and help them tell their stories. I love hearing about other people’s journeys and how they have changed their lives for the better.

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love Nashville’s creative scene. There is always a reason to go listen to live music or even stand-up comedy. Going to the East Room and picking a random show to see is always so fun and exciting. You never know what you’re going to get!

Surprisingly enough, I don’t like the drinking Broadway scene in Nashville or the pop-country music culture. I think they are both easy ways to entertain people, but it’s not my thrill.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://likeavirginnashville.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/likeavirginsoberbar?igsh=bTJubXoxamV4Yzlt&utm_source=qr