The New Bar - Brianda Gonzalez

On today’s episode of Startup to Storefront, we’re joined by Brianda, founder of The New Bar. Growing up on Catalina Island, alcohol was a common part of social gatherings with friends and family—until a life-changing moment altered that for Brianda. When her father was nearly lost to a debilitating autoimmune disease, she sought new ways to foster the same close family connections—this time without alcohol. Brianda launched The New Bar in Venice Beach in the summer of 2022, creating a platform that connects people to nonalcoholic drinks and alternatives. Her mission? To prove that socializing doesn’t need to revolve around alcohol. By 2023, The New Bar became the official alcohol-free partner at Coachella, and in 2024, Brianda tripled her footprint with new locations in West Hollywood and San Francisco. She also expanded her partnership with Golden Voice to bring nonalcoholic drinks to Stagecoach. Featured in Forbes, Adweek, Thrillist, Eater, and The Guardian, Brianda is a trailblazer in the alcohol-free movement.    On this week’s episode, you’ll learn how Brianda turned a personal journey into a thriving business, leaving the tech industry to create a platform for non-alcoholic alternatives. She shares how she’s changing perceptions around non-alcoholic drinks by making them exciting and accessible, securing partnerships with major events like Coachella. You’ll also hear about the life-changing benefits of sober months and how Brianda expanded The New Bar into multiple locations while influencing the entertainment and hospitality industries.