A lifelong Detroiter is making a name for herself in the growing sector of nonalcoholic drinks with plans to open a zero proof bottle shop and bar in Detroit’s Livernois and Six Mile corridor.
The concept came to Karlyta Williams after she found herself drinking more than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic, ultimately feeling socially disconnected and experiencing poorer physical health. To replace the unhealthy ritual, she began mixing nonalcoholic drinks for herself and sharing them with friends and family and it grew into a mobile nonalcoholic bar business.
In the coming weeks, Mockery Zero Proof is opening up a brick-and-mortar where Williams plans to sell nonalcoholic spirits, wines and beers and small bites as well as products like mocktail glassware, candles, incense and bathrobes.
Williams said she will craft mocktails at the small bar and sell nonalcoholic wine flights in the front corner of a building at 7400 W. McNichols.
The anticipated Nov. 30 opening comes amid a surge in interest in nonalcoholic drinks in Michigan, which according to a new study, is one of five states nationwide to add the most “mocktail,” “virgin,” and “zero-proof” items to menus over the last year. In Detroit, popular bars and restaurants like Keisling, Brix Wine, and Seva offer mocktails. The city is also home to Casamara Club, a canned zero alcohol beer line that distributes to nearly 70 Detroit locations, and approximately 300 others statewide. In Southwest Detroit, Rocky Coronado, owner of the vegan Mexican food truck Nepantla has also been working to turn what was formerly Charlie Clark’s Bar into a sober bar and taqueria.
Williams said she’s seen consistent demand with her mobile drink business over the last three years.
“I’ve done everything from baby showers to weddings to birthday parties, all that kind of stuff,” she said.
The interest, she said, is from people aiming to be more mindful of their health, wanting to drink less or because they want to be present in a different way but don’t want to miss out on the social experience and ritual of drinking.
“A lot of people who are super into their health and their bodies, this is an option for them and they still get that feeling of having a drink, but they’re not letting go of this thing that they’re really dedicated to,” she said.
The shop will operate out of the front corner of a large commercial building owned by Speramus Partners LLC, which is owned by Detroit developers Chase L. Cantrell and Jason Headen. A neighboring 7,000-square-foot space with an indoor balcony was going to host a taproom before plans fell through with the tenant, Cantrell said.
He said Mockery Zero Proof aligns with the needs of the neighborhood. While Cantrell was redeveloping the building and searching for tenants, he said some residents were concerned about the site hosting a bar when there were already several nearby liquor stores.
“‘Don’t you understand that there are people in our community that have problems with alcoholism?’” he recalled one older resident asking him.
An overconcentration of liquor stores is a concern across the city that residents have raised to City Council members. Detroit currently has 300 more liquor establishments than allowed under Michigan Liquor Control Commission laws based on population size.
Having the nonalcoholic hangout in the building will help balance that out, said Cantrell.
“Super excited for Karlyta. She’s energetic, she’s very knowledgeable about the space, she clearly knows her business and product,” he said. “This is a good balance where we are giving a nonalcoholic option for people –that’s important for the corridor and in response to what residents have told us.”
Cantrell is still looking for tenants for the adjacent 7,000-square-foot space and said that he’s hoping whoever takes it will forge a partnership with Williams.
The grand opening of Mockery Zero Proof is planned for Jan. 2 to coincide with “Dry January,” a public health campaign started in the UK in 2012, that has spread to the United States where people abstain from alcohol for the month. Alcohol use is one of the leading preventable causes of death in the United States where nearly 180,000 people die each year from excessive use, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. But even small amounts of alcohol is harmful, health experts say.
At Mockery Zero Proof, Williams said customers shouldn’t expect to feel like they are in a typical bar.
“I didn’t want anyone to walk into the space and in any way, shape or form, think that I was attempting to create this bar atmosphere. I’m not trying to remind you of what you’ve done,” said Williams. “I’m trying to offer you something different.”
Hours will be Wednesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sundays 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.