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What part of running a kava bar feels most meaningful to you?
The most meaningful part of running a kava bar is offering an alternative for people to meet, create relationships and connect without alcohol. We have watched many friendships that have started here grow in incredible ways and have seen 3 different couples that have met here get married. We are a family, our regulars are an extension of us and we all have found a deep connection with each other. We have watched and experienced an enrichment in so many lives here, including our own.
How do you find balance between running a kava bar and your personal life?
We are very proud to say that our entire Staff has been with us since we opened in 2022 with the exception of Aaron who moved out of the area, therefore, we have a strong group of employees (Sean, Aubrie, Lang, Krista) and our Manager, Krystal who run this place as if it's their own so we can step back a little and have a fantastic work/life balance. When we opened in 2022 we found out a week before opening we were pregnant with our 3rd child, Benjamin. THose that have been coming here since the beginning have literally watched him grow. Two of our other bartenders, Sean and Aubrie also have little ones that are here often and our customers have watched them grow as well. We always end up at DTK several times a day, not because we HAVE to be, but because we want to be with our people. We take exceptional care of our Staff, we keep them happy and in turn they keep our customers happy, they feel that DTK is "theirs" too and this is key in a successful business.
What’s one thing you wish more people understood about kava culture?
I wish more people understood the health benefits of Kava. We do a lot of education here, without giving medical advice of course. I think people can sometimes feel like it's a "woo woo" kind of product and some people get apprehensive to try it, but once they do, most people are glad and start turning away from the things in their life that aren't serving them; like alcohol, etc.
What do you hope to see in the future of kava culture?
I hope to see more responsible Kava Bar owners, more people that care about the community, care about what they serve, and care about who they serve. With any industry there will be bad actors, and I hope that as a community we can continue to see the Owners that are responsible and mindful in what they are bringing to the community. WHen you open a business you are here to serve the community that supports you and that's the foundation of our business. Kava Bars are a very important addition to any community to provide a place of connection which people are nostalgic for in a "digital world" Kava Bars give you a place to slow down, connect meaningfully and have a place to truly experience what community is.
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