Karie Brooks, owner of Shaken Not Spurred. (Photos courtesy of Shaken Not Spurred)
The trend of new mobile bars popping up in the Richmond region continues, with a concept called Shaken Not Spurred preparing to launch early next month.
Central to the venture is a two-horse trailer that’s been modified with a serving window to dish out alcoholic beverages at weddings, neighborhood parties, corporate events, bridal showers and other events.
Owner Karie Brooks described Shaken Not Spurred as a “newstalgia” concept, one that follows the recent interior design trend of mixing old and new design elements and furniture.
“It’s blending modern pieces in with old, vintage pieces,” she said.
Shaken Not Spurred is a mobile bar concept that plans to offer a converted horse trailer and other mobile bar setups for events.
While the converted horse trailer is the company’s flagship, Shaken Not Spurred also plans to offer several pop-up bars with seating – including one with a modern theme, one with a 1970s theme and one with a cigar and whiskey lounge setup.
Shaken Not Spurred plans to serve both custom and traditional cocktails, as well as beer and wine. Additionally, the company will offer mocktails and lemonades to provide non-alcoholic options.
The concept won’t serve food, and in order to stay in line with ABC regulations will require its customers to provide the alcohol to be served by the company and get the ABC license needed for the event.
Rentals of the converted horse trailer with bartending services start at about $1,500. Customers interested in strictly the bartending services and not the use of the trailer or a popup bar can expect to pay at least $900.
Shaken Not Spurred plans to operate within a two-hour drive of the company’s home base in Hanover. Brooks said that any trips longer than 40 miles will incur a fee of $1.50 per additional mile.
Brooks said she did a large portion of the work of modifying the trailer herself. She handled the design and woodworking in the trailer, and used contracted help for electrical work and plumbing. She estimated she’s spent more than $30,000, which includes the purchase of the trailer and other expenses, to launch the company.
“It’s all built by me so it’s really special to me and it’s something I want to share with other people,” she said.
Shaken Not Spurred plans to offer several pop-up bars with seating in addition to a modified horse trailer that serves as a mobile bar.
Brooks is pulling from several different experiences to launch what will be her first food-and-beverage concept. Brooks is a marketer and owns her own marketing firm. She is also a freelance graphic designer, and has in the past worked as a bartender, brand ambassador and waitress.
“I’ve always been in that realm and I really enjoy putting a smile on other peoples’ faces,” Brooks said.
The company’s name is inspired by horseback riding, though Brooks herself isn’t a rider. She said the structure of the horse trailer lends itself to her vision and she was inspired by the equestrian center that’s near her Hanover home.
“I like the look of them and I love animals,” she said. “I see horses out my window in the morning and I know them and I’m friends with them.”
Mazn Studio handled the Shaken Not Spurred’s marketing and branding.
As it plans to officially begin operations on March 1, Shaken Not Spurred will join other mobile bar concepts that have launched in the Richmond region in recent months.
Aces High Bar Services, which offers a mobile cocktail bar setup in addition to bartending services, relaunched late last year, following the arrival of PlayRVA’s firetruck-bound bar and expansion of Sea Suite Cruises’ local operations to include a tiki-themed river cruise earlier in 2023.
Karie Brooks, owner of Shaken Not Spurred. (Photos courtesy of Shaken Not Spurred)
The trend of new mobile bars popping up in the Richmond region continues, with a concept called Shaken Not Spurred preparing to launch early next month.
Central to the venture is a two-horse trailer that’s been modified with a serving window to dish out alcoholic beverages at weddings, neighborhood parties, corporate events, bridal showers and other events.
Owner Karie Brooks described Shaken Not Spurred as a “newstalgia” concept, one that follows the recent interior design trend of mixing old and new design elements and furniture.
“It’s blending modern pieces in with old, vintage pieces,” she said.
Shaken Not Spurred is a mobile bar concept that plans to offer a converted horse trailer and other mobile bar setups for events.
While the converted horse trailer is the company’s flagship, Shaken Not Spurred also plans to offer several pop-up bars with seating – including one with a modern theme, one with a 1970s theme and one with a cigar and whiskey lounge setup.
Shaken Not Spurred plans to serve both custom and traditional cocktails, as well as beer and wine. Additionally, the company will offer mocktails and lemonades to provide non-alcoholic options.
The concept won’t serve food, and in order to stay in line with ABC regulations will require its customers to provide the alcohol to be served by the company and get the ABC license needed for the event.
Rentals of the converted horse trailer with bartending services start at about $1,500. Customers interested in strictly the bartending services and not the use of the trailer or a popup bar can expect to pay at least $900.
Shaken Not Spurred plans to operate within a two-hour drive of the company’s home base in Hanover. Brooks said that any trips longer than 40 miles will incur a fee of $1.50 per additional mile.
Brooks said she did a large portion of the work of modifying the trailer herself. She handled the design and woodworking in the trailer, and used contracted help for electrical work and plumbing. She estimated she’s spent more than $30,000, which includes the purchase of the trailer and other expenses, to launch the company.
“It’s all built by me so it’s really special to me and it’s something I want to share with other people,” she said.
Shaken Not Spurred plans to offer several pop-up bars with seating in addition to a modified horse trailer that serves as a mobile bar.
Brooks is pulling from several different experiences to launch what will be her first food-and-beverage concept. Brooks is a marketer and owns her own marketing firm. She is also a freelance graphic designer, and has in the past worked as a bartender, brand ambassador and waitress.
“I’ve always been in that realm and I really enjoy putting a smile on other peoples’ faces,” Brooks said.
The company’s name is inspired by horseback riding, though Brooks herself isn’t a rider. She said the structure of the horse trailer lends itself to her vision and she was inspired by the equestrian center that’s near her Hanover home.
“I like the look of them and I love animals,” she said. “I see horses out my window in the morning and I know them and I’m friends with them.”
Mazn Studio handled the Shaken Not Spurred’s marketing and branding.
As it plans to officially begin operations on March 1, Shaken Not Spurred will join other mobile bar concepts that have launched in the Richmond region in recent months.
Aces High Bar Services, which offers a mobile cocktail bar setup in addition to bartending services, relaunched late last year, following the arrival of PlayRVA’s firetruck-bound bar and expansion of Sea Suite Cruises’ local operations to include a tiki-themed river cruise earlier in 2023.
Years ago the Rodeo Bar in NYC had an actual horse trailer, the long kind that carries lots of horses, as it’s bar inside the building. It was on the side of the restaurant that featured live music and encouraged peanut shells on the floor. It was a total hit!
We lived a block from the Rodeo in the late 80s. The food side was Rodeo Eats, the bar side was Rodeo Drinks. Soozie Tyrell and the Banshees of Blue was one of the regular acts. Soozie now plays in Springsteen’s band. Good times.
This is just wonderful! I knew this particular trailer in its previous life, and the woman who formerly owned it would have been delighted to see it being used this way.