Today we’d like to introduce you to Lizz Dominguez.
Lizz, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Well, I am a Miami native-born and raised from a Colombian mom and a Cuban dad. My mom worked with Gulliver Preparatory School for over 40 years and was the creator of their architecture program. Prior to that, she was an architect for the City of Coral Gables. When I was young, my dad created Dominguez & Co., an advertising studio, before moving on to other ventures. Growing up in the 70’s and 80’s with parents that were so involved in the city and the arts, I was constantly exposed to Miami music, culture and art. My mom loved to travel and took me with her throughout parts of Europe, Asia and South America when I was only about 12 years old.
This helped to form my love and passion for music and the arts. My dad LOVED Miami nightlife and was constantly bringing me along on his adventures, even as a small child. It was with him that I traveled the streets, met the characters and hung out at the bars and restaurants of Old Coconut Grove and South Miami. Oftentimes, I was the only child in the place hanging out in spots such as the Taurus and Fox’s. I was always all ears in these places, listening to the crazy stories these artistic and eclectic adults had to tell when they forgot I was in the room. It was here and with him where I truly fell in love with music and Miami nightlife and knew that somehow it was always going to be a part of my life.
Fast forward to my early 20’s when I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. I went to college for about a year but would grow easily bored and frustrated, so I dropped out and got a job as a Beauty Advisor at the old Burdines. I realized that wasn’t for me either, so I jumped to being a Kindergarten Teacher Assistant at a local private school, hoping maybe to one day follow in my mother’s footsteps as a mentor and teacher. During one summer break at the school, a friend told me about a nightclub that was about to open up way out in West Kendall. An “alternative” nightclub they called it. Two floors with drinks, dancing, art, DJ’s and live music.
I decided to get a job there while the school was on summer break. I told myself I would return to work at the school in the Fall. I got a job as a Cocktail waitress and quickly became a bartender, the youngest in the bunch. That place was MARSBAR. Needless to say, I never went back to work at the school. I stayed at the bar and never looked back, much to the horror of family and friends! I tried other things here and there, like beauty school. I was also a personal trainer but I always went back. I had found my calling and home “behind the stick”.
Over the years, I stayed in the bar scene working at places such as Bar 609 on South Beach, Iguana Cantina and Martini Bar in my old childhood stomping grounds of The Grove. Chispa in Coral Gables and The Globe. It was in these places where I first experienced a taste of live music in my day to day life. In the years that followed, I moved on to work at some really incredible spots. The places that I am the most proud to have been a part of and that shaped me into the person I am today, also where I got the most exposure and grew the most appreciation for the live music scene, the artists and nightlife. It is in these places where I took the most inspiration. Places like Transit lounge, The Stage (which my current business partner also owned.) and of course, The Vagabond! I have to give some credit to the amount of time I spent at Tobacco Road, as well! While these places are all long gone, they have a VERY special place in my heart.
The memories and people I met in these spots, the friends, artists, bartenders and musicians, all of them have shaped and inspired me in some way. I have taken a little piece of all of them and have stayed in touch with so many over the years. Through those experiences, I became the person I am now. All these “stages” and steps brought me to where I am today. One day, when working at my last job, a little dive in Downtown Miami called Pub One, the opportunity presented itself. Through serendipity from one of my former coworkers, Ben and one of the owners of The Stage, Sasha to be a Co-Founder of their new project, a cocktail bar that they planned on opening in the heart of Little Havana. Bar Nancy!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
There have been more than a few challenges and growing pains that have come along with jumping from a career as a bartender to becoming an actual owner of a business. In the beginning, it was very easy to get discouraged and let the challenges kind of take over and consume me. I often felt anxious and depressed. One of the things I have learned AND am still learning is to embrace the challenge. To try and learn, grow and evolve on the daily. Which oftentimes can prove difficult in an industry fueled by alcohol.
One of our challenges as a bar itself was in finding our true identity. Were we just another cocktail bar? What did we have that set us apart from all the rest? What made us stand out? Our little Nautical themed bar certainly wasn’t what you would typically find in Little Havana. As the bar was struggling to find it’s identity, I too was trying to find what exactly my place was at the bar. Besides being a Cofounder, I needed a role and a JOB. Obviously, the most natural thing in the world for me would be to bartend. After all, I had been doing just that for 20+ years, so thats what I did, BUT it just didn’t feel right. Being behind the bar wasn’t the right fit anymore, so I struggled quite a bit to find my own place. It was going into the end of our first year that the bar and I started to find our true identities. The bar started to go more heavily in the direction of Live Music.
After all we did have a great stage for it. I used my love and passion for music, my mentors, influences, friends and connections from the past and slowly went from just booking bands once in a while to being the TALENT CURATOR for the bar. It also seemed to go hand in hand with my secondary role as SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER. This just felt natural. It made perfect sense. So as I found MY role, Bar Nancy also found hers as Cocktail Bar AND one of the premier places to go for Live Music and Entertainment in Miami.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Bar Nancy is a nautically themed American Craft Cocktail Bar located on Calle Ocho in Little Havana. A place where you can grab an expertly crafted cocktail or a bite to eat from our full menu provided by MONSIEUR POUTINE (The BEST place in South Florida to try authentic Canadian Poutine, I might add). Plus, many other delicious menu items that go above and beyond “bar bites”. It’s also a place to catch a night of great local live music or entertainment. It could be a famous Local Rock and Roll act, Reggae or Coverband. It could be Country or a DJ Set, a Burlesque or Drag Show. A night of Jazz, Freestyle, 80’s, Hip Hop or Electronic. We also have several “Singer Songwriter Nights” showcasing some of the very best talents in Miami, such as “Writers in The Round”, “Mandy MaryLane & Friends” and “An Evening with Cleaveland Jones”.
A Radio Broadcast 1st Thursdays of the Month with Shake Miami and “Local. Love. Live”. A Pure Rock “n” Roll Showcase with up and coming local greats Presented by BARAJA. A Trivia Night on Mondays. Even a monthly Jam Session with the infamous BIRDMAN! We are also proud to host Miami’s Notorious “The Kitchen Club”, a Local Nightlife Institution since the 80’s, 2nd Friday of Every Month. So, whether you want to dance the night away or just chill with some friends, there is definitely going to be a night you’re gonna love. One of the things we are known for is our varied, unique and eclectic style. (Just check out the website, Instagram or Facebook page for details on all the different events.)
Things that I am most proud of about the bar? The fact that we provide a much needed Live Music Venue in support of a wide variety of local artists and entertainers. The charity fundraisers that we have been able to organize and participate in, raising thousands of dollars for charity and disaster relief.
Personally, I am so proud of my business partners, the true Founders of Bar Nancy, that put their heart and soul into this bar day and night. Sasha Torres, Tom Koufopoulos, Katie Rajsich and Ben Koufopoulos. Any night you come to the bar you will more than likely be able to find, be greeted, served, or just have some good conversation over music and cocktails with one of us or all of us! I take great pride in that. I feel we are a true “Mom and Pop”. A Neighborhood Bar and hidden gem in Miami. A place where ALL are welcome. You can come as you are and just relax enjoy, chill and unwind. Nowadays, we need this more than ever and we provide that!
What were you like growing up?
As an only child growing up, I was actually quite shy. I expressed myself through writing, fashion, and my love of animals. I always had a rebellious spirit and still do to this day. I was a lover of music from my earliest memories. From my Mom’s love of the Beatles to my Dad’s love of Country Music. Some of my happiest memories are of the Broadway Shows I went to with my family as a little girl at The Jackie Gleason Theatre (now The Fillmore) on Miami Beach. I have always had a love of theatre. When I was young, I always dreamt of someday being a performer, and while that never happened, my life took me down a very different and sometimes rocky path. I am truly blessed to have landed where I am, doing what I love, in a place that I love, with people that I love. Miami music and nightlife is my life.
I am so fortunate to go to work in a place that I helped build and watch the incredible performers of this beautiful city do their thing on our stage and to think that in some small way, I helped make that happen. We all play a part in the magic. It truly is surreal working with some of the legends that appear on our stage. When I stop and think about it, I realize that all things are possible despite of and sometimes BECAUSE of life’s obstacles, and I’m living in a dream come true.
Contact Info:
- Address: Bar Nancy
2007 SW 8th St. Miami, Florida. 33135 - Website: www.nancy305.com
- Email: lizz@nancy305.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/barnancymiami
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/barnancy305
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/barnancy305
- Yelp: www.yelp.com/biz/bar-nancy-miami
- Other: www.instagram.com/lizziebooboo1123
Image Credit:
Andres Roberto Puente
Brian Powell
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