Today we’d like to introduce you to Kaylee & Crystal Clark.
Hi Kaylee & Crystal, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Crystal’s Story: I was born in the Inland Empire of Southern California but moved to the peaceful forests of North Idaho at a young age. I blossomed into a nature fanatic and fell in love with hiking in the woods, plant identification and keeping our planet green. Most of my life has been spent in the Pacific Northwest, where I attended Portland Community College and later transferred to Oregon State University’s College of Forestry. Opting for the Bend, Oregon campus, I pursued a degree in Natural Resources, Fish & Wildlife Conservation, with a minor in Sustainability. During this time, I worked in the service industry ranging from espresso bar barista positions to crafting cocktails at various restaurants, bars, and music venues. These jobs helped support me financially while I pursued my degree and followed my dreams of helping protect our planet. However, I found myself developing strong feelings for the genuine connections in the service industry and all of the unique walks of life that come with working in this scene. This created a massive career shift for me and I decided to pursue working in hospitality.
As I gained more experience and time in the industry, my addiction to alcohol and drugs became unmanageable. I started to romanticize after-work drinks with coworkers and spent my days off in barstools instead of in nature where my heart truly belonged. During 2020, I attempted to get sober multiple times, but was met with struggles and consistent relapse. Finally in August 2021 after a horrific illness and near hospitalization, I had reached the final straw and began my sobriety journey. I noticed within the first few months of embarking on this new life that I had to change my life completely if I wanted to stay sober. I started to hike again, picked up litter along the rivers, and spent most of my down time amongst the trees and in nature. These moments allowed me to sit with my thoughts and listen to my intuition for guidance on what I truly wanted to do with the rest of my life.
Kaylee’s Story: Growing up, I moved around a lot but the majority of my years were spent in Colorado. As I was raised in a religious family, I encountered struggles with my identity knowing that I was queer and facing all of the hardships that comes with that realization. After graduating from high school, I dedicated myself to missionary work, traveling to numerous countries to assist orphanages, support children affected by sex-trafficking, and contribute to various humanitarian projects.
Once I reached the age of 21, I got introduced into the world of bartending and the lifestyle that comes with working in the service industry. Throughout my twenties, I bartended and managed bars while battling high-functioning alcoholism. Reflecting back, I realize the significant role alcohol and drugs played in my life, helping me cope with hardships, loss, and avoiding emotions. Coming from a family history of addiction, I didn’t acknowledge my issue until 2021 when I confronted this harsh reality. My health was deteriorating and I was endangering myself daily, prompting me to change my path and get sober.
Our Story: Our collective realization that substances had a detrimental impact on our personal relationships, aspirations, and overall well-being, combined with the loss of friends and family members due to addiction, prompted us to recognize a need for more social spaces where people can gather without alcohol being the focal point. Drawing from our lengthly experience in the hospitality industry, we knew we were equipped with the right skill set and passion to move forward with establishing a unique third place that benefits the community in profound ways.
In the fall of 2022, we launched Good News on social media to gauge interest for this concept after moving to San Diego. It became obvious to us that many others were also seeking a positive environment, turning the idea of Good News into a passion project for us. When we embraced sobriety, we felt a lack of community and support systems essential for success in this journey. This is one of the main reasons we are deeply committed to launching Good News. We understand the importance of being surrounded by individuals who share similar goals, value meaningful connections, and aim to cultivate lasting friendships.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There have been countless hurdles that we’ve faced along the way as first-time business owners. Delving into commercial real estate, awaiting the ideal brick-and-mortar location and pioneering a unique concept in an emerging industry without a clear roadmap have been at the top of this list. Navigating all of this while educating people about this new industry hasn’t proven easy. Misconceptions are common in the non-alcoholic sector, and going against societal norms can lead to resistance and critique from those who may not fully grasp your vision. We have found that being patient is key when in these discussions because planting the seeds is the beginning to helping others understand why a mission like ours is so important.
As you know, we’re big fans of Good News Bar. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Good News is an elevated, bar-like atmosphere for everyone in the community, no matter what your personal relationship with alcohol is. Whether you identify as sober-curious, abstain completely, or are just skipping booze for the evening, we exist to provide a refreshing alternative option to socializing.
Our ability to empathize with individuals facing addiction, paired with our passion for showing others that you can still have fun and go out without substances, is what makes us unique. Our menu will showcase several types of alcohol-free drinks including non-alcoholic beer, dealcoholized wine, spirit alternatives, CBD infusions, and functional cocktails with adaptogens & nootropics that benefit your brain and body. We will also be open earlier in the day with a curated selection of coffee, matcha, and loose leaf teas.
Since launching Good News, we have been overwhelmed by the positive feedback that we’ve received from the community of SD. Every day, we receive personal messages from people sharing their stories and how a space like this would positively impact their lives. These messages serve as a reminder that we’re on the right track and have encouraged us to keep pushing forward.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
We believe that remaining authentic along with strong perseverance is the key to succeeding and making an impact in our community. The long and winding path that led us here was truly a leap of faith and it didn’t come with any promises or guarantees. We follow our intuition, trust our gut, and are strong believers that everything happens for a reason.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.goodnewssd.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/goodnews.sd
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/goodnewssd
Image Credits
Nikki O’Hara Kristofer Reynolds Vanessa Dubois
