{"id":133479,"date":"2026-01-22T13:15:10","date_gmt":"2026-01-22T13:15:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/133479\/"},"modified":"2026-01-22T13:15:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T13:15:10","slug":"beyond-dry-january-a-richardson-bar-helps-you-nail-that-resolution-to-cut-back","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/133479\/","title":{"rendered":"Beyond Dry January: A Richardson bar helps you nail that resolution to cut back"},"content":{"rendered":"

We\u2019re almost done with January, and typically, this is when some people are struggling or at least rethinking their resolution for 2026.<\/p>\n

If\u202fyou resolved to go alcohol-free, or\u202fmaybe just\u202fcut back on your alcohol consumption, KERA\u2019s Alexsis Jones and I discovered a place that just might help you stay on track.<\/p>\n

Beyond The Bar<\/a>,\u202flocated off\u202fCentral Expressway in Richardson, is a bottle shop that offers a wide selection of non-alcoholic spirits, wines, beers and sodas. Plus, it has a lounge with events like tasting classes and sober karaoke.<\/p>\n

\"Julie<\/p>\n

Julie and Reid Robinson are the co-founding partners of Beyond The Bar, an alcohol-free bottle shop and dry bar in Richardson.\u202f<\/p>\n

INSPIRATION COMES AT A ROXY MUSIC CONCERT<\/p>\n

Co-founders Reid and Julie Robinson owned two traditional bars in Richardson before pivoting toward a non-alcoholic venture. Reid had quit drinking a few years before, but inspiration for the new business came to him while attending a concert with friends.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were pre-gaming at a club beforehand, and all my friends were having these lovely cocktails, and I felt kind of left out, \u201cReid said. \u201cThen I got to the Roxy Music show, and all they had was Pepsi. And I thought, \u2018This is not right. Why am I not having a good cocktail with everyone else?\u2019 And that’s kind of where we started to germinate on the idea.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Beyond<\/p>\n

Beyond The Bar is located in Richardson’s Core District at 101 S Sherman St.<\/p>\n

DRINKING WITH FRIENDS<\/p>\n

Julie noticed that patrons at their old bars would ask Reid why he wasn\u2019t drinking.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause\u202fyou’ve\u202fgot to have a drink in your\u202fhand\u202fat the bar,\u201d Julie said. \u201cThen he started drinking non-alcoholic\u202fbeer– because he loves the flavor of beer–and a light went off in my head.\u201d<\/p>\n

Those aha moments led the duo to open a store that was more than just a place to buy non-alcoholic products.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u202fwanted\u202fto be a little bit of a mini social hub,\u201d Julie said. \u201cWe want people to be able to come here and get a drink. And\u202fthat’s\u202fwhy we decided to also have a tasting room and lounge.\u201d\u202f\u202f<\/p>\n

And\u202fcommunity\u202fis\u202fwhat Beyond the\u202fBar is\u202fbuilding.\u202fGen Z, older generations, expectant mothers, South Asian and Muslim\u202fcommunities\u202f, and people who\u202fcan’t\u202fdrink because of health reasons:\u202f\u202fBeyond the Bar has a seat for everyone.<\/p>\n

\u201cLots\u202fof different people have been into the shop, and\u202fit’s\u202fbeen\u202freally interesting\u202fto see\u202fall of\u202fthe communities come together,\u201d Reid said. \u201cEverything is polarizing, but this seems like something where everybody comes around to the table.\u201d\u202f<\/p>\n

WHAT ABOUT THE TASTE?<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Blueberry Moon Shrub is one of the alcohol-free cocktails you can try at Beyond The Bar. <\/p>\n

True to the name, Beyond the Bar goes beyond a mocktail. You can expect craft, non-alcoholic, or zero-proof cocktails. And because\u202fthe ingredients are layered and lower in sugar,\u202fthe drinks have a real flavor profile.\u202f<\/p>\n

Julie whipped up a couple of drinks for us to sample.<\/p>\n

Up first was the Blueberry Moon Shrub, a fizzy, fruity-tasting drink made up of a\u202fblueberry ginger mint botanical\u202fspirit, paired with an elderberry shrub, fresh lime juice and a\u202fnice\u202fginger beer.\u202f\u202f<\/p>\n

I tasted notes of pepper in the cocktail. Alexsis liked that it kicked like a Moscow Mule despite being alcohol-free.<\/p>\n

Julie also mixed up a non-alcoholic\u202fOld Fashioned for Alexsis.\u202f\u202f<\/p>\n

\u201cI could really taste the coffee notes,\u201d Alexsis said, \u201cThe only thing\u202fmissing\u202fwas\u202fthe\u202fburn going down,\u202fwhich makes it\u202fthe\u202fperfect\u202fdrink if I\u202fwant\u202fto\u202fzebra-stripe\u202ffor a\u202fnight out. \u201c\u202f<\/p>\n

For those not in the know, \u201czebra striping\u201d is alternating between an alcoholic and a non-alcoholic drink.\u202f<\/p>\n

If you want to dip your toes into other non-alcoholic alternatives and events, Beyond the Bar offers monthly zero-proof cocktail classes and hosts a sober karaoke event on the last Saturday of each month. You can also sample some of Beyond the Bar\u2019s creations when they host a pop-up bar at the upcoming DFW Lunar New Year Celebration<\/a> on Feb. 15 in Richardson.<\/p>\n

Details: <\/a>Beyond the Bar, 101 S Sherman St B, Richardson, TX. Hours are Tues-Sat 12-7 p.m., Sun 12-4 p.m., Mon, closed.<\/p>\n

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