Kelly Brighter, owner and founder of Dirty Gertie’s NA Cocktails, launched her business in April.
Now 11 years sober, she’s looking to service Glenside, Abington, Cheltenham, and surrounding northwest Philadelphia areas.
The business is based out of Mt. Airy and provides a pop-up bar at private events “for anyone who wants the party without the alcohol,” Bright said.
“It’s full-service. Everything’s included. We provide insurance and bartenders,” Bright said. “What separates us from other mobile bartending services is that we provide everything from beer to wine to cocktails, the spirits that are being used to make them.”
Bright says the idea came to her after she ordered a non-alcoholic margarita last year.
“I was in at a restaurant in California and I ordered a non-alcoholic cocktail. It tasted like a real margarita. I found that zero-proof tequila was used, and it was so intriguing to me,” she said. “I thought that people might want the social aspect of drinks like this without the alcohol.”
Since her opening, more and more people have told Bright that they’ve given up alcohol.
“It’s not just those who are in recovery. Some are allergic, some are being more health-conscious, a whole host of reasons,” she said. “I thought it was something it was needed.”
About a year later, Dirty Gertie’s came into fruition.
“More and more non-alcoholic brands are coming out with options. I’ve been trying to education myself about everything that’s been coming out,” she said.
The name, Bright says, stems from her “foul-mouthed alter-ego.”
“It’s my old lady voice. People at my former job used to call me Gertie, so I went with it,” she said.
For more on Dirty Gertie’s, you can visit their Facebook and Instagram pages.
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Photos: Kelly Bright