A career in bartending was a no brainer for Ashley Nicole. “I knew I wanted to be a bartender right away,” she says. “I instantly loved being able to connect with new people, knowing their stories, making them smile, and giving them a place to come and feel good about whatever is going on in their lives.” The Houston native got her start in the industry at the age of nineteen, and over a decade, she learned the ropes, journaling about her experiences and ambitions, while building a community of loyal guests along the way. Fast forward to early 2020, and Ashley was finally ready to strike out on her own. Though the pandemic initially delayed the opening of Urban Social, her popular, women-led nightlife destination on the Richmond strip, by the time she did open in October, people were ready for a pandemic reprieve. “When I opened Urban Social, it was an instant pop,” she shares. “There was so much love, so much support … Thankfully at the time, people wanted to get back together and feel something, and I was able to create that for them.” Today, Urban Social is a familiar place, a no-frills and no-thrills community institution akin to the beloved bar on Cheers, where people come to be themselves. Furthermore, the entrepreneur takes pride in having cultivated a space of inclusivity and diversity in her hometown. “I am African American; however, my mother is Spanish and African American. She was adopted so a lot of my life was finding my roots and seeing where I fit in this big world,” she says. “Bartending answered that question for me.”
Red Light Special
Maker’s Mark Bourbon, Strawberry Monin, Angostura Bitters, Lime Juice, Ginger Beer
Manhattan
Maker’s Mark 46 Bourbon, Sweet Vermouth, Angostura & Orange Bitters
All the Smoke
Maker’s Mark Bourbon, Chocolate Bitters, Cassia Syrup, served smoked
WE MAKE OUR BOURBON CAREFULLY. PLEASE ENJOY IT THAT WAY.
Maker’s Mark® and Maker’s Mark 46® Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky, 45% and 47% Alc./Vol. ©2023 Maker’s Mark Distiller, Inc. Loretto, KY
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