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| Bobby Kim, one of the co-owners of Southside Parlor / Courtesy of Robert Michael Evans |
By Kyung Lee
Itaewon cocktail bar Southside Parlor will hold its seven-year anniversary party on Saturday, Sept. 26, and Robbie Nguyen, one of the bar's original founders, attributes this milestone to the amazing team that makes up the Southside Family.
It's a celebration the bar's management hopes will rally enough confidence in patrons to attend amid the recent downgrade in social distancing mandates. Recent lockdown measures have been hard on the food and beverage industry, so their original plan for a summertime anniversary has turned into an autumn celebration after several postponements.
"The pandemic is hard on everyone," Nguyen told The Korea Times. "There's no point of having an anniversary party if no one feels comfortable."
He highlighted the poster for the anniversary party, which uses a well-known mural of a frog by the late Daniel Johnson, a musician and visual artist from Austin, Texas. With the title "Hi how are you?" it shows 2020's anniversary theme is about Southside's team and patrons checking in on one another after a rather unsteady year.
With the date for the anniversary party finalized, Southside Parlor will also feature a menu that highlights not only their cocktail program, but also contributions from Magpie Brewing Co., Tokki Soju and California Kitchen and Craft Pub.
The event will serve up Cali- and Tex-Mex cuisine, Magpie's own Golden Ale, a seasonal cocktail made with Tokki Soju and Southside's natural wine selection.
"There have been many F&B friends who've supported and grown with us since the beginning," Nguyen told The Korea Times.
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| Robbie Nguyen, co-owner of Southside Parlor / Courtesy of Austin Vinas |
Seven years of practical experimenting
Running a cocktail bar near Noksapyeong Station and Gyeongnidan-gil for seven years is an achievement the team can raise their glasses to.
"Before we opened Southside Parlor, Phil, our buddy Johnny and I ran a taco truck called Three Kings Taco Truck. We used to sling tacos in Hongdae and Itaewon. It was short-lived but provided valuable lessons and gave us momentum to open up Southside," Nguyen said.
Innovation is a major component of their business formula, and Southside Parlor has expanded across the street, now serving both Gyeongnidan and Haebangchon (HBC). In 2018, they opened Pocket, their sister bar in HBC. Nguyen explained the way Southside Parlor created a system where his team uses upcycled ingredients from Southside to make signature sodas for their Pocket highballs.
Pocket's colorful exterior is a welcome mat for anyone visiting HBC, and Nguyen is proud that his team has been able to redefine what a neighborhood bar looks like.
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| Polina Lee, one of the managers at Southside Parlor / Courtesy of Robert Michael Evans |
Journey towards sustainable growth
Like most establishments, Southside has opted to keep business going through the pandemic through delivery services like Coupang Eats and Shuttle Delivery. The cocktail bar intends to stay the course, continuing to use great ingredients and never cutting corners, as shown by the anniversary party's menu.
"As time has gone on, we've realized we want to be more than a great cocktail bar. We want to grow and be a good bar for the community," Nguyen said.
He added that at the heart of small businesses are the hard-working teams that make up places like Southside Parlor, Magpie Brewing, and California Kitchen, and they are the real reason why food and beverage businesses continue to push the envelope in the Noksapyeong area.
"If you become complacent, that's when things can go south real fast," he said. "Even before COVID, our team was already used to pivoting or adapting with ever-changing industry trends. The pandemic just forces you to adapt quicker."
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| Bomin Kim, one of the managers of Southside Parlor / Courtesy of Robert Michael Evans |
Attracting an evolving crowd
Since day one, Southside Parlor has attracted a diverse group of patrons. From military personnel previously stationed on U.S. Army Garrison (USAG) Yongsan, to those living in the Itaewon area, Southside Parlor and neighboring businesses have established an ecosystem to support the local community and visitors, whether through joint events or merely over drinks.
Despite factors such as the pandemic, the transformations that constantly reshape the neighborhood's makeup of businesses and the closure of USAG Yongsan, Nguyen said Southside Parlor aims to plant itself as a neighborhood bar for regulars while also inviting new crowds to drink and dine. And he hopes they will all show up for the anniversary celebration this weekend.
"It's as much about us celebrating being around seven years as it is about thanking everyone who's helped us stick around for seven years," he said.
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| Phil Abowd, co-owner at Southside Parlor / Courtesy of Austin Vinas |
Visit fb.com/SouthsideParlor or southsideparlor.com for more information.
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