Sam Kearney is the owner and founder of the Waynesville Mocktail Lounge called the Roll Up Herbal Bar that was destroyed by hurricane Helene on September 26th 2024. Sam lost most of her inventory, her hot water heater, both fridges, her prep station, and all-in-all the place she called home to her thriving business.
She was a bartender on and off for the last 15 years, 4 of which she has been sober for. She started making drinks for friends until she perfected her skills and began her mobile mocktail concept in June of 2023. She started with a simple little collapsable bar then in November she got a custom 1971 Volkswagen Bus to make her bar even more mobile. Thank goodness the bus survived the flood.
It was in February of 2024 that she was welcomed into the Lineside, a leased event space in Frog Level by Frog Level Brewing manager Monte Bumbernick, who is a couple doors down. He believed having the option for everyone to have a good night out was a benefit to both spaces, and it really was. Mocktails have gained popularity in the last few years as they are inclusive, taste great, and are an amazing option for those who don’t feel like drinking alcohol when out on the town. I know that when my wife and I go out, she usually stops at the Herbal Bar to get a drink before I grab a cider at the brewery and it was great to have that option right next door.
After the flood, cleanup mode turned on and the whole bottom of Frog Level got to work, helping one another pick up the pieces and trash what couldn’t be salvaged. When Sam was done doing the best she could to get what she could save out of the Herbal Bar, she set off to help the Funky Fern Emporium bring up the items they were able to save into the Lineside.
Monte, the Frog Level Brewing Manager, had come over and offered the Funky Fern to use the Lineside as storage while they figured out their next plan.
The next Friday, after the flooding of Helene, Frog Level Brewing also welcomed Sam into their bar to set up a lemonade stand so she could help make some much needed funding from her last week of being closed to the public. Sam said, “The community showed up in such a beautiful way. I didn’t realize how much this community cared at all about me or this bar. Saying that I NEED to come back. I’m over here just making mocktails, not seeing how much I mean to the community I love. I am so blessed to be here.”
We do love her, and all of the amazing businesses that Frog Level lost. Those brick buildings are such a sign of this town's history and charisma but better things may be on the horizon for Sam, and for that we can all be grateful.
Sam was approached one week after the flood to have a space in Church Street Studios, just 1 minute from Frog Level..and she took it! Getting back on her feet, purchasing new equipment, and pushing forward after these last few weeks won’t be easy but thankfully she has amazing community behind her who support her and her dreams.
Want to help Sam recover from Helene? Head over to RollUpHerbalBar.com or go right to her GoFundMe here.
Check out the video interview I did below with Sam.
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