PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — It’s almost time to ring in the New Year. As with most big parties, alcohol can be the focus, but for people looking for a celebration without the booze, a business owner in Manayunk wants them to know they have options.
A couple of blocks into Manayunk’s Main Street sits The Volstead by Unity. It’s a vegan restaurant and bar — a zero-proof bar, that is — serving up cocktails without the alcohol.
It’s a concept that’s worked since they opened in March, says co-owner Robert Ashford.
“It's a very personal choice. There's some people in recovery that — this is just not for them. Maybe they're early on or they're just, like, ‘You know what? I don't want that experience. I don't want to be reminded of it,’” Ashford said. “Cool. Like, that's entirely your choice — but it comes down to having choice.”
And there are plenty of choices, with a wall of no-alcohol beers, wines, spirits and more.
Ashford says his personal favorite is the zero-proof old fashioned.
“All the products are made the same exact way you would imagine traditional spirits, beer and wine are. The only difference is, at the end of the process, they cold-filter out all the alcohol,” he said. “You can have an old fashioned or a martini or any drink that can be made with full-proof spirits, and just cut all of that out, but it still tastes the same exact way.”
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Ashford, who is in recovery himself, owns and operates Unity Recovery and several other “unity concept” businesses with his wife, Arielle. They hire people who are in recovery or returning from incarceration while offering space for support to anyone in need.
Ashford says they have plenty of things on the menu for people who are on their own recovery journey, people who are sober-curious and anyone just looking to cut back on alcohol.
“You're not in this alone and you don't have to be,” he said, if you’re looking for a way to ring in the new year without a hard drink.
“New Year’s can get hectic, but it also tends to get hectic because of the alcohol. So, this New Year’s, we're hosting Philly's first zero-proof New Year’s party.”
The Volstead by Unity will be open late Saturday night with a zero-proof “champagne” toast at midnight and other specials to celebrate a new year of possibilities.