Carl Radke Clears Something Up About Soft Bar + Café: “For Those of You Wondering..."
The Summer House cast member explained why his forthcoming bar was one-of-a-kind.
Carl Radke continues to raise expectations.
On Thursday, December 19, the Summer House cast member conducted a brief Q&A about Soft Bar + Café, his non-alcoholic business set to open in Brooklyn. Carl reassured his followers that he and his team were prioritizing top-tier products and quality experiences, which set them apart from similar concept bars.
What to expect from Carl Radke's new non-alcoholic bar/cafe
“To those of you wondering: Is Soft Bar making overpriced, sugary mocktails? The answer is no,” he said in a Reel. “I’ve done a lot of research in the city. There are a lot of sugary, overpriced mocktails, but what we are creating here are called ‘soft cocktails.’ These are premium, they are sophisticated, and they are elevated.”
Carl continued: “Because we use high-quality ingredients [and] because our head bartender is an expert in his field — he’s an artist, he’s a craftsman — you pay for the quality and the bespoke nature of these products. They’re not going to be $20 mocktails, but the quality and the experience, I believe the people will really appreciate and enjoy… I’m telling you, you’ve never tasted a soft cocktail that tastes like this.”
The video also included some B-roll footage of a Soft Bar bartender pouring a beverage, as well as a previous pop-up menu that included drinks, like the High Road, Soft Spritz, Garden Party, a decaf mushroom cold brew, and Summer Should be Shandy.
Carl Radke shares his hopes for his new business venture
Soft Bar is billed as Brooklyn’s first non-alcoholic bar/cafe “for mindful consumption.” Carl expressed interest in starting the business during Summer House Season 8, saying he was inspired by his yearslong sobriety journey.
“I’m proud to be a voice for things that I’ve been through and hopefully help other people,” he told his then-fiancé, Lindsay Hubbard. “So I’ve been thinking about a sports bar, non-alcoholic. A sober sports bar.”
Since then, Carl and his team have worked tirelessly to promote the business before its 2025 grand opening. They’ve released branded merch, secured collaborations, and hosted multiple pop-up events.
The Hamptons housemate spoke about the process in an August interview with People magazine, saying he believed Soft Bar was his “calling.”
“It’s been a journey, for sure,” he told the outlet. “I’ve just had this drive inside of me that’s said, ‘You’ve got to go for this.’ What I want to do, to my knowledge, doesn’t exist yet. And it’s amazing to be in a position where I can introduce a new concept and help redefine the non-alcoholic industry in a way. I’m really proud of what we’re creating and what I hope will help a lot of people feel like they have a place to go for the first time.”
