NEPA rock stars and business owners create new Wilkes-Barre soda brand Parlor Beverages
From a press release:
Nostalgia and rock ‘n’ roll – these two things commonly appear together but rarely do they intertwine into a craft beverage moniker. Parlor Beverages in Wilkes-Barre seeks to alter that perspective as it enters the market offering lifestyle brand craft sodas, kicking off with both root beer and butterscotch flavors that will be available soon.
Parlor was created by owner John Phillips, owner of MCR Design Group and 900 Management in Kingston and tour manager for Body Count and Public Enemy; Aaron Bruch, bassist and vocalist for multi-platinum-selling Wilkes-Barre rock band Breaking Benjamin; Josh Balz, former member of Scranton metal band Motionless In White and current owner of The Strange & Unusual Oddities Parlor and Steamy Hallows Coffee Shop in Kingston, Batty Fang Salon in Wilkes-Barre, and the new Noir Dark Spirits in Scranton; and Kris Jones, an entrepreneur, investor, co-founder of talent booking platform Special Guest App, and owner of SEO company LSEO.
Promising to “rock taste buds,” the drinks are slated to arrive on the market in early June and will be sold as four-packs in three flavors – original style root beer, butterscotch root beer, and birch beer. It will also be sold online.
“Last year during the pandemic, I had the craziest idea – start sampling root beers from all over the country. I just loved everything about root beer. Then I had another idea – partner with some of my favorite people in the area that are beasts at what they do and start our own brand. Today, that journey has officially begun with our launch,” Phillips said.
“Root beer is a lifestyle. It invokes a specific memory when you think about it. Whether you were at an ice cream parlor with your grandparents, you just got done with a hard day’s work and you opened a cold bottle, having root beer floats with your friends as a kid, it is the one drink that gets you excited because it is nostalgic.
“Parlor Beverages is a lifestyle for everybody. Whether you love the arts, your family, music, a straight edge lifestyle, living dangerously, whether your viewpoints are conservative or liberal, you value hard work, being a traveler, Parlor is all of us.”
As promotion begins for this new local beverage company, Parlor has a tasty offer, giving away a “first taste of Parlor” as well as tickets, VIP passes, airfare, and a hotel stay for Blue Ridge Rock Festival, which will be held on Sept. 9-12 in Lynchburg, Virginia.
To enter, visit drinkparlor.com and type in your name, email, and zip code.
Our new Root Beer is coming soon… Hit up https://t.co/m5xeZ0m8hh and enter to win the *first taste* of a KILLER beverage along with tix, VIP passes, travel, and airfare to @BlueRidgeRock! #drinkparlor #rootbeer pic.twitter.com/VuV4altoB0
— Parlor Beverages (@drinkparlor) March 19, 2021
Phillips, a West Pittston resident, is also the director of business development for the Blue Ridge Rock Festival. Earlier this week, the event confirmed that it will take place this fall “at the direction of our government officials.”
“The time is now. There is perhaps never been a greater need for our rock ‘n’ roll community to unite together after all this last year has brought. This September, we could not be more excited to make that a reality with you. Our stories poll from Sunday revealed that a whopping 93 percent of you are ready to lock in your tickets for 2021. We could not be more grateful for your support and enthusiasm to join us this fall. We have heard you and are working quickly to not only make tickets available, but to finalize booking to deliver you your fan-voted lineup as soon as possible. And yes, our signature low ticket pricing will still be offered in 2021, as always,” the festival posted on social media on March 17.
“We have spent the last year thinking, working, and reinventing ways to allow each and every one of you encounter your ultimate rock experience this year. There is so much to now reveal. It is our commitment that we will fight hard for you, the fan, and carry out our mission as “the fan-driven rock experience” like never before in 2021. This is your voice. Your Festival. This is Blue Ridge.”
