Man opens sober bar after losing dad to alcohol abuse
In 2017, just three months after welcoming his first child, Pablo Murillo lost his father to alcohol use disorder.
The loss of his dad -- who had immigrated to the United States from Mexico at age 18 -- left a lasting mark on Murillo, but it also fueled a mission for him to change the narrative around alcohol in his community and beyond.
That vision became the foundation for Bar Nuda, a pop-up mocktail experience Murillo and his best friend and business partner Morris Ellis co-founded in 2023, first launched inside an antiques shop in Venice, California.
Bar Nuda -- a place for people to laugh, dance and connect without alcohol -- isn't just about sober nightlife. It's also a celebration of Mexican heritage and a tribute to his father's memory, Murillo told ABC News.
"I became sober because of Bar Nuda," Murillo said. "Bar Nuda allowed me to change the narrative of my family while also holding space to do that for other families as well."
In his Mexican-American household growing up, Murillo said, alcohol played a central role at parties and family gatherings. He said he wants to help change that.
According to 2023 data from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 90% of white adults (141.3 million) and 80% of Hispanic adults (36.4 million) ages 18 and older reported consuming alcohol at some point in their lifetime.
Yet, a recent Gallup poll shows fewer Americans are drinking overall, as more people, especially young adults, view even moderate alcohol use as a health risk. Just 54% of U.S. adults say they drink alcohol, the lowest in three decades.
"Our slogan is 'drink to remember,'" Murillo shared. "Just because you want to go out and have a good time, it doesn't necessarily mean you have to have a drink in your hand. Or vice versa, have a drink in your hand, but it doesn't have to have alcohol."
Drinks with purpose
From the start, Bar Nuda has embraced Mexican traditions and ingredients. Beverage director Bryant J. Orozco, the creative force behind Bar Nuda's functional cocktail program, crafts drinks using herbs and flowers native to Mexico, many drawn from holistic medicine.
The drinks don't just taste good, they carry functional benefits meant to energize and heal, co-founder Ellis explained.
"We didn't want to be your typical cocktail bar serving non-alcoholic margaritas or a non- alcoholic old-fashioned. We wanted to push the needle forward and do something and create drinks that had never been done before," Ellis told ABC News, noting that many nonalcoholic spaces often lack hospitality and culture.
What began as a non-alcoholic bar quickly grew into a wellness-driven community hub. Bar Nuda now features live music, food, local vendors, and nonprofit partnerships, creating spaces where people feel safe, seen, and celebrated, according to Ellis and Murillo.
The events draw a wide range of people, including those who avoid alcohol for health or religious reasons, as well as social drinkers looking for healthier alternatives.
"From day one, [we] didn't want to just be another brand doing things, making money -- we wanted to have an impact," Ellis said. "And I think, more importantly than that, we wanted it to be a celebration. Every event is a celebration of our true selves, ourselves without being drunk, ourselves without the booze."
Carrying legacy forward
As the son of Mexican immigrants, Murillo said he carries his family's sacrifices with him every day.
Together with Ellis, he said he dreams of opening brick-and-mortar locations that shift from a coffee shop by day into a vibrant sober lounge by night, complete with food, music and culture. They also plan to launch packaged products to bring their creations beyond Los Angeles.
"I'm a first generation-born American citizen, and it's something that really inspires me," he said. "I'm standing on the shoulders of giants who really sacrificed everything they know and everything they love to come here and seek a better life. And so I have that always driving me and inspiring me to be the best version of myself and not let that sacrifice go to the wayside."
At its heart, Murillo said, Bar Nuda is about more than business. It's about healing, celebrating and redefining what nightlife can look like.
"Life can be celebrated without booze and without altering your mind, and finding a community to celebrate that life in is good for the soul," he said. "And we're here to help you find that."
If you are concerned about yourself or a loved one, call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMSA) confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). For information and resources about alcohol-related problems and health, visit the website of the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) HERE.
