Love’s Alibi was created around a simple idea: a bar can be stylish and cocktail-forward without becoming the kind of place people only visit for a special occasion.
Located at 901 Gleaves St. in Nashville’s Gulch, Love’s Alibi is the newest concept from LeBlanc + Smith, the hospitality group behind Nashville establishments including Barrel Proof and The Chloe. The cocktail-forward neighborhood bar is led by Nashville-based partners Jason Sorbet, Robert LeBlanc, and Liam Deegan.
For Sorbet, Love’s Alibi is the latest chapter in a hospitality career that started with washing dishes at an Italian restaurant. He eventually moved behind the bar as a barback and worked his way through the hospitality industry.
Nearly a decade ago, he met his current business partners, grew with their team, and eventually was offered a partnership opportunity.
“While I never thought I would own or even become a partner in something, I always knew I wanted to continue to grow in this industry until I found my place where I could truly thrive,” Sorbet told What Now in an exclusive interview.
When it came to creating Love’s Alibi, the team wanted to create a local watering hole experience.
“We saw the Gulch as a neighborhood with a cool story that often gets overlooked by a lot of locals. Ultimately, we wanted to bring a cool, neighborhood bar to an area where thousands of people live,” he explained. “They deserve a space they can count on every day to get a quality cocktail and a bite, or just a shot and a beer, and not feel like they have to dress up or treat it as a special occasion.”
The result is a cocktail bar that’s chic in design but casual in vibe. Nashville design firm Frank Atelier worked with the team on the interior, which is inspired by empowered women icons of the rock ‘n’ roll era.
Love’s Alibi officially opened January 14. It’s open seven days a week starting at 3 PM, and runs daily happy hour deals.
The beverage program at Love’s Alibi features creative takes on classics, including the Meyer Lemon Cosmo, Lemongrass Margarita, Milk Punch, and Blackberry Cobbler. The bar also serves an Espresso Martini, White Russian, Plum Negroni, beer, wine, shots, and zero-proof drinks.
Its food menu focuses on approachable bar fare, with options including Fries, Caesar Salad, zucchini frites, Pigs in a Blanket, Wings, and Popcorn Chicken. Larger dishes include the Fried Chicken Sandwich and Alibi Smashburger, while dessert is an Ice Cream Sandwich with rotating homemade cookie and ice cream flavors.
Now that the establishment has been up and running for over six months, the team has noticed they are starting to form a solid roster of regulars and menu favorites.
“It takes time to build that, and our team is showing up every day hoping to form another connection to someone in the neighborhood so they know there’s a bar for them around the corner,” Sorbet said.
He said the most rewarding part of launching this new venture has been watching the impact unfold upon his team and the community.
“Being able to look back a year later and see all the new friends and connections made because of a space you helped create is incredibly rewarding.”
The concept is also creating connections within the local industry. In June, Love’s Alibi hosted What Now Media Group’s Accelerate event, bringing restaurant owners and industry professionals together for networking and conversations about hospitality operations.
As the bar continues its first year in business, it will continue to prioritize building its brand name and recognition within a competitive Nashville scene.
“We are going to continue digging in with Love’s Alibi and do our best to solidify ourselves as a neighborhood watering hole for The Gulch,” Sorbet added.
