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Although Darren Moore has no experience in the food and beverage industry, the Manual High School alum plans to open a bar in the Bates-Hendricks neighborhood to see if Indianapolis will embrace a daiquiri-themed establishment.
Moore said he’s traveled and seen the frozen cocktail flourish in New Orleans, where daiquiris are a Bourbon Street staple, and Houston.
“I thought, ‘We don’t have anything like that here in Indianapolis. Why not try it?’ ” he said.
At 1634 S. East St., the words “Daiquiri Factory” are displayed on a door and exterior wall in bright colors associated with the tropical beverage invented in Cuba.
But the Daiquiri Factory won’t open until spring, Moore said. One item on the to-do list is gaining approval for a permit to sell beer and wine.
While rum, lime juice and sugar are the ingredients of a traditional daiquiri, the Daiquiri Factory isn’t seeking a permit to sell distilled spirits such as rum.
Instead, Prosecco, Moscato and other wines will be used in Daiquiri Factory drinks, Moore said. The recipe follows a tradition of wine-based margaritas served at places that don’t have permits to sell tequila.
Daiquiris will be made on site in slushie machines, Moore said.
“You pour from the spout and there you have it,” he said.
As co-owner of the business with his wife, Kenya, Moore said he hopes to hire four to five employees.
Featuring graffiti-style murals on the interior walls, the Daiquiri Factory will be a prime location for capturing social-media photos, Moore said. Board games will be available to customers, who also can catch sporting events on TV screens.
“It’s not going to be a nightclub-style establishment,” Moore said. “It will be something cool for after work.”
The planned Daiquiri Factory occupies 3,000 square feet in a building that includes hair salon Bang (A Salon) at 1632 S. East St.
The 1632/1634 building is one of several in Bates-Hendricks purchased and rehabbed by Mike and Gabby Sherfick. In 2021, Mike Sherfick told the IBJ that he and his wife invested more than $2 million in development projects in the neighborhood.
“I went to Manual High School, so I’ve been around there a long time,” Moore said. “Bates-Hendricks is an up-and-coming area, and Mike Sherfick has been such a great mentor to me. We decided to go ahead and try something there.”
Moore’s road to entrepreneurship began when he worked at a Tire Barn Warehouse location. Before the pandemic, he opened a used-tire shop, Flatz Automotive LLC, at the intersection of 14th Street and Sherman Drive.
“I took the experience that I had from Tire Barn, opened a used-tire shop and now I’m working on a daiquiri bar,” he said.
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Um???? I hope the business plan is better than what is being told.
“I thought, ‘We don’t have anything like that here in Indianapolis. Why not try it?’
David, why are you so critical??? Do you have successful businesses you are operating or do you spend all your time critiquing IBJ articles?
Cool!
Darren has a good idea for a unique concept that Indianapolis and Bates Hendricks doesn’t have. His plan will bring more options to the neighborhood. David G., I am sure you have heard the quote by Richard Dawkins “The rabbit runs faster than the fox, because the rabbit is running for his life while the fox is only running for his dinner.” Darren operates his businesses like the rabbit. I have faith he will be successful or he will change direction to gain the attention of others.