Better Days, an independent boutique bar brand launched in August 2014 as the single vision of its creator, Challo Schott. The thoughtfully designed space took inspiration from retail brands and the 1970's American culture to create a vintage & thrift shop within its storefront spaces and an incognito bar within. Better Days has a unique take on bar design using simple yet experiential elements, giving the space a subtle, humble & human expression.

Brickell’s original neighborhood bar takes a fresh look at craft cocktails & beers within an American kitsch paradise and packages it alongside our eclectic throwback sensibilities and back-to-basics bar model. Better Days is a local’s spot built upon a classic foundation of guest service and exceeding expectations; we promise fine drinks at fair prices.

 

Originally the bar was open for 30 days with two timeline extensions prior to announcing their full time lease on the space in the 500 Brickell building after a very challenging, but successful first 90 days in business. Better Days opened as an intentional eye sore alongside the posh, polished, and plastic-ness of the neighborhood.

 

The staged storefront - as Schott called it was a 'cool qualifier' to ensure that people understood they were somewhere unique and should expect a different experience.

 



 

 

HOW IT WENT DOWN

I’D BEEN HIRED TO FIND THE PROBLEMS IN AN OPERATION IN THE BRICKELL NEIGHBORHOOD OF MIAMI IN THE SUMMER OF 2014. I’D MADE A NAME FOR MYSELF AS THE ONLY TYPE OF MADMAN THAT COULD DIVE INTO AN EXISTING BUSINESS AND GAIN CONTROL AND GET ANSWERS AND GET ALL THINGS ACCOUNTED FOR, ESPECIALLY THE $’S. THIS PARTICULAR BUSINESS SERVED NO PURPOSE AND NOT A SINGLE MEMBER OF THE BAR HAD ANY BUSINESS BEING INSIDE.

I CLOSED THE BAR ON THE 4TH OF JULY, A FEW WEEKS AFTER I’D BEGAN. I CREATED AN ENTIRELY NEW SITE SPECIFIC CONCEPT - BRICKELL AT THE TIME HAD NO CITY CENTER AND IT CERTAINLY HAD NO CULTURE AND THE LAST REMAINING COOL WAS SOON TO DEMOLISHED AND REDEVELOPED. AT THE TIME I WAS STRUGGLING AFTER A FAILED BUSINESS VENTURE AND YEARS SPENT GETTING MY FIRST JIMMY JOHN’S FRANCHISE BUILT AND OPEN, I WAS LIVING WITH MY DAUGHTER IN A SINGLE ROOM EFFICIENCY AN HOUR NORTH OF THE LOCATION AND HAD TO MAKE THAT TRIP DAILY. USING A CREDIT CARD WITH ONLY A $500 LIMIT I WAS MIRACULOUSLY OR AT LEAST MAGICALLY ABLE TO FIND THE MEANS TO SELL ENOUGH OLD EQUIPMENT TO REPLACE IT WITH WHAT WAS NEEDED TO BEGIN TO BUILD A YET TO BE NAMED BETTER DAYS.

THE ENTIRE IDEA TO LAUNCH THIS BUSINESS AND BUILDOUT WAS LESS THAN A SINGLE MONTH. I OPENED BETTER DAYS AS A ‘SUPPOSED’ POP UP ON JULY 25TH AND SCHEDULED A GRAND OPENING FOR AUGUST. WHAT STARTED WITH MEAGER BEGINNINGS WAS ALREADY OVERFLOWING BY THE TIME WORD SPREAD IN ADVANCE OF THE OPENING PARTY. THE BUSINESS HAS WITHSTOOD CONSTRUCTION BLOCKAGES AND ZERO PARKING SCENARIOS AND ONE HELL OF A COVID FALLOUT, BUT STILL STANDS AND IS POSITIONED AGAIN TO THRIVE 7 YEARS LATER.

---Mr. Schott