Written by: Tedfuel
We hear a lot of things about mothers. But there is one thing we are certain of; moms do whatever it takes to get things done no matter what. With this often comes an element of guilt, which is juggling family and career together. Yet, women make sure to push through difficult times and do wonders.
The pandemic has widely exposed the impossible balancing act society demands of working mothers and how incompatible our ideals of the ‘good mother’ and the ‘career woman’ are. We can’t deny the fact that the pandemic has driven mostly mothers out of the workforce. However, the silver lining is most of these mommies do not even want to enter the workforce again. In a survey of 1,532 parents in the U.S., 62 percent of mothers said they were interested in supplementing their income, with more than half of moms reporting at least some interest in starting their own business.
Like we said that once a mother sets her mind to something, she achieves it. And Garnett Phillip has surely set an example of balancing work life and home. She is, in the truest sense, a mompreneur who balances the roles of an entrepreneur and a mother. Phillip started her business in the middle of the pandemic and opened a Caribbean-themed garden bar at The Rogers Garden in Flatbush, Brooklyn.
A Brooklyn native of Ethiopian and Trini descent, The Rogers Garden is inspired by her childhood trips to Trinidad and travels with her husband across the Caribbean. “What gets me excited about the islands is when I get off the airplane and quickly find the nearest rum bar,” revealed Garnett. “There’s nothing like sipping a rum punch on the beach while the breeze hits you – that first breath of relief is priceless. I want people to come here and have that same feeling,” she enthused.
Since these were uncertain times, opening up a bar was not a smooth ride for this mompreneur. “It was one of the most stressful things in my life, but my community got involved to help and support me, and I’m so happy to be here now,” shared the enterprising mompreneur.
Being a mother of two little boys, Garnett Phillip was not the one to back down. It was not just her dream that she could not give up on, but it was also her family and friends’ faith in her, especially her kids, to whom she is a hero. She could not have let her boys think that their mother had given up on her dream. Instead, Phillip wanted to be an exemplary mom whose kids could follow in her footsteps as they grew older.
Today, The Rogers Garden is a must-visit for the people of Brooklyn and is on the go-to list of travelers. The bar is a vibrant, bustling place complemented by live music ranging from jazz to reggae. The place specializes in an eclectic, thoughtfully-curated rum menu inspired by the Caribbean. But that’s not all. The bar doesn’t have a kitchen, so The Rogers Garden partners with other local businesses to bring food in and have pop-ups in the garden. Hence, the menu is a rotation of Caribbean classic cuisines ranging from burgers to oysters and BBQs to island bowls, all freshly cooked. The place has everything; music, food, drinks and a safe and friendly ambiance to chill out and have fun.
From the island-inspired design of the bar, murals on every wall curated by artists and animators, bright colors for furniture and the line-up of shrubs and leafy plants, Phillip has put her heart and soul into creating an entertaining yet relaxing space.
“It’s the most beautiful feeling to go from three months of thinking I wasn’t going to make it and that nobody’s going to come, to seeing people lined up to come to my bar,” shared the entrepreneur. “The outpouring of love that I‘ve been getting – it’s like magic. I have become the person that I have always wanted to be. And I am really proud to say, ‘This is mine’.”
If you want a perfect place to relax and unwind after a long or hectic day, you are most welcome at The Rogers Garden to chill and feel the love for the Caribbean.
