Today we’d like to introduce you to AnnaMaryLee Vollick.
Hi AnnaMaryLee, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
While I’m the experience curator and the face behind the Derby Bar, I’m just one member of our dynamic team. Our story really begins with a group of friends who share a love for nostalgic, warm ambiance, great company, and meaningful conversation. One evening, my husband Ray and I were spending time with our friends Brad and Audrey in the parlor of our historic Northville home. During that conversation, Brad and I discovered we had both been quietly dreaming up almost the same business idea—but we were each stuck for different reasons.
I had the passion and vision for creating an inviting, enchanting mobile bar experience that brings people together, but I didn’t have the business background to bring it to life. Brad, on the other hand, had the business and carpentry skills to execute a mobile bar concept but wasn’t sure where to start with design or attracting the right audience. With the unique support and strengths of our spouses, Ray and Audrey, the gaps suddenly filled themselves. That night in the parlor, everything clicked—and the Derby Bar partnership was born.
This was January 2025. By the following month, Brad and I had a full business plan in place, had found the perfect trailer to adopt and make our own, and began shaping the Derby Bar identity—from securing our name and logo to naming our trailer, Luna Belle, and getting to know her personality. I dreamed up design ideas; Brad made them real.
Our goal was to debut Luna Belle at a Kentucky Derby party on race day, and we did just that. We invited family, friends, and their friends, and it turned into the most energizing kick-off we could have imagined.
Since then, we’ve had a busy first warm-weather season—graduation parties, corporate events, and family gatherings—and we continue to serve through the colder months for clients who love festive drinks by a fire or indoor events where Luna can join the celebration. We’re always looking for creative ways to share Luna’s magic and help elevate the gatherings we’re invited into.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Smooth? Not exactly. Enough bumps to keep things interesting? Absolutely. As someone new to the entrepreneurship world, the learning curve has been steep—but having business partners with strong business and operational experience has made all the difference.
One of the biggest challenges I’ve discovered as a service-based business owner is recognizing the importance of knowing your audience—and having the humility to accept that you are not that audience. It’s easy to fall into the trap of designing a mobile bar experience based solely on what I would want as a customer. But doing that would limit the full potential of who we can serve.
We’ve had to continually remind ourselves that our role is to stay rooted in our values and the quality of the service we deliver, while also giving Luna the creative freedom to adapt to any event that could benefit from her magic. It’s not about us—it’s about the customer, their event, and their vision.
The more open we remain to possibilities, the more magic finds its way into each experience. That’s my favorite part of being the experience curator: listening to someone’s vision for their gathering and discovering how Luna can support, elevate, and bring that vision to life.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Luna Belle is our vintage-inspired mobile bar, equipped with four taps that can serve beer, wine, handcrafted cocktails, mocktails, or even soda. One of her greatest strengths is how easily she can be customized to fit any party or event. One of the compliments we hear most often is that she’s even more impressive in person—you really have to experience her to understand the full magic she brings. Her timeless charm creates an elevated, nostalgic atmosphere that blends handcrafted drinks with genuine Southern-hospitality warmth. It’s more than just a bar—it’s an immersive experience on wheels.
We’re known for elegance, charm, and true wow factor. From our vintage mantle backdrop to our greenery selfie wall displaying old-fashioned, parlor-style photos, Luna naturally becomes the focal point of any gathering. Hosts often tell us that she takes a huge weight off their shoulders by creating the ambiance for them. She even has built-in Bluetooth speakers, so music can match the energy and vibe of the event seamlessly.
We offer three packages designed to suit different party sizes and needs. Something we’re especially proud of is our flat-fee pricing—each package includes tax and gratuity, which means no hidden costs, no confusing add-ons, and no surprise total. All pricing is listed openly on our website because we believe in transparency and making information easy to access. For us, it’s not about making a sale; it’s about building a collaborative partnership and supporting our clients in creating an unforgettable event.
We also maintain a detailed FAQ page to help answer common questions, and we’re incredibly easy to reach—whether by social media, phone, or email. I’m an extrovert who loves to talk, but I love to listen even more. Understanding someone’s vision and figuring out how Luna can elevate it is the heart of what we do.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
When I hear the word “risk,” my mind goes straight to danger—true life-or-death situations. So in business, I tend to frame things differently. Instead of thinking in terms of risk, I think in terms of taking a chance. A chance can go well or not so well, but either way, I trust myself and my business partners to handle whatever comes from it.
I believe that taking chances is where the magic happens—just like stepping outside your comfort zone is where real growth begins. You can’t learn, evolve, or make meaningful progress without being willing to try something that might not work.
We took a significant chance when we decided, almost out of the blue, to invest in a new business with friends—armed mostly with good instincts, passion, and a shared belief that people are craving connection and a warm, inviting place to experience it. That leap has brought us opportunities to meet new people, share our passion, learn constantly, and operate far outside our comfort zones.
We’ve grown. We’ve learned what works, what doesn’t, and how to keep adapting. Entrepreneurship is the gift that keeps on giving—there’s always something new to navigate. At the end of the day, it comes down to attitude and perspective, and I’m grateful to be part of a team that shares the belief that life is short, and while we’re here, we want to take chances.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thederbybar.co
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thederbybar/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Derby-Bar/61573435777558/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thederbybar
