ST PAUL, Minnesota — Charles Lovejoy remembers the bloody mary that inspired him to start his own business.
"I was a bartender in the Twin Cities for about 25 years and I was working brunch shifts at a place called The Happy Gnome back in 2010," Lovejoy recalled. "I read a lot of media about other bars' bloody marys. There's one bar that had like 'the best bloody mary ever.' I wanted to check out the competition and see what was going on. I went there and that bloody mary was terrible. It was my first day off in like 6 months and I was just like, 'This is awful.'"
Lovejoy never wanted anyone else to have that same experience.
While still bartending at The Happy Gnome, he created the mixes that would become Lovejoy's Bloody Mary Mix. The St. Paul-based beverage company launched in 2019.
"I've always been kind of going against the grain, going against the rules. We add flavors where there really wasn't before," Lovejoy said.
They use ingredients like strawberry, green pepper and Thai chili in their mixes. Lovejoy's Thai Basil mix is inspired by Vietnamese Pho soup.
Later this week, Lovejoy's will launch its new labels and branding. Soon after that, the company has a new mix coming out called Chimichurri — a collaboration with the Minnesota-based The Salsa Collaborative.
But the spirit behind the brand is personal.
"My mother, at the age of 65 or so, cashed in her retirement and opened a nonprofit called The Family Place. It was the only day shelter for homeless families... in Ramsey County," Lovejoy said.
It ran for 20 years. Margaret Lovejoy said she started the organization after realizing there wasn't an option for families experiencing homelessness.
"I went to Ramsey County and I said we needed day centers and they said, 'Well we don't have one.' I said, 'Well, I'm going to create it.' So that's what I did," Margaret recalled.
Lovejoy said he comes from a family who has a legacy of service. His grandfather was a porter for the Great Northern Pacific Railroad.
"My other grandfather ran a restaurant in Duluth in the '50s, which not a lot of Black people did back then. My grandmother helped run a Montessori school. So yeah, my family has a history of service. My bartending and restaurant experience was part of that but I think that we're hopefully honoring them by expanding that vision," Lovejoy said.
Lovejoy's was founded as a Specific Benefit Corporation. 5% of gross profits gets donated to organizations helping at-risk youth and those experiencing homelessness. Lovejoy estimates they've donated nearly $20,000 so far.
"That means a lot to have your children following in the footsteps that are not just for them, not just for the family, but for the for the entire community," Margaret said.
Keyah Mizer, who does sales and marketing for Lovejoy's, said, "I think that's the fun part... We've gone to like schools like Central High School and we've donated our time there. It's personally changed my life and how I view the community, and where I can get my hands dirty, and where we can help."
Lovejoy, a dad to three, is also grateful for how the business has allowed him to spend more time with his family.
"It's really been a blessing for our family," Lovejoy said.
Lovejoy's Blood Mary Mix will be at the Stone Arch Bridge Festival on June 15 & 16, located in the Culinary Arts Market.
Their products are also in over 150 locations. You can find a store near you, here.