Jessica Moncada was one of the first female bartenders to be hired at the Uptown Oakland bar Flora and now she’s breaking barriers yet again in Oakland’s booming food and beverage scene. 

By opening a Black-owned, woman-owned craft bottle shop, Moncada has established herself in a white male dominated industry that sets her apart from the competition in many ways. By opening Proof: Oakland’s Bottle Shop, she’s living proof that a bartender can work up the ranks to accomplish major things. Besides that, she co-founded a cocktail catering company called Doble Bar, which proves she’s quite resourceful and experienced within this field.

According to East Bay Express, besides the carefully curated selection of bourbons, whiskeys, tequilas, and mezcals, Proof will sell new and vintage barware and host a variety of classes and tastings. Jessica Moncada shared that she wanted to pay homage to the kind of old-school neighborhood liquor store that she remembers seeing when she grew up in East Oakland.

“We definitely need a lot more Black-owned businesses in Downtown Oakland, especially with this surge that’s happening,” she said, bringing attention to Oakland’s current real estate boom.

Proof is set to open this August, Moncada has launched a Kickstarter campaign to help reach her $45,000 goal.