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October 28, 2021
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Bartender Felecia Wilson calls restaurants a ‘minivacation’ BY HAILEY FORBIS
Peoria Times Contributing Writer
Bubba’s 33 Battle of the Bartenders winner Felecia Wilson has long been passionate about her career. It was not always in the cards, though. As soon as the Peoria native got a taste of it, she fell in love. “People want to go out to get away,” Wilson said. “It’s like a minivacation for dinner, and it’s something that is so cool to be part of even if it’s something so simple like making a drink.” Wilson is just as dedicated to her hometown. She played softball at Sunrise Mountain High School. The sport followed her through college, as she played at Mesa and South Mountain community colleges, as well as Jackson State University. At the university, she majored in professional interdisciplinary studies with an emphasis in physical education. She continued with her studies at University of Arkansas, where she pursued a master’s degree in the hopes of becoming a collegiate softball coach. After one year of her master’s degree, she returned to Mississippi, where she discovered the service industry.
Battle of the Bartenders as a way to show it is appreciative of its bartenders. Wilson has since won two consecutive years. Battle of the Bartenders is based on the meat-cutting competition of its sister restaurant, Texas Roadhouse. The Battle of the Bartenders has three rounds. Round one is in-house and a battle among employees at each location. For round two, the in-house winners compete in one of seven markets. Round three is the final round with seven finalists. The competition is about making drinks and measuring speed, accuracy, and knowledge of the bar. The multiple winner said she “can’t Felecia Wilson is a two-time consecutive winner of Bubba’s 33 Battle of the even put into words how it feels, but it Bartenders that started as a competition in 2019. The three-round competition feels surreal” about her victory. She’s focuses on how bartenders make drinks measuring their speed, accuracy and just doing her job and having fun with knowledge of the bar.(Photo by David Minton) it. Wilson got her start at a restaurant trusted with an important part of any Bubba’s 33 manager David Lopez called Mugshots, where she worked bar — the drinks. To her, it’s an honor. said the restaurant has “legendary “It’s something they trust me with, food and legendary service.” Wilson her way up to bartender. It was there it clicked. She found something that and I think that’s my favorite part,” she “lives that saying every day at work.” said. “And on top of it, creating things made her happy. A bartender trainer, Wilson was When the time was right Wilson re- that people like. I get to make that called a leader by Lopez. She enjoys turned home to Arizona and her career drink and make that good experience sharing her passion and love for barfell into her lap. Bubba’s 33 was under happen for that person.” tending with those she educates. In 2019, Bubba’s 33 started a comconstruction and looking for bartendLooking to the future, Wilson wants ers. Wilson landed a job there and is petition within the company called to stay up on the field and share what
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