Carl Radke was famously advised not to go into a brick-and-mortar business by his ex Lindsay Hubbard. It was a pivotal moment for the former couple, as Carl didn’t feel supported in his dream to open a non-alcoholic bar. Well, perhaps Lindsay had a point that the Summer House star is now seeing.
On Season 9 of Summer House, Carl debuted the Soft Bar van which he is currently using to sell his products. The physical location in Brooklyn has yet to open. And in a subsequent episode, he discussed the level of risk he took in this business venture with Loverboy founder, Kyle Cooke.
Carl Radke recognizes risk of bankruptcy with his non-alcoholic bar
A sneak peek for the May 7 episode, shared by Bravo’s The Daily Dish, laid bare the extent of the risk Carl took on with the business venture. He told Kyle and Jesse Solomon he was “about to sign” a $10K a month, seven-year lease for Soft Bar.
The entrepreneur revealed that he wasn’t familiar with the details of commercial leases. Kyle questioned how Carl could “get out of it” should a “worst-case scenario” happen.
“It’s called a good guy clause. You could have someone take it over,” Carl explained. “Or, horrible world, if we have to file for bankruptcy, there’s still some flexibility.”
The location for Soft Bar is a “huge” industrial warehouse space that boasts 23-foot ceilings and a large garage door.
“We have a good business model,” Carl insisted. “I mean, listen, it’s risky, I know that, but I’m just so passionate about this. I’m doin’ it, so …”
Kyle always proved a supportive friend to Carl. And in this case, he suggested that there are always “naysayers” and “people taking jabs.” He wanted his former VP of Sales to move forward with the dream despite it being a risky business venture. Of course, one of those “naysayers” was Lindsay.
“I feel like every now and then Lindsay will throw a jab,” Kyle said. “How’s it been handling that? Obviously, she’s not, like, jumping up and down for Soft Bar…”
Summer House fans will recall how Lindsay joked that she’d rather watch “paint dry” than attend Carl’s Soft Bar event. However, he wasn’t surprised as he “didn’t expect” her support in the first place. The “jabs” were just as predictable.
“If you really want my honest opinion, she’s still, really deep down, she’s not hurt, she’s just embarrassed,” he continued. Perhaps Lindsay is “trying to feel better about the embarrassment she’s feeling.”
The Soft Bar location will be opening in the summer of 2025.
Catch Summer House Wednesdays at 9/8c on Bravo and Hayu in the UK and Ireland.
TELL US – WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO CARL’S LEASE? WAS LINDSAY’S CONCERN VALID?
