About / FAQs

About Verbena

Verbena introduces a fresh concept – a third space that blends the refined atmosphere of a high-end cocktail bar with the welcoming vibe of a coffee shop. It's a non-alcoholic bar and café offering creative free spirited cocktails and functional beverages. A unique destination focused on mindful drinking, our menu features "drinks with benefits" designed to support meaningful social interactions. These aren’t sugary, overpriced mocktails – rather, we use premium non-alcoholic spirits that either replicate traditional alcohol or serve a functional purpose.

Verbena is also a bottle shoppe, showcasing a carefully curated selection of the finest non-alcoholic spirits, canned drinks, dealcoholized wines, zero-proof aperitifs, and a variety of beverages that cross different categories. Non-alcoholic cocktails aren’t just a substitute and should not be defined by what they aren’t – they open up a whole new world of flavors. We offer free samples on any products we have open and are always happy to send you home with a recipe. Our mission is to guide the sober-curious toward great spirit-free options. What sets us apart as a small, woman-owned business is our personalized service, sampling experience, and dedication to brand discovery.

Verbena is a community dedicated to celebration and inclusion. We believe that everyone should be included in the toast and alcohol isn’t required to elevate the celebration. We offer a wide variety of events to create meaningful connections and normalize not drinking alcohol. We believe in spending quality time with yourself and others in a beautiful space that is welcoming, inclusive, and supportive. A place where you can bring your authentic, vulnerable self and find others that are looking for real connection. We hope to see you soon – cheers!

Verbena In The Media

Woman Up Cleveland

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@layof_theland

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News 5 Cleveland

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Ideastream.org

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Cleveland Magazine

Best of Cleveland 2023
Mompreneur Guide

Episode 122
CLE Foodcast

Episode 82
Guiltless Podcast

Episode 270

About Molly

Molly Cheraso is the Founder and Owner of Verbena Free Spirited Shoppe, Café & Dry Bar: Cleveland’s first café, retail, and gathering space to be completely non-alcoholic (NA).

During the pandemic, Molly found herself reevaluating her relationship with society's daily rituals around alcohol and looking to explore alternatives for both her and her husband. She quickly discovered a world of new and interesting non-alcoholic products available online but noticed a lack of in-store availability in Cleveland. Realizing this was to be the next evolution of her career, she spent a year conducting extensive market research to determine how to bring this new idea to Cleveland. She was lucky enough to work with the amazing team at studio Chartreuse on bringing her vision to life. She was also supported by Harness Cycle who introduced her to Amber Pompeii, the owner of Cleveland Tea Revival, and the Universe took it from there. Verbena Free Spirited Shoppe opened in Cleveland’s Hingetown neighborhood in July 2023 and has quickly become a thriving hub for NA community events.

Prior to founding Verbena, Molly worked for over 17 years in accounting and banking. The busy mother of twins has always loved to cook and entertain. She enjoys fashion, music, travel, Real Housewives/Bravo, meditation, yoga, and reading.

FAQs

Everything we sell and serve is non-alcoholic. To be considered non-alcoholic, a drink must have 0.5% alcohol by volume (abv) or less. While it’s not fully alcohol-free, this minimal amount ensures you won’t experience any intoxication or psychoactive effects. Fun fact – a ripe banana actually contains more alcohol than anything we offer!
De-alcoholized refers to a process where alcohol is removed from a beverage, typically leaving behind the original flavors and characteristics. This results in a drink with little to no alcohol content, usually less than 0.5% ABV, making it a non-alcoholic option that still offers a similar taste experience to the original alcoholic version.
For example, de-alcoholized or alcohol-removed wine is made by following the full winemaking process – pressing, fermentation, and aging – before removing the alcohol.
To do this, most wines undergo "vacuum distillation," a method that heats the wine under a vacuum at low temperatures. This allows the alcohol to evaporate without affecting the flavor compounds, preserving the wine’s complexity. In some cases, producers might add grape juice, grape must, sugar, or flavoring to enhance the body or balance the taste of the final product.
NA products are getting better all the time. These are not the NA products you were served at your cousin’s wedding - it’s a whole new world! We carefully curate our shelves to only offer products that do a remarkable job of capturing the flavors, aromas, and overall feel of their alcoholic versions, but since they’re non-alcoholic (which is the point!), there will be some differences. However, we’re sure you’ll be pleasantly surprised by their quality. Many use warming flavors like ginger or peppers to deliver that signature warmth you often get with alcohol.
Functional drinks are beverages designed to provide health benefits beyond basic hydration, often containing ingredients that support specific physical or mental functions, such as energy, focus, or relaxation. We offer functional products that include adaptogens, caffeine, vitamins, minerals, roots, herbs, kava, hemp, and low levels of THC. Adaptogens are natural substances, typically herbs or mushrooms, that are believed to help the body adapt to stress, promote balance, and enhance overall well-being. These ingredients are commonly included in functional drinks to improve mood, energy, or cognitive performance. Everyone’s sensitivity to these products are different, but we think the “drinks with benefits” are the future!
Our functional products feature adaptogens, nootropics, and other herbs that may not be suitable for those who are pregnant. We’re not medical experts, so we can't provide specific health advice. We recommend checking with a healthcare professional if you’re uncertain.

Everything we sell and serve is non-alcoholic. To be considered non-alcoholic, a drink must have 0.5% alcohol by volume (abv) or less. While it’s not fully alcohol-free, this minimal amount ensures you won’t experience any intoxication or psychoactive effects. Fun fact – a ripe banana actually contains more alcohol than anything we offer!
NA products are getting better all the time. These are not the NA products you were served at your cousin’s wedding - it’s a whole new world! We carefully curate our shelves to only offer products that do a remarkable job of capturing the flavors, aromas, and overall feel of their alcoholic versions, but since they’re non-alcoholic (which is the point!), there will be some differences. However, we’re sure you’ll be pleasantly surprised by their quality. Many use warming flavors like ginger or peppers to deliver that signature warmth you often get with alcohol.
Our functional products feature adaptogens, nootropics, and other herbs that may not be suitable for those who are pregnant. We’re not medical experts, so we can't provide specific health advice. We recommend checking with a healthcare professional if you’re uncertain.

De-alcoholized refers to a process where alcohol is removed from a beverage, typically leaving behind the original flavors and characteristics. This results in a drink with little to no alcohol content, usually less than 0.5% ABV, making it a non-alcoholic option that still offers a similar taste experience to the original alcoholic version.
For example, de-alcoholized or alcohol-removed wine is made by following the full winemaking process – pressing, fermentation, and aging – before removing the alcohol.
To do this, most wines undergo "vacuum distillation," a method that heats the wine under a vacuum at low temperatures. This allows the alcohol to evaporate without affecting the flavor compounds, preserving the wine’s complexity. In some cases, producers might add grape juice, grape must, sugar, or flavoring to enhance the body or balance the taste of the final product.
Functional drinks are beverages designed to provide health benefits beyond basic hydration, often containing ingredients that support specific physical or mental functions, such as energy, focus, or relaxation. We offer functional products that include adaptogens, caffeine, vitamins, minerals, roots, herbs, kava, hemp, and low levels of THC. Adaptogens are natural substances, typically herbs or mushrooms, that are believed to help the body adapt to stress, promote balance, and enhance overall well-being. These ingredients are commonly included in functional drinks to improve mood, energy, or cognitive performance. Everyone’s sensitivity to these products are different, but we think the “drinks with benefits” are the future!