Shana Race Opened Pals Cocktail Shop in Chinatown
The veteran bartender established a new teaching bar and bottle shop after three and a half years of development.
Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Cocktails
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In 2026, bartending veteran Shana Race opened Pals, a new cocktail classroom and bottle shop located at 555 N. Spring Street in Los Angeles' Chinatown. The physical space serves as a permanent base for her company, featuring a teaching bar and inclusive spirit-free options.
Why it matters
After pivoting to online instruction during the 2020 pandemic, Race sought a dedicated community space to expand her brand. The shop aims to provide a welcoming, friendly environment for enthusiasts to learn mixology.
Pals operates at 555 N. Spring Street following a three-and-a-half-year development period for the facility. The shop features a teaching bar and offers weekly Mixology 101 classes, catering to both alcohol-based and spirit-free beverage preferences.
The players
Shana Race
She is a professional bartender with 20 years of industry experience and the founder of the TalkTales podcast.
Pals
This is a new cocktail classroom, teaching bar, and bottle shop located in Los Angeles.
The details
The business represents the culmination of 20 years of experience for Race, who previously founded the TalkTales podcast in 2018. Customers can visit the Chinatown location for specialized instruction and curated bottle selections.
Timeline
2018: Shana Race created the TalkTales podcast.
2020: Pandemic lockdowns forced the business to move operations online.
2023-2026: Development of the physical shop occurred over three and a half years.
Weekly, Sunday 1 p.m.: Pals hosts Mixology 101 classes.
Culture Shift
The opening of Pals reflects a broader societal shift toward experience-based retail, where consumers prioritize hands-on learning over simple product transactions. This evolution mirrors the transition many boutique hospitality brands have made to bridge digital communities with physical gathering spots.
Residents in Chinatown can access weekly mixology instruction every Sunday at 1 p.m. to improve their home bartending skills. The shop also provides a new local resource for those seeking specific ingredients and non-alcoholic options for their home setups.
The takeaway
Building a permanent home for a service-based business requires significant patience and regulatory navigation. Aspiring entrepreneurs can learn from this model by fostering a community brand online before committing to a physical site.
Further reading
Learn more about the local scene in our Cocktails section.
More information
Find upcoming event details on the TalkTales business and events website.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Los Angeles Downtown News - The Voice of Downtown Los Angeles.
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