By Lily Allen-Dueñas, JEFAS Magazine
In Iowa, where get-togethers often mean a cooler stocked with beer or a table with a few bottles of wine or spirits for guests to self-serve, Martha Sandoval saw an opportunity. People should not have to fend for themselves at formal occasions or special gatherings when it comes to drinks and cocktails. Hiring a private bartender can carry a hefty price tag, something that is not always in the budget so Sandoval created Bar-Tini Mobile Bar, a Des Moines-based service that brings elements of refinement and convenience to any event with economical, professional on-site bartending services.
Originally from Guadalajara, Mexico, Sandoval moved to the U.S. at 17. Her life in America started with odd jobs, but her ambition never waned. She mastered English, earned an associate’s degree, and carved out a successful career as a paralegal. However, Sandoval has the heart of an entrepreneur, and she knew she wanted something that was hers and hers alone—enter Bar-Tini.
Sandoval’s breakthrough came during a trip to Mexico, where she helped her brother with his taco trailer business. She encountered a mobile bar service at a party, inspiring her to imagine her own in Des Moines. “People just have bottles on tables, and then it’s good luck, figure it out for the guests,” she explains. Bar-Tini solves this by offering pre-paid, stylish drink solutions.
Launching in the wake of the pandemic, Bar-Tini Mobile Bar faced the inherent challenges of a new business, especially without a liquor license. Sandoval’s innovative thinking turned this limitation into a cost-effective strategy that makes her business unique. By not providing alcohol, she keeps her services affordable, charging significantly less per drink compared to competitors in the area. Her clients provide their favorite liquor or she provides them with a shopping list based on the drinks they want for their guests. She can create custom concoctions and mocktails. Alternatively, she partners with distributors who can deliver the alcohol to the client if needed. “Liquor licenses are expensive and difficult to get, this keeps things easy,” says Sandoval.
Photos by Jennifer Marquez / JEFAS Magazine
Bar-Tini’s signature offerings, including an array of mojitos and margaritas—from grapefruit to dragon fruit—highlight Sandoval’s commitment to freshness and quality. “When it comes to the fruit, I juice it myself,” she proudly states. “And you have to try my mangonada. It’s super popular thanks to TikTok.”
Sandoval’s business is booming. She’s whipping out more drinks than ever before, and it helps to have more than a decade of bartending experience in her back pocket. She’s hoping to expand throughout Iowa, providing incredibly personalized, fully customizable experiences for anyone hosting a party or a special gathering and knows that having a mobile bar and bartender on hand goes a long way to making an event memorable.
As a Latina entrepreneur in a male-dominated industry, Sandoval pays it forward by serving as a mentor with the Latina Leadership Initiative. “Don’t neglect your dream,” she frequently advises, a mantra she lives by as she builds her business not only for herself but as a model of entrepreneurship for her children, especially her daughter. She hopes to inspire her by showing that persistence and courage can turn dreams into reality, regardless of the obstacles encountered along the way.
You’re never too old or too young to follow your dreams. “There’s no timeline. There’s no time limit. There’s no end,” Sandoval says. “Dreams don’t have an expiration date. It’s never too late to turn your vision into reality.” Sandoval’s journey from newcomer to sought-after entrepreneur illustrates the power of vision fused with determination. In Des Moines’ bustling event scene, her Bar-Tini Mobile Bar doesn’t just serve drinks, it delivers an experience, one meticulously crafted cocktail at a time.
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