Perched above the water at 200 Lakefront Drive in Mineral, a new venture is turning up the volume on the local social scene and bringing a bold new energy — and it all started with a karaoke night and two women who saw untapped potential where many others just saw empty space.

The Bougie Breeze Tiki Bar officially debuted April 1 on the upper deck of Vito’s Italian Restaurant & Grill at Lake Anna and is hosted by The Lounge, bringing what owners describe as a fresh “Margaritaville-vibe” to the lake. But behind the frozen drinks, signature pink merchandise and breezy atmosphere is a unique collaboration between a growing circle of Lake Anna entrepreneurs — determined to shake up the culture with tropical decor and panoramic lake views.

Although multiple individuals played a role in bringing the concept to life, the project largely grew from the innovative spirit of Devon Dempsey and Jennifer Bailey.

While the two women had already formed a friendship, they first worked together professionally on Nov. 21, 2025 during the Mistletoe Benefit Holiday Auction at Lake Anna Winery, an event organized to support single mothers. According to the pair, the fundraiser generated $15,000 in a single night and highlighted the impact collaboration could have within the Lake Anna community.

Not long after, during a Thursday karaoke night at The Lounge, Dempsey found herself staring at the unused patio overlooking the lake and questioned why it was not being utilized.

“In my mind, I knew exactly what I was going to do and who I was going to approach to collaborate with me on this,” Dempsey stated. “So we come here [at The Lounge] on Thursday’s because Jen [Bailey] is a beautiful karaoke singer…I approached her afterwards and said, ‘what do you think about this?’ And she said, ‘I’m in’.”

For Dempsey, the move fits a larger personal mission.

Originally from a small town in West Virginia, she said she developed a passion for collaboration while living in Virginia Beach for 17 years. When she eventually arrived at Lake Anna, she wanted to bring fresh energy with her and shake things up.

Bailey said their partnership works because they share the same relentless drive and strong work ethic.

“I’m going to be honest here — we’re both very hardworking women of Lake Anna and we both have been entrepreneurial. That can be kind of rare,” Bailey stated. “Devon definitely brought the energy up…she has this wild skillset of being able to leverage resources and people in a very positive way.”

Bailey is already a familiar name around the lake through her publication Lake Anna Breeze and the Lake Anna Media Group, where colleagues describe her as a strategic marketing and branding expert after building a reputation as a “go-getter”. She also serves as lead vocalist for the sixpiece 70’s cover band “Lake Dawgs,” performing classic rock with soul at venues across Lake Anna and beyond. The band is scheduled to perform at The Lounge in June and at Callie Opie’s Orchard on Friday, July 11.

Dempsey, meanwhile, has built her own brand with the Bougie B*tch wine collection, which currently includes five varieties in distribution, including a Chardonnay, a Pinot Grigio and a rosé bubbly, all leaning toward the dry side.

According to Dempsey, the name originated after an unpleasant encounter with someone at a winery years ago. Rather than taking offense, she embraced the phrase and turned it into a brand centered around confidence and selfexpression.

Now, her message is simple: own your bougie.

“Do whatever makes you feel good — I don’t care what it is,” Dempsey stated, describing herself as the bougie behind the bottle. “Whether it’s sweatpants, sunglasses, riding in the car with the windows down and the music up — whatever makes you feel good — own it.”

Naturally, the pair merged the names of their individual businesses to create the Bougie Breeze Tiki Bar, complete with the official and unapologetic tagline: “It’s Breezy, B*tches.”

After receiving approval from Vito’s owner Rosie Taormina, the vision quickly moved from idea to reality.

Bailey’s husband David — better known locally as the Pirate of Lake Anna — took charge of designing and handbuilding the tiki bar himself in their driveway before it was transported to the upper deck overlooking the water.

For David Bailey, the project represents more than just another business venture.

“Everybody being involved in this is like its own little microcosm and its own community with ideas coming together,” David stated. “People can now have a drink or a non-alcoholic drink and enjoy the view and the peace that makes up our community at Lake Anna. It’s the land and the people that make all of this what it is and we like to see everybody coming together.”

Once the tiki bar was installed, the group said that the momentum came fast and customers began pouring in.

According to The Lounge manager Ray Riddle, the timing aligned perfectly for the establishment to serve as a host.

“This was just the icing on the cake, because we just renovated all of this,” Riddle stated. “It’s all still a work in progress but this is definitely cutting edge. There’s a lot of great spots at Lake Anna, but we just wanted to provide that Margarita-vibe and a more luxurious and modern feel.”

The menu leans heavily into the tropical escape aesthetic, featuring drinks such as the Bougie Breeze Mimosa made with Bougie Bubbly, Tito’s Vodka, pineapple juice and orange juice, along with the Bougie Rosé Perrier, the Frozen Frosé and the full Bougie B wine selection.

The establishment recently added a slushie machine as well.

Abiding by Virginia ABC regulations, customers who do not finish their drinks on the premises are also permitted to leave with them.

“Bougie to go,” Dempsey said with a laugh.

The tiki bar is also offering merchandise, including signature pink tank tops emblazoned with “It’s Breezy, B*tches” and blue shirts featuring the phrase “Cabana Boy.”

Looking ahead, Dempsey said she believes the response from the community shows the concept filled a void at Lake Anna, and she is excited for the journey ahead. For Bailey, the Bougie Breeze is less about a single launch and more about what happens when ideas, relationships, and timing collide on the lake. With business already flowing and a signature aesthetic taking hold, its founders say the vibe is real, and far from finished.

“We’ve had so many people come up to us and say, ‘thank you so much for bringing a new vibe to Lake Anna’, so I think this was really needed here,” Dempsey stated. “And I’m sure with this girlfriend right here [Jennifer], we will have something else up our sleeve before you know it.”