Meet Josh Evans: Isabella's "Mixologist"

In the Boonsboro Shopping Center, Isabella's Italian Trattoria is more than just one of Lynchburg’s finest restaurants; it’s a modern-day Cheers, whose bar was meticulously crafted by bar manager Josh Evans.

With a blend of hospitality, intellect and humor, Evans has created a place where everyone is vying to be these days.

A native of Philadelphia, Evans went from working in corporate finance to being the heart of Isabella's bar.

After attending school at William & Mary, he worked in finance and mergers but after a layoff in the early 2000s, he would enter a career that would eventually become his true calling.

In 2007, Evans joined Isabella's Italian Trattoria, bringing with him bartending skills and an appreciation for relationship-building.

“It’s not necessarily bartending, it's the interaction,” he said. “I wanted it to be a little a little more lighthearted, a little easier, a little more fun.”

Over the years, Evans has lived in various cities across the United States, including South Florida and Charlotte. Yet, it was Lynchburg that offered the perfect blend of amenities and community closeness.

When Isabella's moved to Boonsboro in 2009, Evans, along with owners Cheri and Andrew Barauskas took on the challenge of not only ensuring the restaurant's success but also creating a unique culture.

"I like to think that the clientele we've cultivated and the type of restaurant we are actually bespoke and unique to Lynchburg," Evans said.

He said his vision was to make the bar at Isabella's reminiscent of "Cheers," an intimate place where everybody knows each other.

Central to this vision was the creation of a "Community Table" at the bar, a place where people could enjoy a full-service meal while engaging in lively conversations with friends and new acquaintances alike.

“I wanted it to be intimate. I wanted everybody to know everybody else. I wanted conversations to continue from week to week and month to month. And by doing that, I basically took what would be a bar where people would show up to get a drink and use it as a landing spot,” he said.

Evans’s bartending goes beyond the typical service. It’s important to him to make each guest feel valued from the moment they walk in.

"When I train bartenders, I tell them to greet guests warmly and offer them a glass of water right away," he said. "It's about providing not just a great meal and fun experience but also the sustenance of life."

His nearly two decades in the industry have given Evans insights into human behavior and interaction.

"I've gained a great understanding of how people want to be perceived and accepted in society," he said.

Whether engaging in playful banter with CEOs and surgeons or telling jokes to those looking for a laugh, Evans said he tailors each interaction to the individual.

One of Evans’s skills is his ability to understand how people want to be treated.

"It's almost surgical," he said. "I want these people to know that I'm paying attention. It’s not a cookie-cutter ‘Hey, how are you? Everything's great. Have a good day.’

Evans has a loyal following with 200 people who text him throughout the week and with only 22 seats in the bar, managing those relationships is crucial.

“The proof is in the pudding. My bar is booked up, and it makes you feel great."