Pack Your Knives Savor Charlotte Edition Ep 5 - Justin Hazelton
Jun 11, 2026
Justin Hazelton, Charlotte-born mixologist and proprietor of Lorem Ipsum listening bar, mixes craft cocktails with curated music and vinyl culture. He discusses founding Charlotte’s first listening bar, inspiration from Japanese jazz kissa, plans to expand into a dedicated listening room and café, and why staying local shapes his creative approach.
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Listening Bar Links Sound To Cocktail Craft
- Lorem Ipsum is built as a listening bar that pairs curated audio with cocktails to create a focused sensory experience.
- Justin modeled it on Japanese jazz kissas and global listening-bar trends to slow down overstimulation and tighten vibe control.
From EKG Tech To Bartender After Burnout
- Justin moved from training in cardiology to full-time hospitality after burnout in the hospital.
- He worked nights as an EKG tech and then as a server, realizing restaurant pressure felt different after life-and-death medical stress.
Medical Training Tuned Him For Bar Rhythm
- Medical training prepared Justin for restaurant pressure through long shifts, pattern recognition and BPM awareness.
- He connects BPMs in music and the rhythm of service to thrive in a listening-bar environment.