Parkside is a quickly growing neighborhood of Birmingham, home to Railroad Park and Regions Field, as well as several new residential developments. While Parkside has two breweries and several bars, it has not yet attracted the upscale cocktail bars that populate other areas of Birmingham, such as First and Second Avenue North. With the growing population of students and young professionals in Parkside, there is an opportunity for an immersive cocktail experience that is attractive, exciting, and delicious.
The Denham Building is the ideal location for Tucana Tiki Bar, both inside and out. Ample sidewalk and balcony seating allows our guests to both see and be seen in this up-and-coming neighborhood. The front door brings guests into our experience by immersing them immediately in the glamorous tropical vibe of the Main Bar with a view of the beautiful bar just over the horizon. The mezzanine Constellation Room, with its cozy seating arrangements and disco-ball stars, will be a sexy and whimsical playground within the Tucana world. Bringing this beautiful and historic space back to life with an exciting bar concept Birmingham hasn’t experienced before presents a thrilling marriage of old and new.
Tucana Tiki Bar will provide exotic concoctions in a fun, tropical atmosphere with lots of surprises. It is the brainchild of Nicky Vann, a native Alabamian who has been in hospitality from a very young age. She discovered a passion for craft cocktails at Ollie Irene and eventually became the general manager of Queen’s Park, the city’s classic cocktail bar. She has been studying classic cocktails for years, which lead her to her one true love, tiki.
Tamara Sansbury is a professional hobbyist whose interests include interior design, gardening, and, of course, cocktails. Besides leading several volunteer organizations and a political campaign, she is an original member of the Queen’s Park Hotel Registry and has assembled one of Birmingham’s best home bars. After enjoying tiki bars across the country, she wants to bring the fun to Birmingham.
Michael Sansbury is a managing member of Spotswood, Sansom & Sansbury LLC, a complex-litigation boutique in Birmingham. He is the President of the Birmingham Chapter of the Federal Bar Association and has served on the Vestry of the Cathedral Church of the Advent and on the Board of the Alabama Ballet and Mockingbird Ministries. He owns a large number of tiki mugs and one of the most comprehensive rum collections in Birmingham.
Cover Photo: The Denham Building/Instagram
