The city’s fastest growing block has seen another great business with owners dedicated to the community arrive! Woodlawn Bar & Lounge is now open on 1st Ave North, joining trynab studios, Nmosa Fabrics, and Lehman’s Pizzeria on a stretch of land that also includes the famous works of art from the Magic City Mural Festival. The bar’s owners–Corey Whatley, Quincy Coleman, and Byron Watkins–worked hard with their friends and the community around them to create a beautiful and spacious establishment that features a hookah bar, two levels of social space, wonderful art, and more.
The three entrepreneurs started with the intention of opening a cigar lounge, but soon decided that opening a neighborhood bar first would be the best way to get the community familiar with the brand. The project was planned in 2020, and started taking shape after Corey and Robert Emerick looked at the building in July of that year. Corey would take his dad, then his partners Q and Byron to check out the building in early 2021. It was quickly agreed this was an incredible opportunity, and they got to work on creating the perfect bar and lounge.
They got the building in September and were able to open by January–and the place looks impressive. The entrepreneurs had friends like Corey’s Birmingham Fire & Rescue colleagues Matthew Hill and Mike Thomas, Coleman’s Pro Cleaning, and Interior Designer Douglas Beasley work with their vision to create the ideal atmosphere for the bar. REV Birmingham was another crucial resource that the lounge owners would recommend to any aspiring entrepreneur for advice on start-up budgeting, planning, and getting to the point of being open. “They still come and network with us, and make sure we’re good.”
The goal is to provide the community a place to relax. “After a long day of work, just come in and take a breath. Have a drink,” Corey shares. Drink options include favorite beers from local breweries and a wide selection of cocktails. “The Wood” is the bar’s signature drink, but is also meant to be a tribute to the neighborhood they call home. Beyond the naming similarities, the Bourbon-based beverage lets customers see their dollars directly impact the community through four $500 scholarships the business will be giving to Woodlawn students in May.
The lounge also aims to uplift hubs like Woodlawn United Methodist Church, Cornerstone, i3 Academy, the Woodlawn Foundation, and more. These organizations show support to the community including the lounger owners, and the three men want to make sure they do the same in return. “If we got it we’re going to share the love.”
Another way they share the love is having a constant rotation of the city’s finest food trucks outside the venue. Tha Vybe, Darion’s Kitchen, and Riley’s Razzle Dazzle are amongst the delicious options that have graced customer’s stomachs. The last time I went featured Backyard Tacos’ quesatacos with consomé dipping broth–now doesn’t that sound fantastic? Woodlawn Bar & Lounge wants to continue featuring new restaurants as well, and believe only good things can happen when Birmingham businesses expand their networks together.
“It means a lot to us,” shares the collective on the opportunity to be a part of the Woodlawn and greater Birmingham communities. They’ve brought on an incredible team of bartenders and are ready to uplift Magic City evenings. “We want to please everybody” is an aspiration and their one request to the city in return is simple–give them a chance and feel free to provide feedback. They have many exciting music and other event nights planned, and are always ready to provide a good drink with some wonderful company and food.
