While I sat at the end of the wooden bar eating a toasted turkey sandwich and a side of sweet potato fries on a Friday afternoon, I realized why Bottletree works. It is not the music, food or art - at least not separately.
It is the synthesis of music, food and art that occurs inside the walls of this unassuming building in the Avondale neighborhood. The venue is everything at once to each person who walks through the door. Bottletree combines music, food and art to create the ultimate sensory experience. It is a trendy spot to see bands. It is a tasty spot to eat. It is a place to see artwork by local artists. And to more and more Birmingham area residents, it is becoming a place to call home.
"It's organic," co-owner Merrilee Challiss said. "It can evolve and be anything we want it to be."
Challiss said she decided to open Bottletree after she moved back to Birmingham from Philadelphia. Merrilee and Brad Challiss, her brother, saw the opportunity to bring something new to the Birmingham area. The brother-sister duo partnered with concert promoter Brian Teasley. Teasley's company, Secret History Productions, presents shows at Bottletree. The trio envisioned a combination venue, restaurant and art gallery that would attract people from across the state.
"I think there's been a void for the type of music and things we're doing at Bottletree down in Birmingham for a while," Teasley said.
New sounds come to town
The Magic City has never seen the kind of music Bottletree brings to town. Joanna Newsom, The Hold Steady and Animal Collective have all graced Bottletree's knee-high, sparkling stage since it opened a little over one year ago.
Brad said it was difficult at first to persuade bands to give Birmingham a second chance. Many bands were turned off to the city due to bad crowds and bad venues. Fortunately, Bottletree solved both problems. The ample bar space and comfortable atmosphere keeps the crowd happy all the way until closing time. Bottletree also features a renovated vintage Airstream trailer for bands to relax in before the show.
"Hopefully we're creating an environment for music to flourish," Brad said.
The Challisses and Teasley have decided to trust their instincts and bring bands they want to hear to Bottletree instead of pandering to mainstream music.
When asked how he decides which bands to book, Brad said, "If I was a better businessman then I would say bands that bring a lot of people out to the show."
It looks like their plan is working. The 300-capacity venue frequently sells out.
Bottletree also gives local bands the chance to play with their heroes. Teasley said he tries to find local bands that complement national acts to open shows. Birmingham acts Taylor Hollingsworth and Through the Sparks have become regulars at Bottletree.
Tasty eats, too
The menu, like most aspects of Bottletree, was a collaborative effort. Merrilee, a vegetarian, knew she wanted a wide selection of dishes that would provide healthy options for vegetarians.
She looked to The Grit in Athens, Ga., for inspiration. Items such as the blackened tofu tacos keep people coming back for more. Bottletree's vegan chili placed first in The Birmingham News' 2007 Chili Championship.
Eye candy
The interior space of Bottletree is itself a work of art. Merrilee said she chose to paint the floor orange and the walls green, her favorite colors, because it "felt homey, yet funky."
Artwork by Tuscaloosa musician Elliott McPherson currently hangs on the wall to the left of the entrance to the building. A painting of the late Ike Turner hangs on the men's bathroom door, and a painting of Tina Turner hangs on the women's bathroom door to let customers know which door to enter. Old tin lunchboxes sit on a shelf behind the bar to remind customers of that childhood they can't quite leave behind.
Bottletree's most well-known decoration is a large, mounted deer head covered in silver glitter and pieces of a broken mirror. Merrilee classifies all these aesthetics into "Danish modern meets folk art." She said it is not as hard as you would think to find items that fit into this aesthetic if you know where to shop.
"We're huge thrift-store junkies," she said.
The hip bands, eclectic food and funky décor are not just for Merrilee, Brad and Brian though. Their vision from the beginning was to provide something unique for the Birmingham community to share and enjoy.
"I just hope people leave wanting to come back," Challiss said.
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