| FOOD Terry, here's an old church, now restaurant/bar opening in Tuscaloosa...

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

You mentioned the idea of the one in Charleston that someone else ended up starting... is this some new trend going on all over?

Abandoned church turns into restaurant and bar - WVUA 23

By WVUA23 News Reporter Callie Cassady A local couple has transformed an old abandoned church into a restaurant. Matt and Nikki Ray say that after attending several benchmarking trips, they wanted to bring their passion for music to Tuscaloosa to the next level. The Sanctuary on 25th has been in...

www.wvua23.com

The Sanctuary on 25th

Created in a old 1920s building, this former church has become a sanctuary for tapas, live music, craft beers and bourbon.

thesanctuaryon25th.com

 

[TerryP]

You mentioned the idea of the one in Charleston that someone else ended up starting... is this some new trend going on all over?

Me and a friend of mine have been looking for a property that's an old church. The one we had our eyes set up on ended up being purchased by another group and turned into a Mexican grocery store/eatery.

I don't know if we can call it a trend. The idea occurred making a play off of "Prayer Wednesday's" that I thought could be "Rare Wednesday" for a steak night. Friday's, easy, it's fried fish.

I don't know if we'll go this route. I've been to places that have bars, but I haven't been to a "bar" in over a year. "The Music Farm," for the music, and they have a bar. There's a soul food place up the street called "Nigels." They have a bar, I'm there for the food.

My next door neighbor just got home from work: manages the BWW. Not my scene anymore (and the food..well, it's just not that good.) He's someone I'd consider a friend. A guy that lives about a quarter of a mile from me has his own bar. I'd rather keep him as an acquaintance, if that makes sense.

If anything...looks like we'll get into a private dining place. No signage. Key card entrance. The only "argument" we're having now is I want to charge $20 for your first beer, then you can have the next five. But, if you only drink two? Oh well. Drink a bucket, cool. Your seventh beer? $20.

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

Me and a friend of mine have been looking for a property that's an old church. The one we had our eyes set up on ended up being purchased by another group and turned into a Mexican grocery store/eatery.

I don't know if we can call it a trend. The idea occurred making a play off of "Prayer Wednesday's" that I thought could be "Rare Wednesday" for a steak night. Friday's, easy, it's fried fish.

I don't know if we'll go this route. I've been to places that have bars, but I haven't been to a "bar" in over a year. "The Music Farm," for the music, and they have a bar. There's a soul food place up the street called "Nigels." They have a bar, I'm there for the food.

My next door neighbor just got home from work: manages the BWW. Not my scene anymore (and the food..well, it's just not that good.) He's someone I'd consider a friend. A guy that lives about a quarter of a mile from me has his own bar. I'd rather keep him as an acquaintance, if that makes sense.

If anything...looks like we'll get into a private dining place. No signage. Key card entrance. The only "argument" we're having now is I want to charge $20 for your first beer, then you can have the next five. But, if you only drink two? Oh well. Drink a bucket, cool. Your seventh beer? $20.

Yeah, that's why I posted... tried to word it that way. The story made me think of that right away when I saw it...

 

[TerryP]

Yeah, that's why I posted... tried to word it that way. The story made me think of that right away when I saw it...

The idea will work. Can you imagine how pissed off some people would be at having a wine special on Sunday's morning...while there is a church service playing on the TV's at noon?

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

The idea will work. Can you imagine how pissed off some people would be at having a wine special on Sunday's morning...while there is a church service playing on the TV's at noon?

The Lord's brunch? Just have some french bread available.

 

[TerryP]

The Lord's brunch? Just have some french bread available.

Ya see. The idea would work.

On an NFL Sunday morning? In a brick building, with a steeple, called "The Church."

Experience speaking here. Wine, in the morning, with women and football? Always works.

 

[rick4bama]

@TerryP you even think about a store front or even a gas station?

 

[TerryP]

@TerryP you even think about a store front or even a gas station?

Yes. I have.

Employee retention is a headache.

 

[TerryP]

@TerryP you even think about a store front or even a gas station?

There is a concept I've looked at that is based off of what some folks in Texas are doing. They have a store, with about an acre fenced in behind the place. Privacy fencing with several gates for food trucks to pull up and open. So, basically, you buy your drinks and stuff in the store and then have a choice of a few food trucks in the back to eat from.