Imagine if one could travel back in time to post-World War I Great
Britain. What would it be like to sit at the bar in one of those cozy
neighborhood pubs? PBD Holdings principals, Paul Daigle, Brian Peoples, and
David Clarke think it would be something like their newest venture, The Poppy, which
is slated for opening this month.
When it came
to project support, “Things literally fell into place,” said Clarke.
With a few
introductions made on PBD’s behalf, it didn’t take long before community influencers
such as Chris Russell at Cadence Bank, Chad Emerson at Downtown Huntsville, Margaret
Anne Goldsmith, and several others came on board.
“It was very
well-received,” said Clarke. “Huntsville is very business friendly. We were the
first to admit that we needed to build a team, one with good business acumen.
“People we
could trust, and we listened. So many people have helped get to this venture
going, they’ve been incredible.”
The pub’s
name was inspired by the John McCrae’s 1915 poem, “In Flanders Fields.”
“We didn’t
want it to be cliché or cheesy to the point that it would alienate
non-veterans, but we wanted to honor the ‘Great War’ – World War I,” Clarke
said.
When it came
to develop the pub theme, Shane Brown, PBD program manager, stepped in to help.
He was so impressed with the venture, he invested as a minority owner. A native
of Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England, Shane is a true subject matter expert on
pub authenticity.
Inspired by
Old No. 7, Brown’s hometown pub in Barnsley, the interior is 1,400 square feet
of history recreated.
“We wanted
to maintain a conversational atmosphere with a laid back, neighborhood pub vibe,”
Clarke said. “A place where folks can indulge in really good beers, English
beers, cask beers, a niche that’s been overlooked.” In addition to English
beers, there will also be English ciders.
With a 40-foot
bar, said Clarke, “We’re really excited about the bar layout, taps on either
end, beer engines in the center, it’s a very traditional set-up.”
For those
unfamiliar with a beer engine, Clarke said, “There’s a different texture of
beer with a beer engine, flavor profiles are easier to discern, smoother.”
The décor will be red oak, stained black, dark red leather, cast brass
footrails, and stamped tin ceilings.
Pieces from artist Jacqueline Hurley’s “War Poppy” collection will also
adorn the walls.
By the time The Poppy is up and running, The Mercantile will follow
suit in late June. Destined to be a space conducive to larger music acts, and hosting
special events, such as wedding receptions, The Mercantile promises to be that stop
along the way between Birmingham and Nashville, where a national touring act
can stop for the night; play gig, grab a meal, do some laundry, and get a
decent night’s rest.
The designated music “consigliere,” Jake Peters, Quantaphonics
guitarist, said, “Huntsville doesn’t have a venue quite like this. The
Mercantile is the perfect space to comfortably accommodate 700-750 people.”
Like spokes on a wheel, Huntsville is geographically central to
Nashville, Atlanta, and Birmingham, those bigger cities that are usually on a
band’s touring itinerary. The plan isn’t to reinvent Crossroads, that’s not the
objective.
“The idea is to create a space that puts Huntsville on the map for
major events,” said Clarke.
As a venue “Built by Musicians for Musicians,” there will be
significant investment in state-of-the-art sound, light, and stage, to
encourage national acts into making a stop in Huntsville, on their way to their
next big gig.
For special events, there will be a catering kitchen with lots of electrical
capacity. When securing a venue for the October fundraiser, “Chili for Charity,”
event co-chair Pam Bouska said, “The Mercantile is the one event space in town
that can safely accommodate 35 crockpots of chili without blowing fuses.”
“We are giving back, working with local community foundations, and
providing space to nonprofits for special events,” said Clarke. “We are
building good long-term relationships and providing something that the
community can have as their own.”
