I had to admit it was a great idea. Though I still wondered how well it would be received a couple of years ago when Alton Brecker invited me over to show me around a back room he was in the middle of renovating on State Street downtown Savannah.
The room sat in a tucked away section of a space that had been divided into a number of different businesses, including a local tour company. It was anchored by a brand new tiny concept called Mint to Be Mojito. A small bar specializing in the, you guessed it, mojito. There would be a few bites to eat, but it had appeared that this had been created as a pit stop for foot traffic to enjoy a beverage or a bite.
Alton agreed to operate the space with a friend who is also a local business owner.
They’d operate the mojito bar and he would try to figure out what to do with the rest of the space they shared. The tour company eventually left. A large majority of their space was unused.
Enter the Speakeasy.
His idea was to create a back room that offered nothing but Champagne and sparkling wines. In a small maze of a space with bathrooms and infrastructure for the business up front, there was only one way in and one way out. For customers, anyway.
They made the door a bookshelf across from the men’s and ladies rooms.
If you didn’t know, you didn’t know. It was straight out of Willie Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. Your options were a bookshelf, a bathroom, or go back the way you came.
Unless you knew which book to twist. That opened the door into the entire back area, which had been made to look tropical, but dark and hidden. Frankly, it became one of Savannah’s most curious hideaways. Very popular too.
The selection of bubbles were there to appeal to the masses. Some higher end stuff, but mostly the kind you’d grab after work to bring home. Which was more than fine. It hit Savannah’s tourist sweet spot.
Alton was rolling. Until the day he wasn’t.
The circumstances under which Alton found himself on the outside looking in on the State Street concept are likely up for debate. In business, there are always multiple sides to a story. What we do know is that attorneys got involved and confidentiality agreements were signed. At which point Alton found himself looking for a new space to recreate his bubble room.
Mint to Be Mojito, meanwhile, has expanded and is now offering its own “Speakeasy” experience.
That whole version of the story is soooooo 2021. A tired bit because Alton believes he’s taken a difficult situation and made it better.
Bar Bubbly Savannah is on final renovation approach at 38 Whitaker Street next door to Circa 1875 and directly across the street from the very popular “Flock to the Wok” Chinese restaurant.
Location, location, location.
This space is significantly bigger than the last and is in position for a ton more foot traffic. In my brief chat with Alton, he expressed a little concern about doing something this big, but he also knows that if it is done well, he won’t struggle for business.
The Whitaker Street corridor from Bay to State where you can find New Realm Distillery is heavily traveled on foot. There will be no shortage of people popping in and bachelorette parties pit stopping for a few more ‘woo hoos.’
The plan had been to be open for St Patrick’s Day (of course), but it is coming very soon. The renovation from a wedding cake bakery to bubble bar is almost complete. Once that happens, it all goes into the City’s hands. You know how that goes.
So it would appear we have a happy ending on the horizon.
A toast or three will soon be in order for Alton’s all new Bar Bubbly Savannah. You can follow him on Instagram for the play by play of the work being done. I do have to say, Alton shared quite a bit with me for this story, but he never once did express any ill will about his experience.
“I was disappointed, but I learned a valuable lesson.” he said.
And everyone is moving on.
