Away from my favorite sports spots for the holiday and in an area pretty much "too cool for skool" when it comes to Yelp, my granddad (aka "Papa") introduced me to a hidden gem in the Backwaters area that, while certainly not what a college town kid is accustomed to, does a really great job of giving locals a hideout for a night out.
The Venue
In a little multiplex that also contains a pizza joint and insurance biz, Happy "Ours" is very unassuming. Walk in the door, though, and you start to pick up on plenty of positive energy that sells you on sticking around. A solid row of stools/tables keeps the locals and one-off wonderers comfortable, but the back of the place also leads to a deck area with benches to enjoy this awesome fall weather.
The Vibe
Being that this place is out in the country and in the south of Alabama, you better believe it comes with a lil' southern flare. The group I came across was loud, lively, and in one man's case a little aggressive. They'll bust out karaoke as the night creeps on and you better believe any Alabama or Auburn game will find its way onto the projector/television (they have 1 of the first, 2 of the second). Most of my time was spent watching the Iron Bowl and it was nice to have my beverage brought right to the table so I could concentrate on cheering and chatting. Heck, they even passed out some boiled peanuts on the house!
What's better though is that they truly capture a "come hang out with the family" picture when you show up. Feel like bringing a snack to share? Go for it! More than likely they have something going on, including a grill fired up out back. Be sure to play "Ring The Bull" while you're out there too to help cut through halftime.
One thing I must say: they do allow indoor smoking. The crowd I saw was inclined to prefer that but since they have the backdoor area already I really hope they consider a change of policy sooner or later.
The Bar
Definitely they keep it simple when it comes to what is offered. You've got a full bar but the liquors get no fancier than Crown and the beers no more adventurous than Blue Moon. The sell point is absolutely the service: a simple nod and you'll signal for another round. You can bet they remember your name and what you wanted too. This is the kind of place where you can truly become a regular in every since of the word. Even with my own turf in Gainesville, it took a heck of a while to have servers start to just smile and wave my way after a visit. One of the owners, Jake, was opening up the entire place to help him celebrate his birthday so it's clear they've got something both special and not easily replicated in larger areas.
Final Thoughts
My drink of choice is not soon to be found at Happy "Ours" because, as most know, I'm a craft beer fiend. That said, I brought an orange for slicing into bottles of Blue Moon and was perfectly content getting to people watch, say hi, and meet some great folks. I'll have no qualms with bringing my business back here, but might spend more time outside to avoid the smoking unless they consider changing their policy. But hey, I'm just one guy and seems like the crowd likes it for now so I can take the "when in 'Bama" approach. read more