It is no secret that St. Clair County is home to wide-ranging and stunning views. Look in just about any direction, and there it is. From a sunrise over lake Logan Martin or Neely Henry lakes to the tranquil setting of Springville’s quaint downtown to the rolling hills, mountains and sprawling pastures of the north, St. Clair is no stranger to picturesque places around the state.
It is a road less traveled, County Road 31 past the churches readying for revival and homecoming, where Anderson Farm comes into view, emerging as yet another picture-perfect destination.
After four generations and not one divorce in the lineage, Toni Anderson Clark and husband Randy, who represent that fourth generation living there decided it just might be the perfect venue to share with others to begin life anew on their wedding day.
Its history is deeply rooted in this soil. Originally, the property sat on 1,000 acres first purchased by William R. and Annie Elizabeth Anderson in 1905. Four generations later, the farm remains in the family, and breathtaking scenery is just a glance away.
From the white-washed front porch swing of the original homeplace with two rooms dating back to the Civil War, one can see for what seems like forever. The rolling green hills of spring rise up to meet a clear blue country sky.
The Clarks utilize features of farm for events. The barn doubles as reception area, complete with pulldown bar or serving area.
Just a few hundred feet from the porch lies an idyllic orchard with fig, pecan, walnut, pear and peach trees that, when in bloom, smell so sweet they bring back lingering memories of another time. Perhaps it was bittersweet – a time when life was slower and simpler, yes, but also peppered with memories of war and loss.
Turkeys and other wildlife run freely through the wide-open fields on the property, which all remain untouched by modern development. Through four generations, there have been many Anderson family members born on the property, including now 93-year-old Ray Anderson.
Anderson is a veteran of the Korean War, having served in the U.S. Navy from 1949-1953, two tours in Korea and being honorably discharged as yeoman second class. Ray is now the only surviving son of the farm’s second generation, patriarch Paden and Cammie Anderson. Ray also had two brothers, Floyd and Jesse, both of whom also served in the Navy during World War II and honorably discharged as yeoman first class. Anderson’s two uncles, Henry and Carl Anderson, to served in World War I.
From left, Dorothy and Ray Anderson, Toni and Randy Clark
“We come from a long line of military service,” Anderson said. “There have been family members that lived here and also proudly served our country from World War I through the Korean War.”
After the war, Anderson packed up his things and used his GI Bill to attend Jacksonville State University, where he studied business administration. It is also where he was introduced by a friend to his now beautiful bride of 64 years, Dorothy Leininger, known to many as “Dot.” The two were married in 1958, shortly after she graduated with her degree in medical technology. At first, she did not let herself be pursued romantically by the young seaman because she was there to study.
“At first, he was just an acquaintance, someone I’d see around campus, and we were friendly,” Anderson recalled. “But I was there to study and graduate first, so I saw to it that I did that before becoming an item with Ray.”
The two settled into married life in Atlanta and had two daughters, Toni Clark and Debbie Williamson. Toni and her husband, Randy, are now the fourth generation to live and work on Anderson Farm.
Ray playfully noted that there has yet to be a divorce in the Anderson family. Dot agrees saying the secret to 64 years of marriage is not luck or money, but hard work – plain and simple. “You just have to put in the work every single day and if you do, well, I think you’ll be just fine.”
Anderson Farm that first gave the Clarks – Toni and husband Randy – the idea in 2014 to transform parts of the farm into a special wedding venue with a breathtaking, million-dollar view of the rolling hills of Ashville.
Since then, a dozen more weddings have taken place at Anderson Farm, homeplace to four generations of Andersons since 1905, including Toni. The Clarks left their corporate jobs in North Carolina behind and moved to the historic family farm back home in Alabama. Today, they care for it fulltime, tend to wedding duties and family members.
“We first started this because we wanted to share the farm’s beauty with others,” Clark said.
Planning a wedding is no easy feat and is often stressful and time-consuming on couples. They make it simple. Anderson Farm offers a wide variety of amenities with one base price of $1,000, which includes the use of the property for up to 100 guests for both rehearsal and wedding dates.
Seating for up to 100 guests is provided, along with several tables handcrafted from the original wood from one of the barns on the property. A bride may choose to use the beautiful, oversized doors for her grand entrance, along with other signage, or the Clarks do allow couples to bring their own decorations and accessories, including signage and seating.
Catering is not included in the package price, but it is set up for easy access. Beer and wine may also be served on the premises, but there must be a person designated to chaperone those who choose to indulge.
A newly renovated bridal suite complete with ample electrical outlets, mirrors and salon seating is also provided for the bridal party for both rehearsal and wedding dates. Adjacent to the bridal suite is also a newly renovated holding room completely decorated with years of mementos and pieces of family history on the farm.
A private bathroom is also available for use by the bridal party, while guests use the outdoor facilities. Under the bridal suite is a partially covered area, perfect for a DJ or band to set up if the couple wishes. Randy is also a wedding officiant. If the couple chooses, he can conduct the ceremony for a nominal fee.
“I tell the brides that come through here that it is all about you and your future husband,” Clark said. “We take care of the majority of the details so that the day can be all about them, surrounded in love.”
During their time in quarantine for the COVID-19 pandemic, the Clarks also used the newly found free time to do some renovating of the original barn on the property. They took out the old hay loft to give way to high ceilings, and they added wedding accents such as new lighting.
The original dirt floor remains today. If inclement weather approaches, the Clarks can quickly move everything from outside to inside the barn as an alternative, or the couple can choose the barn for their wedding, rehearsal or reception area.
“We feel so honored to be a part of a newlywed couple’s journey,” Clark said. “There has been so much love and life here, and we like to think we give some of it to the people who marry here.”
Story by Elaine Hobson Miller Photos by Meghan Frondorf
Outdoor weddings, full meals instead of receptions and the Bohemian look are gaining popularity among today’s brides. So are body waxing, boudoir books, naked cakes and walking down the aisle to music other than the traditional, “Wedding March.” One of the biggest surprises, however, is how the COVID-19 pandemic may have worked in their favor.
“For thepast two years, brides went through postponements and reschedulings, but the benefit from this is that they saved more money up and so have had more to spend on their weddings,” says Amanda Robbins of AMR Bridal & Events. “Now they can afford add-ons like a vintage car for the getaway, a DJ or more lavish tablescapes at the reception.”
AMR was part of the second annual Bridal Show at Springville’s Woodall Building in March. Twenty-one vendors participated, from planners like Robbins to florists and caterers, singers, photographers and travel agents.
“It’s important to hire a planner because of the amount of stress it takes off the bride and her family,” says Robbins, who is in partnership with her husband, Jordan. “There are lots of planners out there. The goal is to find one who sees your vision best and that you can connect with.”
Most planners have packages that fit a wedding couple’s budget and needs, because one size doesn’t fit all. “I meet them where they are in their planning and lead and guide them from there,” says Robbins.
Some people want it all handled for them, while others just want “day of event” planning, according to Dee Wilson of Oh La La in Trussville. “In this area (St. Clair County), wedding budgets usually run from $5,000 to $20,000,” Wilson says. “Brides will allot so much to catering, photography, flowers, etc. I like to see them take that $20,000 they’ve budgeted, use $8,000-$10,000 for the wedding and the rest to pay off a student loan or to put down on a house.”
For the past 5-10 years, brides have been serving full meals more than the simple cake-and-mint receptions. Wilson says it’s cheaper to do a meal than hors d’oeuvres because the latter can mean a lot of pieces per person — usually about seven. “Alcohol is huge now,” she says. “Girls want more of a party, and when you offer free alcohol for four hours, people will party!”
Before the big day
Pre-wedding skincare and skincare parties are trendy with today’s brides, too.
Firming creams to lift faces and tighten thighs can be used in the comfort of one’s own home, says Katelyn Lear, who partners with Pure Romance, a company that specializes in women’s wellness. Lear sells bath and body products, lacy negligees and intimate products.
“One of our skin-firming creams works in 24-48 hours and one in two hours,” she says. “Lots of people are still using self-tanners, which are safer than tanning beds. If you don’t like the results, it (the tan) will fade in 72 hours. We also host bachelorette and lingerie parties.”
Springville’s Beauty Society specializes in clinical-grade skincare. Usage should start at least two-three months before the wedding, according to Ceil McDanal. “Our products are designed for skin repair, not just a quick fix,” she says. “Every person would have a different regimen, depending on their skin type.”
Nadia Johnson says another trend is body waxing for brides-to-be. “With waxing, you don’t have to worry about any body hair throughout the wedding or honeymoon,” she says. “It lasts three to four weeks.” Gaining popularity is the waxing party, where the bride and bridesmaids get together over drinks and have a portion of their bodies waxed. Some choose brows and facial hair, others their necks, legs, underarms or the Brazilian (bikini) wax. “Underarms and legs are really popular during the summer,” says Johnson, an esthetician at Isabella Anya Body Waxing Studioin Springville.
Glow Getters of Trussville also handles spray tans for a bride’s wedding day, bachelorette trips and the honeymoon. The company helps brides host bridal spray-tan parties, too. “People pay individually, and when four or more people buy a spray tan, the bride-to-be gets hers for free,” says owner Ashley Ritch.
Tabitha Austin of Steele is a hairstylist who does hair and makeup for weddings under the name of Beauty by Tab. She says today’s trend is toward a natural, glowy look for the bridal party’s makeup, along with thicker eyebrows. “I use a gel for the brows, because it’s a little easier than powder,” Austin says. As for hair trends, she says the Boho (Bohemian) look is in for brides and bridesmaids, where their hair is part up, part down and has lot of braids.
If a bride and her family don’t want to address dozens of invitations, they can hire Mrs. Scribbles Calligraphy. Kim Kimbrough uses calligraphy, a decorative form of handwriting, to address invitations to weddings, parties and bridesmaids’ luncheons, save-the-date notices and table cards. “I started doing calligraphy in high school and used it to address my own wedding invitations 30 years ago,” Kimbrough says. While the style is more popular now than then, today’s bride usually prefers a more modern script to the Old English font of yore.
Capturing the memories
When a bride is ready to line up a photographer to capture those precious wedding moments, the trend is to record and preserve everything from the proposal to the honeymoon, although not necessarily in that order.
Photography captures special moments
“Lots of brides are looking for highlight trailers, which are photos or scenes that aren’t in chronological order,” says Crystal Gray of Gray Manor Creatives of Birmingham. “We might feature the reception first, then the vows, everything out of order,” she says. Her setup includes drones and creative angles that allow couples the chance “to experience their wedding day in a true, unexpected, cinematic way.”
One of the extensions to the basic bridal photo package is the bridal boudoir book. It contains more intimate photos of the bride for the husband. “We have an app available where they can download the photos and send them directly to him, or we’ll print a hardback photo album that she can give him as a wedding gift to be opened after the wedding, like when he’s getting dressed,” Gray explains.
Boudoir books aren’t something Soulgrown Photography’s Mandy Smith and Kimberly Gaddis wanted to get into. “But people started asking for them. They are very popular,” says Smith. Today’s bride wants “full-day coverage, not just the wedding and reception,” she says. “People are spending more on photography because they want more.”
Modern bridal parties want most of the formal photos done before the wedding so they can enjoy friends and family at the reception. “No more receiving lines,” Smith says. She and Gaddis strongly suggest an “unplugged” ceremony so the cellphones of friends and family taking photos don’t interfere with the professional efforts.
Makenzie Neely, the photographer behind Neely Creative, ofSteele, says it’s trendy to have adventure elopements where the bridal couple escapes to the mountains or seashore by themselves or with close family. “They’ll pick a destination local or away and ask us to photograph the event,” she says. “The farthest we’ve been is Crested Butte, Colo. It was for a Springville couple, and the wildflowers there were beautiful.”
Neely offers hardcover books and print albums, but most couples just print what they like and save the rest on their computer. “I give the pictures to them digitally,” she says. “Most of my galleries are 800-1,000 pics for an eight-hour day.” Some people still do film, but it’s an unnecessary added expense, she says.
The music
When it comes time to select the music for their special day, modern brides don’t always walk down the aisle to the traditional “Wedding March” by Felix Mendelssohn. Often, it’s to “Canon in D” by Johann Pachelbel or Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring.” Just as often it’s to a particular piece of music that is special to the bride and bridegroom, according to three area music providers.
“One couple wanted music by a South Korean pianist named Yiruma, particularly, ‘Kiss the Rain,’” says Kara Lancaster of Kara Pure Music Studio. “Some of his songs sound like raindrops falling.” They also wanted a jazz version of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” during the ceremony. Lancaster, a pianist and vocalist, says wedding parties are walking out to more upbeat songs after the ceremony, too, such as Etta James’ “At Last.”
Rita Allen, who provides vocals over soundtracks for weddings and receptions, says selecting the music usually is a joint effort between the bride and the bridegroom. “A lot of them blend the traditional with the modern,” she says.
Allen, who can sing anything from opera to bluegrass in English, French or Italian, bought the old Murray’s Chapel Church of God building on U.S. Highway 11 in Springville and renamed it Allen Hall. It is now a concert hall, music teaching studio, tea room and event venue.
Lee Jeffrey, a Springville disc jockey who goes by DJ Lee L, sees a trend toward fall weddings. “Summer used to be more popular, but the weather is so blazing hot in summer,” he says. He, too, tailors the music he plays to fit the bride’s wishes, and sees more people foregoing the “Wedding March” in favor of pieces like “Canon in D.”
“They just got tired of the ‘Wedding March,’ I guess,” he says.
The flowers
Flower arrangements are featuring blushes and creams or simply ivory and greenery, with a touch of blue and maybe a dash of something whimsical, according to two area floral designers.
“A touch of whimsy, like pampas grass in arches and centerpieces, is popular these days,” says Hannah Steele of Steele Magnolias in Springville. “Peonies and dahlias are our biggest sellers. However, dahlias are for cooler weather because they wither in the heat.” Taylor, a home-based floral designer, says blue is a popular color used in many weddings now, such as white anemones with blue centers. “Tulips are suddenly being requested, too,” she says.
Simply Sage Florals, inthe Moody-Trussville area, arranges a lot of ivory and greenery at weddings, according to co-owner Tina Locke. “We use a lot of delphiniums with ivory garden roses, for example,” Locke says. “We’ll use them in the bridal bouquet, all the bridal party arrangements and the tables at the reception.” As an alternative to flowers, cylindrical candles and votives are cost-effective and popular. “Some venues won’t allow candles, so we’ll use battery-powered ones,” Locke says. “We might use bridesmaid bouquets as centerpieces on individual tables.”
The menu
Catering is essential.
Five to 10 years ago brides wanted finger foods at their receptions. Today, the biggest food trend is the taco-and-fajita bar, according to Sonya Bates of Our Family to Yours Catering and Events in Springville. “Another trend is stations,” she says. “They might have a ‘mashed-tini’ bar consisting of mashed potatoes in martini glasses with toppings, a macaroni-and-cheese station and a carving station.” Barbecue is always a safe bet at receptions, along with smoked ham, pork, brisket or ribeye at carving stations. Buffets are popular, too. Her brother and partner, Richard Harper, handles the meat side of the business. “Banana and blueberry shooters are popular desserts, usually at the bridegroom’s table,” she says.
Morgan Yundof The Flying Biscuit Cafein Birmingham says people are scheduling more daytime weddings, even as early as 9 a.m. “Then they’re going into brunch afterward,” she says. “Venues tend to be cheaper during the day.” She says weekdays are becoming popular and so are outdoor weddings. “People are getting creative because of their budgets,” she says. She and her husband, Greg, specialize in breakfast and lunch and are known for their biscuits and grits. “Lunch can be shrimp and grits or chicken and waffles, and they can be for breakfast and bridal teas, too.”
What’s for dessert?
What would a wedding reception be without a cake? It might just feature shaped cookies with messages or naked cakes, because both are gaining in popularity among brides and bridegrooms who don’t like a lot of gooey frosting.
“One woman did cookies instead of a cake at her reception because she didn’t like the traditional wedding cake,” says Michelle Green,owner of Sweet Pea’s Cookie Creations in Springville. She makes shaped cookies and decorates them with figures or messages. The latter are popular for teas, showers and receptions and are sometimes used as favors at wedding dinners. She once made boxes of cookies that said, “Will you be my bridesmaid?”
As for that “naked cake,” it has some icing, but most of it is on top, and there is far less decorating involved, according to Anissia Howard, owner of A Piece of Cake in Odenville. “It’s still a traditional three-tiered wedding cake with almond flavoring, though,” she says.
When her own daughter got married last December, mom made a three-tiered cake with whipped-cream icing and decorated it with greenery because daughter doesn’t like sweets. “More brides are ordering cupcakes instead of tiered cakes, and the groom’s side wants cookie and brownie trays instead of a groom’s cake,” she says.
The honeymoon
After they’re stuffed with dinner and cake and drive away in their rented stretch limousine, most brides want to fly off to Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Costa Rica or Saint Lucia, according to two area travel agencies. They much prefer all-inclusive resorts to cruises and adventures.
“Most people have an idea of where they want to go,” says Ashley Ritch of Ritch Travels in Trussville. “Usually the bride selects the destination, and they’ll choose a resort over a cruise. Resorts are letting up on their COVID vaccination restrictions, but cruise ships still require vaccinations.”
Kathy Richards, of Ash Travel in Springville, says all-inclusive packages are the most popular for honeymooners. “All-inclusive means room, food, beverages and tips, and when I book, I include airfare and transfers to and from the hotel. I can book excursions, too.”
Honeymooners don’t go sight-seeing per se, but they do like ziplines, snorkeling, rafting or riding a dune buggy around an island. “People don’t book cruises much because they’re too crowded, and there’s not much privacy for a honeymoon, whereas resorts have nooks and crannies for privacy,” she says.
A big trend at these island resorts is toward the oceanfront, on-the-beach suite where you can swim right up to your room’s door or step out onto the balcony and into a pool. “Suites that have butlers and private pools for just your room are popular, because honeymooners want lots of room service, especially at breakfast,” Richards says. “They stay up late drinking and don’t want to get up early.”
The Ring
Central to the wedding ceremony is the ring, and there are plenty of new options to go along with the more traditional.
Gaining popularity because of its beauty and its price are Lab Grown diamonds, according to Michael Abernathy, vice president of sales and marketing at Griffins Jewelers. They are identical to earth-mined diamonds in every way, except that they are grown in a laboratory above ground.
They have the same chemical, physical and optical properties as mined diamonds and exhibit the same fire, scintillation and sparkle, he said.
“We offer lab-grown diamonds as an alternative choice for our customers. All lab-grown diamonds we sell are laser inscribed ‘LAB GROWN’ on the girdle,” he noted.
Griffins offers both mined and lab-grown diamonds. “We want our customers to know about all options available and to choose what is best for their budget and desires,” Abernathy said. “Lab-grown diamonds allow our customers the opportunity to choose a high-quality diamond at a much lower price point.”
For the groom, some are returning to white and yellow gold traditions, but alternative metals are still extremely popular. A new trend is Tantalum, a rare earth metal that is used in rocket engines, missile guidance systems, electronics and medical implants.
It has a cool dark gray modern color and is listed on the periodic table as Ta. It can be plain or have a textured design.
“These rings are extremely durable, hypoallergenic and will never corrode or tarnish,” Abernathy said. “We can create any style of jewelry you desire. Every piece of jewelry has a story. We want your story to begin with us.”
Over the years, we’ve all grown so accustomed to busy and so numb to noise that we forget. We forget it wasn’t always this way. We forget the magic found in slowing down. We, our collective humanity, manufactured the rush, clamor and overstimulation of today. Sometimes it’s easy to forget there was a time before now when our greatest source of wisdom was rooted in wild things, and we didn’t carry the weight of the world in our back pockets.
But there is still magic that still exists if you know where to look. Out past the city lights and strip malls. Beyond the traffic and the noise. The houses get smaller, and the yards get bigger. Young and old congregate as peers at the local gas station on Saturday mornings to share coffee and the day’s plans. Local law enforcement isn’t above recovering lost pets. People still wave and ask about your momma. Kids still climb trees and roam pastures like small herds of cattle. And “Farm to Table” takes on a more literal meaning.
I know about this magic because I’m fortunate enough to live within its realm, although I didn’t always. I wasn’t born into it. But my four daughters were. They don’t know it yet, but they are part of dying breed: The children of magical childhoods. They also aren’t yet fully aware of the wild magic that surrounds them here. The gentle nods from nature. The ministry of simple things. The natural world in their backyard. Nature’s never-ending testimony for us to bear witness to.
I’ll do my best to remind them, though, to show them, to encourage them to slow down and adopt nature’s pace, to teach them that in life there is no easy fortune at the end. We only get what we put in. If we plant kindness and compassion, we will cultivate it. If we plant love and patience, they will surely grow. And of all the lessons this life has taught me so far, the truest for me is this: Both wisdom and children grow best in wild places.
I will continue to grow my children like my garden flowers: wild, rooted in the dirt, bathed in sunlight and creek water. I pray the earth will shape them just as much as my love. I want them to never to grow tired of the sounds the earth makes when we slow down to listen and don’t interfere. But mostly, I wish for them to live slowly, purposefully and be content. And that, once they see it, they never grow tired of life’s wild magic.
– Mackenzie Free –
Wife, mother, photographer & current resident of the unassumingly magical town of Steele, Alabama
Jay Patel’s story is a classic American success tale. With roots in India, he immigrated at the age of 28 to make his way in the world. His latest business venture in Cropwell is proof that his American dream, built out of the beliefs in work and service he learned in India, is coming true.
A new 9,500-square-foot complex is up and coming on U.S. 231 near Rabbit Branch, and within it, Isabella’s Mexican Cantina is now open for business, along with a new gas station, an impressive bait and tackle selection, soon-to-be liquor store and a “meat and three” lunch spot.
Isabella’s features high ceilings, contemporary art and lighting, as well as inside and outside seating and is quickly becoming a lake community destination spot. The restaurant is also gaining recognition for its trendy menu options, as well as a colorful bar, offering dozens of unique cocktails for any connoisseur’s taste.
Patel has made a career working in retail and is an immigrant from Gugjarat, India, home to Mahatma Gandhi, India’s heralded civil rights leader, as well as many prime ministers of India. Patel now owns four retail stores and one sit-down restaurant from Cropwell to Ragland and all the way to Clanton. The new complex is his biggest business venture yet, and he has a far-reaching vision for it. In total, the new complex sits on 26 acres first purchased in 2020.
Soon, Patel said, the store, also known as Jaybo’s, after his young son, will also offer lunch service, buffet style, with a meat and three menu that changes daily.
“I have found the hot bar is very popular with my customers from my other stores,” Patel said. “It is just one of many ways we aim to serve the community.”
Once the first phase of the project is complete, Patel plans to embark on the second phase on the property, which will include a startup of 100 units of boat storage, as well as residential community of two bedroom-duplexes with garage for rent.
“I lived in an apartment in town for many years,” Patel said. “I did not like it – the maintenance was not good, and there were some not-so-pleasant experiences. I knew I wanted to build a new, clean and properly maintained place for renters to live.”
There are still several more avenues Patel is exploring to complete the sprawling acreage. From recruiting other new businesses and retail shops to the addition of another restaurant, Patel said there are other developments in store for the property.
Patel already employs 14 employees across all his stores, and he does plan to hire more people as the need arises.
Heather Hare, an employee and close friend of the Patel family for years, said she could not ask for a better job or boss. “He is such a hard worker, but an even bigger family man,” Hare said. “It is instilled in his Indian culture that family should always come first, followed by hard work and service, and I have been welcomed by Jay and his family and also learned so much over the years.”
Patel added that he was taught as a young boy in India the importance of hard work and dedication to work. “Our culture is that our children see and learn from our hard work, we mold our children’s work ethic and drive to be successful,” Patel said. “But we also do not groom our children to one day take over for us – but to instead start over with their own businesses or become a doctor or whatever their passion is, so long as it includes service to others.”
Walking through the massive, original wood doors, you are immediately greeted by Beth or Scott as if you were an old friend just returning from a long trip away. They do seem to know most people who walk in; but even if you’re a stranger, you’ll soon become a new “old friend.”
“I fell in love with the place the first time I came,” says regular Renee Wood. “Beth is so sweet. She remembers every little thing about you. She’s caring and goes beyond anything you would expect.”
Wood just found out about the place in October but has been coming to Nichols Nook in Springville every Friday since then. “I look forward to it all week,” she says. “I’m off on Fridays, so we meet my brother-in-law and his wife here and catch up, then go play pickleball.”
Today they are working through the recent loss of her mother-in-law. As they reminisce about her, the coffee shop co-owner, Beth, walks up and joins the conversation. Intently listening, Beth suggests the Nook host a celebration of life for her and in minutes has it all planned out.
Beth and Scott Walker opened Nichols Nook in 2016 after dreaming of what the vacant storefront could be. Scott had visited it many times as a child when it was a TV and stereo shop. It had been many things since then, most recently an interior design shop. Avid walkers, they would walk past the building and comment about all the things “someone” could do with the building. Then it occurred to them that they could be that someone. They began to think about opening a bookstore in the space.
There are many spaces, indoor and out, where patrons can relax.
They got in touch with the landlord, and she liked the idea. Still, they were not convinced they could do it. So, the landlord gave them the key to the building for a couple of weeks. “We would come in here and just sit and pray. We were asking for a specific vision and direction,” Beth says. “We had a general vision,” echoes Scott. “But it’s definitely been organic. It’s changed and evolved a lot.”
Built in 1892, not long after the city was incorporated, the building had been preserved and renovated by the previous owner. Marian Brasher, the building’s current owner, was adamant that she wanted something locally owned that would bring life to the area. The Nook, as locals call it, has become that place. Originally opening as a bookstore and gift shop that offered coffee, it has evolved into a true community gathering spot with full barista service.
In addition to serving a variety of coffee drinks and baked goods, they are a gift store, reading nook, community gathering spot and event venue. They host book clubs, birthday parties, anniversary and graduation events and wedding parties inside and in their two hidden courtyards.
But, Beth says, they don’t want to just rent the space. They want to be able to add to the memories. “The space lends itself very well to being a comfortable inviting space to gather,” explains Beth. “But it’s more about the experience. We learn bits about the honoree so that we can add small personal touches that make it special.”
The key for the Walkers is a focus on community. “We get to know people, and they get to know each other,” says Beth. “We want to be a part of their community. There’s so much going on that it’s important for people to come in and leave the world behind, even if just for a few minutes.”
Many people have walked in for a quick cup of coffee and ended up staying for the fellowship. Some have even become close friends and employees. Loretta came over after work from the kids program she was running at the Methodist church across the street. She now works for them part time for free. She just loves talking to people.
Then there’s Carol, who, Beth says, just walked in one day and said, “I just know I’m supposed to work here.” And now she does. And Bob, an 82-year-old mobile mechanic, who used to have his own coffee shop in Gulf Shores before it was destroyed during Hurricane Katrina, is a faithful customer and mentor. “He’s a great supporter. He comes in, meets people and talks to them. He’s part of what makes this what it is,” adds Scott.
Then there’s Susan, or “precious Susan,” as Beth calls her. She was taking a sabbatical from nursing and came into the coffee shop with her daughter. This was just a few days after they had opened. She immediately hit it off with Beth and Scott and ended up working for them. “I never did go back to nursing,” says Susan. “We have just enjoyed this journey together. It works because they care about the community.”
It’s not a stretch to care about the community that has been so much a part of Scott’s life. A graduate of Springville High School, he is a third-generation business owner in his hometown. His aunt and uncle, “Ma” and Lee Laster, opened the Laster’s Soda Shop and Pharmacy in 1927. When they passed, his aunt, Ovada Burtram, ran it until the late 1980s, when it was sold.
One of the outdoor Nooks
His great-grandfather, Pink Simmons, ran the Simmons Motor Company in Springville. Pictures from these old businesses hang over the couch, an heirloom from his grandmother, in one of the coffee shop’s reading nooks. The couch, itself, has a bit of history to it. Purchased from Bromberg’s in Birmingham in the late 30s or early 40s, it survived being hit by a truck that ran through his grandmother’s house.
Even the name of the coffee shop celebrates family and community. Beth’s maiden name was Nichols. She lost both of her parents to cancer when they were in their 60s. Her mom, Kay Nichols, was a fourth- and fifth-grade teacher in Springville. Her dad, Ron, also loved reading and had an affinity for both coffee and tea. So they came up with the name Nichols Nook to honor them. They believe it’s a place both of her parents would have enjoyed.
It hasn’t always been smooth sailing for the business. They had to shut down in 2019 to realign and improve the business model. Just about the time they were planning to reopen, issues related to the pandemic forced their doors to remain closed. They were able to reopen in the summer of 2021, but then had to close for two months after their family struggled through COVID-19 themselves.
They credit their oldest son, 21-year-old Ben, with being a huge help in reopening the business. “He’s been key to our success,” says Scott. “We couldn’t have made it without him.” Ben adds, “It’s cool to be a part of their business, to see it grow and to see all the people we’ve met through it.”
His future plans will take him away from the family business, though. At the end of the summer, he will begin a job as a commercial pilot. His brother, 13-year-old Sam, may one day take over the barista duties. For now, says Beth, his other interests are “much cooler” than the business.
What could be “cooler” than coffee? After all, President Thomas Jefferson called coffee “the favorite drink of the civilized world.” Coffee may be the favorite drink, but Nichols Nook makes it a favorite experience.
You can find them on Main Street in Springville or on the web at Nichols-nook.business.site.
