Posted Oct 1, 2006, 1:32 PM
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Midtown Montgomery
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: Montgomery, AL
Posts: 1,231
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Downtown house gets a new mission
By David Irvin
Montgomery Advertiser
A new venue has entered the downtown jazz scene, bringing the term "swanky" right back to the Capital City.
Based off a similar design in New York, the Mission House opened two months ago in a century-old house at 461. S. Court St., right next to the Alabama Historical Commission and a few blocks from the federal courthouse.
Business leaders and local officials are excited about the club, which uses a tasteful blend of art, music and drink to create an atmosphere conducive to making deals.
"We feel that we are on the beginning wave on what is coming in downtown Montgomery," said Bryan Wooden, general manager of the Mission House, citing the extensive work being done at the city to revitalize the historic streets of Montgomery.
Downtown has long been a home to jazz -- the Sous La Terre jazz club has been operating for decades -- but the management of Mission House is trying something a little different.
"It is a brand new concept to Montgomery,"Wooden said.
Upon entering, visitors are immersed in cool jazz rhythms played throughout the wood-floored house, painted in warm, dark colors.
The high-ceilings of the Mission House leave plenty of space to decorate. Black and white pictures of famous jazz musicians like Miles Davis adorn the interior walls and original art from Montgomery artists adds a spark of color to many rooms.
The house's interior rooms were named after streets downtown, a sign, said Wooden, that the owners are dedicated to the city's downtown revitalization plan.
"(Young professionals) are the ones that appreciate the ambiance. They like the way it looks. They enjoy the crowd that gathers there," said Janet May, the city councilwoman who represents the district where the Mission House is located.
Wooden said that is the crowd they want to attract. With $7 to $8 cocktails, they are succeeding so far.
Most nights the facility is only available for rent. But it opens to the public at 5 p.m. Fridays and management is looking at expanding to another day of the week. It doesn't close until 2 a.m. Saturday.
Management is still filling dates at the present rental rates -- $200 to $300 will rent a single room in the house and accommodate 20 to 70 guests. Renting the whole house, which includes a bar, rooms and patio, and can accommodate 250 people -- costs $1,100.
The organizers of Minority Enterprise Development Week rented the Mission House for a mixer in September.
One of those in attendance was Douglas Jones, the vice president of small-business development for the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce. He said the response from the business community was "very favorable."
Business leaders commented "that Montgomery needed some place that had that kind of atmosphere, where people could casually converse," Jones said.
Wooden said that is part of the plan.
In about a month the Mission House will begin selling memberships to its "5:01 Club" for business or civic leaders who want to come to the venue mid-week with clientele or just to get caught up on the latest business gossip.
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