Mom’s Basement brings dive bar to Birmingham
Mom’s Basement co-owner Wes Frazer said the newly opened bar in Crestwood is one of the few hidden gems of dive spots within city limits.
Frazer, also a local photographer, said it took the four owners — himself, Seasick Records owner Dan Drinkard, Rae Baker and Patrick Nelson — about a year to get the dive bar open, since they all have other businesses and local jobs.
Located at 4411 Third Ave. S., below Sheppard’s Pet Supply in The Shoppes on Crestwood Boulevard, Mom’s Basement has a grungy, lovable personality unlike any other bar in Birmingham.
“You just kind of know it [is a dive bar] when you go in there, aesthetically you see it,” Drinkard said. “We only have canned beer; it’s a no frills bar, a place where you hang out with people you know. The bartenders aren’t wearing bowties and we do not have fancy cocktails.”
Plus, as per the name, it feels like your mom’s basement, he said.
“But it is open to everyone,” Drinkard added. “It’s a place for friends,” which is also their slogan.
Mom’s Basement opened May 8, strategically timed for Mother’s Day weekend, and rocks an ’80s vibe with a token pool table. The bar sports low lighting and several mismatched couches, along with a couple of multicade systems, an old-school photo booth, darts, vending machines, board games, cards and foosball.
“It’s a cozy place. People feel like they’re at home,” Drinkard said. “I feel like it’s a second home already.”
The process of decorating — which includes hanging up pictures of moms near and far — is ongoing, Drinkard said. They plan on covering the entire walls with photographs of moms old and young.
“It will be like a dive bar at the beach with those dollar bills with signatures stuck to the wall, except with pictures of mom,” Frazer said. “I want the bar to be covered with moms, so bring pictures with frames.”
The bar, who people are starting to call Mom’s for short, offers an assortment of domestic, local and specialty canned beers, in addition to boxed wine. It also sells Uncrustable Sandwiches, and if the bar isn’t packed, Frazer said they sell Bagel Bites and Pizza Rolls by the dozen or half-dozen. Once they get their liquor license, they will sell well drinks.
With the abundance of parking spaces in the shopping center, Frazer said parking should be a lot easier than it is downtown.
“There aren’t really any [bars] on this side of 41st Street,” Frazer said. “I wanted a bar that even if I wasn’t working there, I would want to go to [it].”
Frazer said they are in the process of getting “after-school” happy hour specials, in addition to creating trivia nights on Mondays and “two-step Tuesdays.” Occasionally, they will host events and performances, he said.
Find out more at momsbham.com.