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October 2, 2008

‘Rhythm & Brews’ bar to open on Front Street

By Jennifer Jacob



jjacob@themeridianstar.com



If all goes as planned, the old McLemore building on Front Street will soon be transformed into a lively night spot featuring national and regional musical acts.

The building was recently purchased by Brad Wyatt, who owns the successful Rhythm & Brews bar in Tuscaloosa. The Meridian club will also be named Rhythm & Brews and will be modeled after its Tuscaloosa counterpart.

Wyatt said he hopes the bar will be open in eight to 10 months.

During the renovation process of the blighted McLemore building, Wyatt said the third story will be removed. He plans to house all of the bar downstairs, and is toying with ideas about what to do with the second floor. He said he may transform it into an apartment to accommodate out of town bands or a room for private parties.

In Tuscaloosa, Rhythm and Brews features country and rock bands —including a few national acts like Confederate Railroad and Shenandoah — and Wyatt said he plans to book similar acts in Meridian.

"We just want to bring some stuff that people don't normally do (in Meridian)," Wyatt said. "Try to bring in a few celebrities and things."

He said he'll also be looking for top notch local acts, but that they won't book just anybody. He aims to give the bar a reputation for always having good live music.

"We want people to say 'There's always a good band at Rhythm & Brews, let's go there.'"

Wyatt said he aims to give the bar a laid back vibe in the late afternoon, and a more raucous atmosphere at night.

"What we're going to do is going to be liked by everybody," he said. "People will come out, dance, and hang out."

He said he thinks the bar and the bands that play there will draw business from the surrounding counties.

Though Meridian is smaller than Tuscaloosa, Wyatt said he feels pretty good about opening the bar here. He said friends here made him aware of Meridian's roomy night life market.

"We just saw there wasn't much stuff for people to do there," he said. "We've just got a

lot of confidence in what we're going to do."

Wyatt said that he initially planned to put the club closer to the interstate, but eventually decided that Meridian's growing downtown would be the best — and most affordable — location.

Wyatt hopes to support local businesses through Rhythm & Brews, and in particular hopes to use only Peavey sound equipment. Rhythm & Brews will feature a full bar. Wyatt said it may have a kitchen sometime in the future, but will start with just a bar and entertainment.

To find out more about Tuscaloosa's Rhythm & Brews, visit www.rhythmnbrews.com.

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