Cocktail bar owner hits one year mark

Trice Green and his wife, Lynnie Harrison-Green, celebrated the first anniversary of their cocktail bar, Sticks N’ Stones, this summer. The location sits across from the Hoover Metropolitan Complex. The couple has lived in Hoover for years. Green graduated from Hoover High School in 2007 and played college basketball at Virginia Union University. Harrison-Green works as a physician assistant.

Neither partner had worked a shift behind a bar before opening the venue. Green said that lack of experience is central to the business model. He described the approach as coming from the patron side. The couple built the room for the people who would be sitting in it.

They aimed to solve a specific problem: a place to celebrate without choosing between a serious meal and a night out. The result is a cocktail bar with a short kitchen menu and a dance floor. The drink program was developed with the help of Jesus Mendez. Mendez is a Birmingham restaurateur who runs Salud Taqueria, Adiós, Unos Tacos, and The Louis Bar.

Green said the couple worked through gaps in their knowledge by leaning on mentors. The menu is designed to be cooked well rather than long. The main item is a 14-ounce ribeye. A red wine-braised short rib rotates in seasonally. Wings are roasted instead of fried and offered in three flavors.

The cocktail list features house creations named after local areas. These include the Grayson pecan old fashioned, the Knox Square margarita, and the Leech’s martini. A gin drink is named the Ginnie Hendrix. Green said the hardest part of the business has been staffing. He noted that hiring in hospitality after the pandemic remains challenging.

The owners have been selective about hiring. Green said they want staff who care about the culture of hospitality. He added that they employ career people who intend to stay in the industry. He said this matters more than experience on paper. Sticks N’ Stones is at 5852 Elsie Road in Hoover. It is open Tuesday through Sunday. Hours vary by day, and the bar does not take reservations.