You can count Alton Brecker among those people who thought he had a great idea to start a new business early in 2020. A lot of people were in that boat, without really having a solid grasp on what would happen across America come Mid-March.
“We were open for 19 days before we shut down.” he says.
Since then, there’s been evolution, creativity, hard work and lots of hope.
The space he and business partner Mary Githens chose to open was a tiny 6-8 seat Mojito Bar downtown Savannah on State Street. That was the store front. The space to the back was sub-leased to another business that would potentially draw foot traffic.
Once they were allowed to re-open in May, Mint to Be Mojitos grew slowly and developed a following with Bachelorette parties and other groups rolling through. Now they needed space. Their rooms to the back of the house were underutilized.
“We almost immediately after the shutdown broke out this wall and created the space here.” Brecker says of a room that expanded MTB Mojitos capacity by about 60%.
Still there was room for more.
All the while Brecker tried to figure out what he could do that would compliment Mary’s Mojitos and Latin munchies efforts up front. The answer?
Champagne.
Mint to be Bubbly Bar is that champagne bar set to open Mid-November.
“I didn’t want to do anything that would conflict with the mojitos up front. More so we wanted to compliment each other.” Brecker says.
Yes, Savannah will now have a space where you can enjoy up to about 40 different bottles of bubbles. “We will probably have maybe 7 to 9 by the glass” he says.
Before we get into the nuts and bolts of this new MTB Bubbly space, I think we should slow roll any expectations of what this will be. Personally? I hear ‘Champagne Bar’ and I picture an upscale ‘big city’ kind of space along the lines of our Artillery cocktail bar on Bull Street. I picture the kind of place where you will spend a lot of money. Good bubbles generally aren’t inexpensive. Usually the foods that go along in that kind of space fit a similar bill.
Some would call it pretentious. Others would call it long overdue for Savannah.
It is fair to say that Mint to Be Bubbly Bar will be none of those things.
“We want a place where people will feel just as comfortable hanging out during the day as they will at night.” Brecker says.
The space is larger than I thought it would be. Capacity? Maybe 30-40 comfortably. It has the potential to be dark and cozy. Most importantly comfortable on a hot summer day.
Access to the space, I thought was brilliant. If you walk through MTB Mojitos up front you will come up on a wall that looks like a bookshelf. If you didn’t know, you’d have no idea it was a door. Well, it is. In all of its “Speakeasy” secret glory. The door is controlled by a code that they will give you to access.
There are no memberships, requirements or secret codes involved here. It’s just a door disguised as a bookshelf that is moreso decorative for the hallway it is in.
“Like I said, it was important to me to compliment what Mary is doing up front.” Brecker says. “She does mojitos and beer up front. Back here will be wine and bubbles and some champagne cocktails.”
Speaking of, one of the highlights will be an orange crushing machine Alton purchased to make the freshest orange juice you can find. The juice for your mimosa will be squeezed right in front of you. Gimmick? Perhaps. But I’m certain it will taste better than your average carton brand. Yes, it will probably cost you a little more too.
Which brings us to prices. Alton tells me all of that is in discussion. He expects his average price for a bottle of bubbles will be “Between $20 and $100. My most expensive will be about $375.”
“We will have a big variety for all tastes. Champagne, of course, but also plenty of Prosecco and Cava.”
His food menu will start small and is a work in progress. He would like to offer some munchies, but hasn’t settled on what that final menu will be.
I’m curious to see how this space evolves. Like I said, a ‘big city’ Champagne lounge this will not be. Alton has been a business owner in Savannah for just about 20 years. He’s knows the demos you see on foot downtown and is hoping to appeal to the masses. His approach will reflect as such.
Options are good. Options with bubbles?
Hey, lets Drink It and Like It.
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