WORDS Katie Vega PHOTOS Thomas Lucas and Jon Kohn
Mt. Meigs Road. You know, that street that makes your morning commute into downtown 31 seconds faster by avoiding Madison. As a Montgomery native, I am fairly familiar with the road — and no, not just from driving it on my way to work. My earliest memories of Mt. Meigs include going with my dad to take his car to the shop and eating breakfast at Capitol Grill every Saturday morning with my mom after our 5 a.m. yard sale adventures.
Today, Mt. Meigs seems to mirror the images I have in my memory. Car shops - still there. Capitol Grill - newly reopened. But deep in the facades of the mechanic shops, beauty salons, and diners is so much more. There are visions of a community main street—think Cloverdale’s Fairview. The City has used it as a project in their Capital of Dreams campaign. And recently, this vision turned into a live sketch of what Mt. Meigs could be, through Better Block Montgomery. Joe Birdwell, the man who brought the program to Capitol Heights, heard about it through TED Talks, and he decided the best place to bring it was to his own block. Here are some of Joe’s thoughts about his neighborhood:
“We have always had a soft spot for Mt. Meigs, having eaten at the original Capitol Grill many times, gone to the food festivals at the Greek Orthodox Church, and shopped at various places along that road. We even dreamed of renovating and opening our own office space in one of the old buildings there.
We are proud of Mendel opening Kru on Mt. Meigs, and we so badly want to see more businesses return to this quaint little district so close to our home. Mt. Meigs used to be a bustling area, and we want to see it that way once more.
We have seen the neighborhood come together time and time again for projects and initiatives like “Save the 1802” and our growing numbers on our neighborhood message board at Nextdoor.com.
My wife grew up in Capitol Heights, with its wide porches and shady sidewalks, so when it came time to buy a house, we completely fell in love with not only the charming and eclectic old houses, but also the friendly and fascinating people that live in them. We have a lot of young families, professors, artists, and just really interesting people overall. And we love being a part of the new energy and revitalization happening here.”
So let’s have a little history lesson, shall we? Capitol Heights was incorporated as a town in 1907 and became a part of the city of Montgomery around 1926. South California’s Craftsman style influenced the developers, and accents such a decorative beams and exposed rafters are still seen in most of the neighborhood’s gentrified homes. During the Depression and World War I and II, duplexes were built to serve as affordable housing for soldiers and young couples - and these Depression era houses are still serving their original purpose.
Back to present day. The Capitol Heights neighborhood is about as diverse as it gets. While this drives some people away (because, let’s face the sad truth— there are still white people afraid of black people), it draws in the people that thrive off of qualities such as cultural differences, and these are the people most needed to shape Montgomery’s future. I recently met a couple, who I now call my friends, that paint the perfect little picture of what Capitol Heights personifies.
Enter Neil David Seibel and Mendel Brown - one a theatre professor and another a man of many hats - who happily choose to call Capital Heights their home. And there are a couple of facts about these two I would like to point out. One is black, one is white. They are a homosexual couple who have traveled the world and lived in places such as Sweden (the fifth “happiest” country in the world), Hawaii, and New York City. And these two beautiful souls chose to live here - a fact that should make us all proud to call this place home.
And you’re probably thinking, “these people are CRAZY...they left New York to come HERE?” Well friends, as Mendel put it best - paradise is a state of mind, not a destination. And while we are on the subject...can we STOP saying “Montgomery sucks” or “I know...Alabama” when we meet new people. Because if you opened your eyes, you would see what ND, Mendel, myself, and so many others see: a city, deeply rooted in a controversial history coming into its own, with places like Capitol Heights at the forefront.
Okay, back on track...
Always a dreamer, Mendel moved here knowing that he could afford to dream. In New York, he and his partner could have never afforded to do what they wanted. And what they wanted is to give themselves, their neighbors, and visitors from all around a gathering place. Somewhere to be social (or not) with your neighbors, accompanied by a glass of wine or cup of joe. And that’s exactly what they are doing. KRU on Mt. Meigs, (soon to be) Montgomery’s only lounge, will be a third space full of art, world-class coffee, an extensive wine collection, cozy outdoor areas, and comfy sofas (!!!). Housed in a used- to-be abandoned building and clothed in good taste, KRU is Mendel’s baby. And y’all, wait until you see it! I wish I could share every top-secret detail, but I’ve been sworn to secrecy. Just know that you will love it.
The hope for a lot of people is that business owners will follow Mendel’s lead. Think about it... Mt. Meigs is the perfect road for restaurants, shops, lofts, lounges. Rent is cheap. Traffic is steady. And location is pretty perfect. Mt. Meigs is a hop from Cloverdale and a skip from downtown and just beyond the winding porches of Capitol Heights. And already-established business call Mt. Meigs home. Capitol Grill, an eatery featured in Martha Stewart Living, recently reopened its doors after being closed for years. Think sunny-side up eggs, pork chops, and biscuits - a cozy Southern meat and three with a long history. And the sometimes unnoticed Taqueria El Campesino - where you can stop in and get authentic Mexican food made with fresh ingredients, and a Spanish lesson.
Bottom line, put Mt. Meigs on your radar. Remember the aforementioned, and think about its future, because it’s a bright one.
So my challenge for you is this: drive through the neighborhood. Turn on St. Charles, North Capitol, or any street your heart fancies. Stroll down Mt. Meigs, starting on Madison and ending at Adams, and imagine what it could be. Find KRUonMtMeigs, Capitol Grill, Taqueria El Campesino, Save 1802 Madison Project, and Historic Capitol Heights on Facebook. And check back with us to learn more about the opening of KRU.