Local Couple Opens Bar With No Prior Industry Experience

Trice Green and Lynnie Harrison-Green opened a cocktail bar in Hoover without any background in the hospitality industry. The couple, who have lived in the city for years, launched Sticks N' Stones across from the Hoover Metropolitan Complex. They celebrated their first anniversary of operation this summer. Green, a Hoover High School graduate from 2007 and former college athlete, and Harrison-Green, a physician assistant, had never worked a shift behind a bar before starting the business.

The concept for the venue emerged approximately five years ago. The owners described their approach as a departure from the traditional career path in the industry. Green stated that most operators work their way up over several years before opening a location. "We came at it from the patron side," Green said. "We're grassroots. We built it as the people who were going to be sitting in it."

The couple designed the space to address a specific need they observed among local residents. They sought a venue where patrons could celebrate events without selecting between a formal dinner or a nightlife environment. The result is a bar with a limited food menu and a focused drink program. The interior features a floor that encourages dancing.

Green acknowledged that the couple lacked technical expertise in beverage preparation. To bridge that gap, they collaborated with Jesus Mendez, a Birmingham restaurateur. Mendez previously owned or operated Salud Taqueria, Adiós, Unos Tacos, and The Louis Bar. He helped the Greens develop the drink list. Green emphasized the importance of seeking guidance from experienced professionals rather than assuming competence. "We have great mentors," Green said. "You build, you learn, you educate yourself. We worked through the things we didn't know."

The food menu is intentionally short. The primary dish is a 14-ounce ribeye. A red wine braised short rib is available on a seasonal basis. The kitchen serves roasted wings in three flavors, a choice Green attributed to a health-conscious focus. The cocktail list features house-made drinks named after local locations and figures. These include the Grayson pecan old fashioned, the Knox Square margarita, the Leech's martini, and the Ginnie Hendrix.

Staffing has presented a difficult challenge for the owners in the post-pandemic labor market. Green said the bar hires selectively to ensure cultural alignment. "We want people who care about the culture of hospitality," Green said. "We have career people here who want to stay in the hospitality industry. That matters more than experience on paper."

Sticks N' Stones is located at 5852 Elsie Road in Hoover. The venue operates from Tuesday through Sunday. Hours vary by day, and the establishment does not accept reservations. More information is available at sticksnstoneshvr.com.