Eighth & Rail, a downtown Opelika bar that also serves sushi, gives the Auburn/Opelika community a different scene than the typical bars in Auburn.
"Almost all the bars in Auburn are geared toward the college crowd so I saw that as an opportunity to offer something for a more mature crowd," said Mike Patterson, Eighth & Rail owner.
Patterson took over the previously owned bar and reopened it mid-September of 2012. Patterson decided to add the sushi aspect to the bar to bring in more than just the usual bar customers.
"With food you are going to keep customers a little bit longer, and there wasn't really anybody offering sushi in Opelika besides a couple Chinese buffets," Patterson said.
Patterson's ultimate goal was to fill a void in the market and attract the downtown traffic and businesses to the bar.
The venue, described as laid back and friendly by its sushi chef Cory Pacheco, hosts several different bands every week. Tuesday nights are jazz night and the Jane Drake Trio performs that almost every week. Patterson said he welcomes any area musicians to play and sit in with the trio.
"Thursday, Friday and Saturday I have a local piano player play for the guests who takes requests," Patterson said.
Dylan Brabham, Joe Bagley, Eight Track Rewind and Stevie Monce, from Nashville who makes frequent appearances at Sky Bar Cafe, also have played at Eighth & Rail. The genre of performers range from southern rock and jazz to country, acoustic and alternative rock.
When you walk through the double doors of the downtown bar your eyes must adjust to the dimmed lights which guide you into the dining area filled with round tables with seats for three or four at each. At the end of the room is the stage, set for any performer and includes a grand piano. The bar also has three grey couches giving the customers the lounge aspect.
"I have not been here since they reopened, and I wanted to try the sushi," said Michael Mardis of Auburn's Enrollment Services Department. "I originally heard about the reopening through Facebook, but I've had some friends that have eaten here, and I know they enjoyed it."
The bar connects with the community using its Facebook page as well as its Twitter, @EightRail. Pacheco said that one thing that is really encouraging is the locals, people that keep coming back because they like it.
"We have a lot of regulars, but every week new faces do show up, the people that didn't realize Eighth & Rail had been bought and reopened," said Kelly Rollins, bartender.
Pacheco has been working at the bar for almost two months and said that it is a fun and exciting atmosphere especially with the live music playing in the background as he serves guests. Everyone he has come in contact with has been really welcoming he said.
Eighth & Rail's main specialty is martinis, but they also serve coffee, shooters and cocktails. On their most popular nights, Fridays, Patterson said that they could see anywhere from 50-110 people enjoying the food and live music.
"We don't have a large capacity, but after the dinner crowd clears around 7:30 p.m. the bar crowd rolls in and stays till around 11:30 p.m. or midnight," Patterson said. "We do have the stragglers that stick around with us until close at 2 p.m."
Along with sushi the venue does carry small desserts from The Cheesecake Cottage, a local bakery just around the corner.
Patterson thought the timing was right and knew what he wanted to do. He wanted to bring something new to the community, so he bought the building, kept the name and made it his own.
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