Fermenter’s Market on the Green opened its doors at 4 p.m. March 2, without advertising or making it well known, with one motto in mind: All who are thirsty are welcome. More than 100 people came through the doors that first night, and business has been booming ever since.
Alexander City had been looking for a go-to innovative bar as the downtown entertainment district grew, and Dee Walker of Fermenter’s Market had been searching for a place to expand his Sylacauga business. The result is a symbiotic relationship.
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“p=6I r:EJ 92D 366? D@ 9@DA:E23=6 2?5 ?@E9:?8 3FE 8C24:@FD] x 42??@E D2J 6?@F89 23@FE E96 A6@A=6 2?5 9@H E96J’G6 H6=4@>65 u6C>6?E6C’D |2C<6E] xE’D G6CJ 8C2E:7J:?8[” D2:5 (2=<6C[ H9@ @A6?65 u6C>6?E6C’D |2C<6E 2E E96 #6I :? $J=242F82 ?62C=J E9C66 J62CD 28@]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmp7E6C C6D62C49:?8 >2?J 5:776C6?E 2C62D E@ @A6? 2 ?6H =@42E:@?[ (2=<6C 7@F?5 E96 A6C764E ?:496 7@C E96 4C27E 366C :?5FDECJ @? p=232>2 $EC66E 2E $EC2?5 !2C<] (:E9 E96 :??@G2E:@? @7 4C27E 3C6HD DE:== 72:C=J ?6H[ :E >62?E A@E6?E:2= A@D:E:G6 64@?@>:4 C@@> 7@C E96 7FEFC6[ 2?5 u6C>6?E6C’D 7:==D 2 >F49\?66565 G@:5 :? E96 2C62]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“p=6I r:EJ 92D 2 =@E E@ @776C] %96 4:EJ :D 288C6DD:G6=J >2C<6E:?8 E96 5@H?E@H? 2C62 2?5 :D @A6? E@ 3C:?8:?8 :? ?6H A=246D 2?5 ?6H :562D[” D2:5 (2=<6C]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%2J=@C w6?56CD@?[ @?6 @7 u6C>6?E6C’D 6>A=@J66D 2?5 2 C646?E pF3FC? 8C25F2E6[ D2:5 E96 E@H? C62==J ?66565 2 A=246 =:<6 E9:D 3642FD6 E96C6 925 366? 2 =24< @7 @AA@CEF?:EJ 7@C J@F?86C 4C@H5D – 2 8C@H:?8 286 8C@FA :? p=6I2?56C r:EJ – E@ 92?8 @FE]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmu6C>6?E6C’D |2C<6E H2D 2 4@>3:?65 677@CE 7C@> 2 =@E @7 92C5\H@C<:?8 92?5D[ 2?5 (2=<6C 4C65:ED :ED DF446DD E@ 2 G2C:6EJ @7 A6@A=6] #:492C5 (28@?6C @7 |2:?$EC66E p=6I2?56C r:EJ 2?5 y24@3 |62492>[ p=6I2?56C r:EJ r92>36C @7 r@>>6C46 ':46 !C6D:56?E @7 qFD:?6DD s6G6=@A>6?E 2C6 ;FDE EH@ 6I2>A=6D @7 :?5:G:5F2=D H9@ 96=A65 >2<6 E96 AC@46DD A@DD:3=6 2?5 E96 EC2?D:E:@? :?E@ E@H? 62D:6C]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmp=@?8 H:E9 9:D D@?[ $2> (2=<6C[ 2?5 w6?56CD@?[ (2=<6C’D E62> 5:5 >2?J @7 E96 :?E6C:@C C6?@G2E:@?D[ 56>@=:D9:?8 E96 7@C>6C 9@>6 @7 p=232>2 $EC66E |2<6C’D |2C<6E WH9:49 >@G65 E@ |2:? $EC66EX E@ 2 D96== 2?5 4@>A=6E6=J C63F:=5:?8 :E 7C@> E96 8C@F?5 FA]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“(6 925 2 G6CJ =@@D6 :562 H96? H6 DE2CE65] %96C6 H2D 2 A=2?[ 3FE :E 492?865] xE 3642>6 2? 2>3:8F@FD A=2?[” D2:5 (2=<6C] “%96 32C H2D ?@E :?:E:2==J 56D:8?65 E@ 36 2D =2C86 2D :E :D ?@H] xE ;FDE <:?5 @7 8@E 2H2J 7C@> FD 2?5 H6 E9@F89E[ ‘{6E’D ;FDE 8@ 3:8P’ (6’G6 8@?6 H2J @FE @7 @FC 4@>7@CE K@?6 3F:=5:?8 E9:D]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 C6DF=E :D 2 bd\7@@E\=@?8 32C >256 @FE @7 `__\J62C\@=5 962CE A:?6 7C@> pG@?52=6 |:==D :? $J=242F82[ 4@2E65 :? EH@\A2CE 6A@IJ[ H:E9 2? @G6CD:K65 :C@? 5@@C 2E E96 6?EC2?46 2?5 @G6CD:K65 E23=6D] %96 H9@=6 C6?@G2E:@? AC@46DD E@@< 23@FE h_ 52JD[ H9:49 2=D@ :?4=F565 E2<:?8 5@H? E96 8=2DD 724256 @FE 7C@?E 2?5 D6EE:?8 E96 5@@C 324< `d 766E E@ 4C62E6 2 4@G6C65 A@C49 H96C6 A2EC@?D 42? D@4:2=:K6[ >:I H:E9 2? 6G6?E 2E E96 A2C< 2?5 H2E49 2 82>6 @? 2 7=2E D4C66? E6=6G:D:@?]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 366C 4@@=6CD :?D:56 H6C6 92?5 3F:=E[ 2D H6==[ 2?5 E96 H@@5 D<:?D @? E96 3@C56C 4@>6 7C@> pG@?52=6j 9@H6G6C[ :?DE2==:?8 E96 7:G6 5:DA=2J 4@@=6CD 7@C 3@EE=65 366C H2D BF:E6 2 762E[ 2D (2=<6C 2?5 w6?56CD@? DECF88=65 E@ 255 E96 4@@=6C 5@@CD] %96 92?5=6 @? E96 H2=<\:? 4@@=6C 925 E@ 36 >@G65 E@ E96 E@A @7 E96 5@@C 7@C 6G6CJE9:?8 E@ 7:E[ H9:49 :D ;FDE @?6 @7 E96 >2?J 25;FDE>6?ED >256 E9C@F89@FE E96 3F:=5\@FE AC@46DD]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“x 925 E@ =62C? E@ A2:?E 2?5 DE2:? 2?5 A=F>3] xE’D D@ 4@@= E@ D66 D@>6E9:?8 J@F 5:5[ 2?5 :E 24EF2==J H@C<65[” D2:5 w6?56CD@?[ 2? p=6I2?56C r:EJ ?2E:G6]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmu6C>6?E6C’D :D E96 7:CDE 6DE23=:D9>6?E @7 :ED <:?5 :? p=6I2?56C r:EJ 2?5 @776CD A2EC@?D 3@E9 5C27E 366C 2?5 @?\ 2?5 @77\AC6>:D6 2=4@9@= D2=6D] %9:D >62?D 4FDE@>6CD 42? 6?;@J 366C[ H:?6 2?5 =:BF@C 2E E96 32C @C E2<6 :E 9@>6[ :?4=F5:?8 3@EE=6D[ 8C@H=6CD 2?5 >:I\2?5\>2E49 D:I A24<D] q6:?8 =@42E65 :? E96 6?E6CE2:?>6?E 5:DEC:4E >62?D 2 4FDE@>6C 2=D@ 42? 8C23 2 5C:?< 2?5 E2<6 :E @FED:56 :? 2 5:DA@D23=6 4FA E@ 5@H?E@H? 6G6?ED]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`QmrFCC6?E=J[ (2=<6C @776CD be 4C27E 366CD @? E2A 2?5 492?86D E96> @FE C68F=2C=J] %96J CF? E96 82>FE 7C@> >@C6 72>:=:2C =@42= p=232>2 3C6H6C:6D E@ @3D4FC6 :?E6C?2E:@?2= 3C2?5D 2?5 6G6CJE9:?8 :? 36EH66?] %96C6 :D D@>6E9:?8 7@C 6G6CJ 5:776C6?E A2=6EE6 E@ 6?;@J] ~?46 7F==J DE@4<65[ E96 =@42E:@? H:== 92G6 2G2:=23=6 >@C6 E92? a__ 5:776C6?E 3C2?5D @7 3@EE=65 366C[ `a_ 5:776C6?E 3@EE=6D @7 H:?6 2?5 ?F>6C@FD 5:DE:==65 DA:C:ED]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`QmqFE E96 @?6 E9:?8 E96J H:== ?@E 42CCJ :D 7@@5] (2=<6C 4C65:ED r9C:D 2?5 pF5C2 |4r=FC6 @7 y]#]D $A@CED q2C U2>Aj vC:== 7@C 36:?8 :?G2=F23=6 5FC:?8 E96 @A6?:?8 EC2?D:E:@?] %96J 92G6 96=A65 @FE H96C6G6C A@DD:3=6 2?5 92G6 364@>6 2 >2:? 9F3 7@C 7@@5 56=:G6CJ E@ E96 32C]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“(6 6?4@FC286 A6@A=6 E@ @C56C 56=:G6CJ @C E2<6 @FE 7C@> @E96C C6DE2FC2?ED @C 6G6? 3C:?8 :? E96:C @H? 7@@5] (6 H:== 4=62? FA 27E6C J@F[ A:4< FA 27E6C J@F[ 3FE H6 H:== ?@E 4@@< 7@C J@F[” D2:5 (2=<6C]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmu6C>6?E6C’D |2C<6E 92D 2=C625J 9@DE65 3:CE952J A2CE:6D 2?5 G2C:@FD 46=63C2E:@?D 2?5 :D @A6? E@ 6G6?ED 2?5 4@>>F?:EJ 82E96C:?8D] %96C6 2=D@ 2C6 7:G6 H6== A=2465 7=2E D4C66? %'D G:D:3=6 7C@> 2== D62ED[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 A@C49[ 7@C DA@CED 72?D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“(6 ;FDE 9@A6 7@C 2 =2C86 EFC?@FE 6G6CJ E:>6 H6 @A6? E96 5@@C] |@C6 E92? 2?JE9:?8 H6 H2?E A6@A=6 E@ <?@H E96J 42? ;FDE 4@>6 96C6 E@ 6?;@J E96>D6=G6D] xE’D 2 4@>7@CE23=6[ :?G:E:?8 6?G:C@?>6?E H96C6 A6@A=6 42? C6=2I 2?5 6?;@J E96 4@>A2?J @7 72>:=J 2?5 7C:6?5D[” D2:5 (2=<6C]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm(2=<6C D2:5 96 H2?ED E@ 36 DFC6 6G6CJ@?6 92D 2 8@@5 E:>6 3FE :D 2=D@ D276 23@FE :E]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“p?JE:>6[ :? E9:D 3FD:?6DD[ J@F 92G6 E@ 36 G6CJ 4@8?:K2?E 2?5 2H2C6 @7 H96? A6@A=6 2C6 92G:?8 7F?[ 2?5 E96J’C6 92G:?8 E@@ >F49 7F?] (6’C6 8@:?8 E@ >2<6 DFC6 J@F’C6 E2<6? 42C6[” D2:5 (2=<6C]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm#:89E ?@H[ u6C>6?E6C’D :D @A6? |@?52J E9C@F89 $2EFC52J 7C@> c A]>] F?E:= >:5?:89E 2E E96 =2E6DE] t2C=:6C :? E96 H66<[ E96 32C >2J 4=@D6 62C=:6C[ 3FE 2D =@?8 2D A6@A=6 2C6 E96C6[ :E H:== DE2J @A6? 2D =2E6 2D =682==J 2==@H65] (2=<6C D2:5 96 9@A6D E@ 368:? @A6?:?8 2E ?@@? @? uC:52JD 2?5 $2EFC52JD 2?5 :D A=2??:?8 E@ 255 $F?52JD :? E96 ?62C 7FEFC6 E@ 244@>>@52E6 A6@A=6 ;FDE 86EE:?8 :?E@ E@H? 7@C E96 =2<6 2C62 @C 4@>:?8 :?E@ E@H? E@ DA6?5 E96 52J]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“%96 8@2= :D 7@C E96 A=246 E@ 36 DF446DD7F=[ 3FE :E’D >@C6 E92? E92E] x7 6G6CJ@?6 E92E 4@>6D 96C6 6?;@JD E96>D6=G6D 2?5 92D 2 8@@5 E:>6 2?5 E6==D 7:G6 @C `_ @E96C A6@A=6 23@FE :E[ E96? >:DD:@? 244@>A=:D965[” D2:5 (2=<6C] “(6’C6 96C6] (6’C6 @A6?]”k^DA2?mk^Am