Campus No. 805, Taprooms and Energy

For almost sixty years, students roamed the hallways in what was originally known as Butler High School, but in its final days named Roy L. Stone Middle School. Today, instead of students roaming, adults and families roam the hallways experiencing what has been renamed “Campus No. 805”, Huntsville’s newest addition to what is called “The Gateway to Downtown” by Downtown Huntsville Inc. CEO, Chad Emerson. If you live in this neighborhood, you understand the name Campus No. 805, but for folks outside the area, the name comes from the last three numbers in the zip code, 805 and pays homage to this historical area.

The school building was bought and developed by longtime Huntsville developer Randy Schrimsher, who knew this was a diamond in the rough. Architect Matheny-Goldmon helped with the project as well as with all the things that architects do. A fine job they have done with the project.

So now here’s the question you’re asking right now – why is a non-profit organization like Nexus Energy Center telling me about a renovated school building?

Well, read on my friends and the light will shine through.

Huntsville is in love with beer. Not just any beer, mind you. Craft beer. Specialty beers that have become so popular, many retail businesses now carry, in addition to the breweries. The owners and partners in Straight to Ale were one of the first breweries to open in 2010 and their business exploded in a good way, as people learned of their specialty beers. The folks who make the laws in Alabama passed a bill that basically says craft beers must be produced in the same buildings as it is served to customers. That’s called the Taproom. Dan Perry, a Straight to Ale Owner, knew he had to expand to keep up with the increasing demands of beer aficionados.

A renovated former school provided just what Perry needed – huge space to expand his operation for more beer production and a larger taproom to seat more customers. A perfect match for the former school and businessman, in addition to a great location. It helped tremendously that city officials encouraged the entrepreneurial expansion of the local beer scene. The new building allows for a quadruple amount of beer to be produced. Over the last six years, the popularity of the beer has helped Straight to Ale beers to expand into five neighboring states, and two more to come very soon. It keeps the brewery brewing most of the time.

A lot of planning and lots of money has gone into turning the old Stone Middle School into this mixed use facility. Straight to Ale isn’t the only business located at the school.  There’s Bubba’s Catering, a rental facility for your wedding, birthday, meeting or fundraiser. A lot of space for your various needs, with a staff ready to make it a great event for you. Across the greenway, appropriately named S.R. Butler Green, are new buildings with another brewery, restaurants and other businesses that make up the entire Campus No. 805. Even with several breweries fighting for the same customers, Leslie Bruton, communications manager for Straight to Ale says, “We are in a competitive business, but when it gets down to it, we help each other as much as possible. If one brewery is having an issue, it’s not unusual to find competitive brewery employees helping to solve the issue. We need each other and we like each other, even though we’re competitors.”

One of the successes of being a local business is that the owners who live and operate in the same city have a connection to the community. The owners and partners of Straight to Ale are dedicated to Nexus Energy Center and many other local non-profit organizations. Here’s how Ms. Bruton, describes the relationship they have with organizations like Nexus Energy Center; “Straight to Ale is a small business in a great community that supports us. We in turn support non-profits who allow our beers to be introduced to people who might not know us, or our beer products. It’s great to get our beer into the hands of someone who might not have that opportunity otherwise. So, by helping the non-profit organizations, we really are helping to grow our business.”

So, here we are again at a crossroads as to where Nexus Energy Center and Straight to Ale align. While the owners of Straight to Ale pumped millions of dollars into their new location, and continue to do so, they wanted to keep some of the old school feel. Now, you see the connection between Nexus Energy Center and you also learn a new word – upcycling. Upcycling is reusing old materials in a new way. Let me tell you – the folks at Straight to Ale have become experts in upcycling. Just walk into any part of their facility and you will see old school stuff mixed with shiny new stuff. The bar and table tops are recycled from gym bleachers and gym floor, chalkboards provide you with information, the retail store is outfitted with old school shelving, the original bathrooms have been outfitted with modern plumbing, but the old school fixtures remain. We all remember the water fountains outside school bathrooms.

Yup, they’re there as well. Employees use the original school lockers for their storage and there is a plan in the works for you to be able to have your own locker at the brewery soon. We’ll keep that a secret until Leslie is ready to spread the news.

Okay, that’s enough for today. Tomorrow we’ll continue the tour of the Straight to Ale Brewery and see how they have turned the old gym into a futuristic facility that can turn out thousands of gallons of beer.