MY DAY OFF

Charles Barkley’s Day Off in Birmingham Is All About Keeping It Local

When he's not working on his vodka brand, the NBA legend loves a good steakhouse or jazz bar.

By Annie Harrigan and Charles Barkley

Published on 9/15/2022 at 11:26 AM

Photo Courtesy of Charles Barkley

Charles Barkley, the NBA star turned sports commentator, has made quite a name for himself both on the court and off. Having grown up right outside of Birmingham, Alabama, “Sir Charles” has a deep appreciation of Black history and the community that made his hometown what it is today. Now he's taken the helm of Birmingham-based vodka brand Redmont, a company he hopes will aid in the renaissance of the city. Elsewhere, you might find him at a local steakhouse or jazz bar.

Alabama has always been at the forefront of conversations about racism in the South. Wherever you go in the country, people know about the marches from Selma to Montgomery. People know about the Montgomery bus boycotts. People know about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. But what people may not know is that everything started in Birmingham when the 16th Street Baptist Church was bombed. Birmingham is crucial from a civil rights standpoint, and we have grown so much since. I was blessed to have the greatest grandmother in the world who talked to me all the time about growing up Black in the South. She taught me about civil rights leaders like Dr. King and Medgar Evans, and that really resonated with me. Growing up here, it really made me feel like I’ve got to make a difference in the Black community. Now, I hope to be part of the renaissance of Birmingham.

Photos Courtesy of Redmont Distilling Co.

Academy Records | Photo by Cole Saladino for Thrillist

“Growing up here, it really made me feel like I’ve got to make a difference in the Black community. Now, I hope to be part of the renaissance of Birmingham.”

Part of this renaissance begins with Redmont. I had never thought about getting in the alcohol business, but I wanted to own a business in Birmingham to help it grow and to bring more exposure and revenue to the city. I spent the last 30 years looking for a business in Birmingham and then I got the opportunity to buy Redmont. I brought my friends together and we tried the vodka a bunch of different ways: with cranberry juice, with water, on its own, in a martini. They all loved the product and gave me the go-ahead to buy the business, and the rest is history.

When I’m here in Birmingham, I make sure to spend time in the Redmont facility. It’s a beautiful facility. We’ve got these big, beautiful iron stills that distill the vodka eight times, which makes it incredibly clean. I hope to soon open up the distillery to visitors. I want to hang art on the walls and open up an entertainment room for all sorts of events such as wedding rehearsals and business meetings. I want Redmont to be a true part of the Birmingham community and legacy.

Truffle Poached Lobster and Filet | Photo Courtesy of Fleming's

“I love going to Chuck’s and Fleming’s for the same reason I love Redmont, because they are local ... I just want to support as many local businesses as possible.”

After spending some time in the distillery, I like to go to Chuck’s Fish for sushi. I don’t eat fish, but I can go there and eat a million of their cucumber rolls. Occasionally, if they have a good special that’s not fish, I’ll get that, but usually I just get a bunch of cucumber rolls. Chuck’s is where I take my friends who like sushi.

If I’m not going to Chuck’s Fish, I go visit my friends at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar. I know every bartender and waiter here. When I go to Fleming’s—and this drives Ernie Johnson crazy—I order a steak well-done. If I see too much red, I just can’t eat it. I’ve tried medium well a few times recently, and it was actually good, but well done is where it’s at. I also always cut up my entire steak before eating it. With my steak, I love to get the Fleming’s potatoes. They’re really just potatoes au gratin, but here they’re special.

I love going to Chuck’s and Fleming’s for the same reason I love Redmont, because they are local. I’ll switch it up sometimes and go to Perry's Steakhouse & Grille as well. I just want to support as many local businesses as possible. We've had something that's never happened in our lifetime, this pandemic, and man, all these restaurants, all these waiters, bartenders, they've been struggling for a couple years now. And I don't know if this pandemic is ever going to ever be over totally. So I want to go to all these local restaurants and support them.”

Video Courtesy of Chuck's Fish

After dinner at one of the local restaurants, I go to the Humidor Room and Scotch Bar for a cigar. I love cigars. When I’m with my friends, we’ll smoke them every single night. The Humidor Room is great, but I’m not really big on scotch so I’ll just go there, sit around, and smoke a cigar, usually a Padrón, my favorite.

When I’ve had my cigar at the Humidor Room, I like to end my night at one of Birmingham’s local jazz clubs. I just love music. Back when I still played basketball, I would ride to my games all by myself and just turn my rap music up as loud as I possibly could. Nowadays, all I want is to hear music. I love Will Downing, I’ve seen him live three or four times. I also love Anderson Paak. and Bruno Mars’ Silk Sonic, they’re so good. And I love jazz. When I want to go out, I want to have a nice drink, listen to some good music, and still be able to hear myself. So I go to L.i.t on 8th for some live jazz.

From the civil rights movement to jazz to UAB’s football team to our new mayor, Birmingham has such a rich, ongoing history. It’s a history that means a lot to me, and it’s beautiful to not just witness but to be a part of the renaissance that is happening here.