By Erica Thomas, managing editor
ARGO — Many things have changed since the coronavirus pandemic and one of those changes is a positive change for the city of Argo. Crazy Horse restaurant underwent a re-branding and is ready to offer more than ever.
The new name of the business is Town Hall Market and it’s opening on Wednesday, July 8, 2020.
Owner Hunter Evans said the location will include a butcher shop, seafood market, in-house dining, wine, craft beer, produce, home decor, event rentals and more. Private event space can be rented for parties, wedding rehearsals/receptions and other celebrations.
Evans’ father opened the Crazy Horse restaurant eight years ago. After seven years of owning the restaurant himself, Hunter Evans decided to re-brand.
“I’ve been talking about doing a butcher shop for a while,” said Evans. “When this COVID thing happened, I heard all the grocery stores were out of meat and I immediately said, ‘We’ve got to sell meat.”
Crazy Horse began selling meat for pickup.
“My family owns Evans Meats, so they sell to fine-dining restaurants,” Evans said. “I am the director of operations at Stockyards, which is a meat processing facility for U.S. Foods, so we are in the business.”
Even Evans’ grandfather was in the meat business.
“I was kind of born into the business,” Evans said. “My granddad started Southeastern Meats back in the 60s.”
Manager Susanne Ray said the changes and re-branding were heavily influenced by changes that had to be made because of coronavirus. Everyone at Town Hall Market wanted to do all they could to get people supplies and products they needed.
The business is partnering with Stray Cats Home Decor. Everything in the building will be for sale or for rental.
“They have products with us,” said Ray. “The idea is to be able to come in and get anything you need for your dinner party.”
“The floor is going to be available if maybe a bride wants that kind of theme,” Ray explained. “Everything is mobile so the main floor of the restaurant can be rented, as well as our venue space upstairs.”
Ray hopes the business will be a one-stop-shop destination for people across the region.
“We’ve got a lot of things going on but they are all linked in a way that will be attractive to people,” said Ray.
Fresh produce will be placed throughout the market. Evans said the locally grown fruit and vegetables will add to the offerings at Town Hall Market.
“We’re working with different farmers,” said Evans. “Smitherman’s out of Clanton is going to be doing a good bit of it, but we’re open to bringing in new, local farmers.”
Evans said he plans to use gardens at Big Canoe Creek Outfitters to grow his own produce as well.
Town Hall Market will no longer have liquor for sale.
“We cut the size of the bar in half and we’re not selling liquor anymore,” said Evans. “We can’t sell liquor for on-premises consumption if we’re going to sell beer and wine to go.”
Chef James Hammons will continue to cook and he will now run the butcher shop. Evans said that will add a lot to the quality of the cuts provided.
“Not only does he know how to cut meat, but he can tell you what to do with it,” said Evans.
Town Hall Market will be open Tuesday – Sunday.
Tues. – Sat., 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sun. 9 a.m. – 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Dinner will be served Thursday – Saturday, from 5:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. Sunday brunch will be from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
The team at Town Hall Market hopes to offer a unique experience for customers. Their tagline is “Live Life Local.”
“There’s nothing like it,” said Evans. “I don’t know of anything like it anywhere around Birmingham.”
Town Hall Market
8885 Gadsden Hwy
Trussville, Alabama 35173