24 • Thursday, April 4, 2019
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
HOME By Ingrid Howard
Like many other small businesses, Alabama Gaslight & Grill has felt the effects of online shopping. But, according to owner Mike Barnett and his son, Anderson, there are advantages to shopping at local stores that customers can’t get on the internet. “There’s not anything in here that you can’t purchase on the internet,” Mike said. “(But) I personally can’t imagine buying a $1,000 grill or more by just looking at it on the internet.” Shopping for a grill is like a matchmaker’s process, and the Barnetts help guide their customers in HANNA the right direction. ANTIQUES MALL 2424 7th Ave. So. • (205) 323-6036 • MON-SAT 10:00-5:00 “Before you ever look at a grill, I’m gonna say, ‘Do you want to do natural gas or propane? Is this on a deck or a patio?’” Mike said. “We’re gonna try to bring you to what we think you’re looking for.” H O M E W O O D The store, which was opened in 1967 by a man named George Glen, also sells gas and electric lighting, gas logs and grilling accessories. Mike was working at Alabama Gas Corp., now Spire Inc., when the company decided to buy Alabama Gaslight & Grill. When Alagasco decided to get out of merchandising, Mike and his wife, Linda, bought the company. The Barnetts have been the owners of Alabama Gaslight & Grill since 2004. Back then, Anderson was in in 2018 third grade. Mike and Linda’s daughTo: Hanna Antique ter, Blakely, was a teenager and 205.879.8580 · PHONE: LAHRealEstate.com From: Over The Mountain Journal, 205-823-9646 FAX: 205-824-1246 worked at the store some. Date: March “One of the memories I have of (Anderson) is … we had gotten this This is your AD PROOF from the OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL for and the I think there was a huge box, April 4th issue. Please fax approval or changes to 824-1246. lamp or something in it,” Mike said. “But there were these packing peaPlease make sure all information is correct, nuts, and (he) would climb up on the and jump into the box of including address and phone number!shelves stuff.” Anderson also has memories of Please initial and fax back within 24 hours. baking cookies at home and taking we have not heard from you by 5 pm of the Friday before the press date, them into the store to sell. Now, in his As a life-long IfOver-the-Mountain resident and a third your ad will run as is. We print the paper Monday. mid-20s, he’s learning the tricks of generation working at Guin, greatprompt pride and Thank youI feel for your attention. the trade from his father. “I’m 62, and I don’t have any responsibility in carrying on the intentions of retiring real soon, but this company is more complex than legacy of honesty and hard work people would think,” Mike said. “It that my grandfather began 60 takes time to learn the business. So the plan would be if he has an interest years ago. Family is very important in it, we’ll just continue letting him operate it as a family-owned business to us, and we treat our customers into the long term.” with the same care and respect Anderson studied business management at Alabama and recently as members of our own family. It moved back to Birmingham after livJoseph Braswell would be a privilege to serve you. ing in Austin, Texas, with his wife. Mike received his marketing degree from Samford but said a lot has changed in retail and marketing since he graduated. Anderson brings a fresh outlook to the business — for example, he runs the company’s social media accounts. Serving Birmingham since 1958
Journal photo by Ingrid Howard
Beautiful Pieces for Your Home and Your Garden
Alabama Gaslight & Grill owner Mike Barnett and his son, Anderson say it’s important for them to be experts on the products they sell.
Home Advantage Alabama Gaslight & Grill Competes With Internet and Big Box Stores
#1 IN HOMEWOOD
Pride and responsibility drive us to be the best in everything we do.
Building a Customer Base
Member of the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce
Mention this ad to receive a free diagnostic service call.
“I think it’s important to just get our name out to younger people … just to get the message out that we sell high-quality grills instead of the lower quality grills you might find at (big box stores),” Anderson said. “We have a lot of older customers that
Photos courtesy Alabama Gaslight & Grill
IN UNITS AND VOLUME
The store, located in downtown Homewood, has the largest gaslight showroom in the state.
AL L G SHO
works.” Unlike many big box stores, Anderson said, Alabama Gaslight & Grill can install their products and connect them to a gas line. 282 “So we really try to push customer service and the quality of our grills,” he said. “A lot of the grills nowadays need to be replaced after a few years. www.alab These (MHP grills) are a lifetime warranty, so all of the major parts would be covered under a warranty for life.” No matter how competitive internet stores and big box stores are, small businesses depend on their loyal customer bases. To draw attention to them, March 29 has been named National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day. “A lot of people are looking for small community shops,” Anderson said. “We’re known for our service. Mike To: People know they can come in here in Journal, PHONE: 205-823-9646 The Mounta From: know our store becauseOver it’s been and look for grills,” he said. “We 205-82 around for a long time.FAX: But trying to 4-1246 know we’re losing sales to internet May 2017 get our nameDate: out to younger people providers. But at the same time, I that live in town is important.” think that we will have a base of cusF from the OVER THE MOUN PROO is your AD Anderson has a passionThis for cooktomer that still wants to shop locally fax approval or cha Please 2017 ing, and he said he enjoys tryingJune out 1,and get issue. good service and informaall of the different grills. tion.” “It’s important for us to be experts on the product,” he said. “It’s imporFor more information and to shop tant to have cooked on these products online, visit alabamagaslightandgrill. so that we know exactly how it com. Alabama Gaslight & Grill recently began selling Alfa refractory woodfired ovens, above, ideal for pizzas, bread, roasts, mixed grills (meat, fish, vegetables), dishes cooked in earthenware vessels, cakes and whatever you might bake in a conventional oven. Below, Rasmussen Vent-free Fireballs, which continue to be a popular choice for area homeowners.
Please make sure all informatio including address and phone
Please initial and fax back within 2
If we have not heard from you by 5 pm of the Friday be your ad will run as is. We print the paper M