Last Sunday, I missed lunch. Ordinarily, this casual observation serves no purpose and would not affect my routine or my feelings with regards to lunch. I assumed I could always go again. However, I skipped lunch at the 15th Street Diner, which will close its doors in December. Now, restaurants come and go; it is an inevitable fact of the economic tide, but what will replace this restaurant infuriates me. In lieu of the delicious Southern cooking (which we all know makes you good-lookin’), apartments will more than likely stain the space once reserved for an authentic dining and communal experience.
As a Southerner, I enjoy stories, the easy familiarity, the hospitality and the magnificent taste surrounding a great meal. The 15th Street Diner facilitated the continuation of a great Southern experience. Unfortunately, the same problem which moved or annihilated other great establishments affects the owners of the 15th Street Diner. They are selling the property – probably to a condo real estate developer.
I’ve resided in Tuscaloosa for more than half a decade now. I’ve seen it develop, and I’ve witnessed a fantastic rise in the number of apartments with prices comparable to a loft in San Francisco or New York (highest housing costs in the country). Unfortunately, as a migrant to this great city, I am part of the destruction of its character. I came here for school just as 20,000+ other students chose to do. That choice created consequences for a smaller city with a relentless juggernaut of a university, hell-bent on increasing its enrollment.
The results of these choices are not changeable. The University thrives off the dollars and the prestige it attracts with its plethora of students from assorted backgrounds. The Tuscaloosa community experiences an annual swell of new and target market-aged consumers ready to try new commodities and experiences. Instead of bemoaning this sad reality, I encourage my fellow students to go out and experience the city that will be your home for four years or more.
When you plan your calendars, don’t limit yourself – look up the Druid City Arts Festival, learn more about Kentuck and visit some of the surrounding campgrounds of the Black Warrior and Lake Lurleen.
As you head down 15th Street, take a turn and visit the Waysider for breakfast. For lunch, try the little shack on MLK Boulevard called Archibald’s, and then visit its brother establishment, Archibald and Woodrow’s on Greensboro Avenue. You will definitely get food, but go for the experience. As you stroll about downtown for Mugshots or Tacogi, take a look at some of the stores, visit the park and ask about the history of some of these establishments. Don’t simply find a place to eat or a cute little store you may visit once. Discover a place you want to patron and which offers an experience you would share with others.
Move on past Chipotle, Yogurt Mountain and Moe’s, and examine the establishments spread across Tuscaloosa and Northport. Travel north of the river and hit up Broadway Pizza – literally heaven on dough, and stop frequenting McFarland and University boulevards, try Nick’s in The Sticks, past the West End. Once you are done there, make sure to try Mr. G’s in Northport.
Why have I provided you with a list? Because these are more than places to me. I shared many of these experiences with friends close to me. As a result, we gained a measure of wisdom about the experiences and the people that transform a residence into a home. Don’t wait because you think you might have time later. Don’t blow it off because it is outside of your comfort zone – try it. If you don’t, it might not be there when you find the time or the courage.
John Speer is a graduate student in secondary education. His column runs weekly on Wednesdays.
