Restaurants and bars across Tuscaloosa found themselves doing something out of the ordinary on Sunday – serving alcohol.

Tyler Bigbie, co-owner of 1831, said he had been hesitant for much of the week about whether or not to open the bar on Sunday, as he was uncertain of how many customers would be out.

“We didn’t decide to open for Sunday sales until Thursday,” Bigbie said. “I think people are just getting their feelers out in terms of the new law. But we’ve had people here since 3 p.m., at most about 30 people in here at once. We’ve had a pretty decent crowd, a lot of locals.”

To attract more customers to come out on Sundays, Bigbie said the bar is going to begin doing themes each week.

“Some Sundays we’re going to have cookouts, and we’re going to have themes like Mardi Gras,” he said. “I suspect more and more people will start coming out as they get used to this.”

Cameron Kennedy, owner of Kennedy’s Bar, said business had been steady throughout the day.

“It’s been about like it is on a standard week day, maybe a little better,” Kennedy said. “This law is brand new, so we really weren’t expecting a huge crowd to come out today. After people are done feeling out the law, we’re expecting business to start booming, especially once the new amphitheatre opens. That will help out a lot as far as weekend numbers go.”

Houndstooth security guard Andrew Prior said the bar had a decent first day of Sunday sales, but as of 5:30 p.m., the bar’s numbers were a little less than expected.

“It would be one thing if the weather would have been nice,” Prior said. “But it wasn’t very nice of a day. For us, most of our business comes from people who like to come out and sit on the patio, and not many people want to do that on a day like this.”

Prior said he expects business to improve as the weeks move on.

“Really, once the weather improves, people will want to go out on Sundays and come and sit on the patio,” Prior said. “We’ve had a mediocre first day but are expecting much better once it’s nice. Business here has a lot to do with the weather.”

On Feb. 22, Tuscaloosa voters overwhelmingly voted to overturn Tuscaloosa’s previously existing Sunday alcohol sales law by way of an 8,873 to 2,504 vote. Local establishments are now permitted to sell alcohol on Sundays from noon until 9:30 p.m.

Kennedy said he was glad the law had been passed and that his bar will always be open on Sundays.

“We’ll be out here and stay open as long as they let us,” Kennedy said.