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Photo by Gary Lloyd.
Coby Lake at Ferus Artisan Ales, which is the centerpiece of his plans for downtown Trussville.
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Rendering courtesy of city of Trussville.
The plans for the downtown entertainment district include shops, restaurants, an entertainment stage and space for families and shoppers to hang out.
Coby Lake was born in Orlando and has lived in Tuscaloosa, Birmingham and Fairhope, but he may soon settle on Trussville.
Lake, the developer for the Trussville entertainment district, thought he could manage the development from his home in Fairhope, but he’s found himself traveling north weekly.
What started out as a little bit of property on Morrow Avenue has tripled in size. Lake now owns most of the property on Morrow Avenue, as well as various properties that run parallel with Chalkville Road.
“We really want to make this thing special,” he said.
Making downtown Trussville vibrant and special may require Lake to plant roots nearby. A brewery, Ferus Artisan Ales, will occupy a 23,000-square-foot space on Morrow Avenue. Outside the brewery will be a taproom, pavilion, green space and an entertainment stage. More shops and eateries will locate in the area.
“I plan on working here at the brewery once we open,” Lake said. “I’m sure my brewers will put me to work, whatever needs to be done.”
Lake is no stranger to completing whatever needs to be done. He started in Tuscaloosa, putting together parcels of land over a four-year period that he packaged and sold to a developer, who built 160 student condos. He purchased a We Buy Ugly Houses franchise in Birmingham, selling more than 200 homes before selling the franchise.
While living in Crestwood at the time, nearby Avondale intrigued Lake. He was the key developer in the revitalization of Avondale, including the additions of Avondale Brewery, Post Office Pies, Avondale Common House, Saw’s Soul Kitchenand more.
After selling Avondale Brewery to Good People Brewing Company in 2017, Lake moved to Fairhope. Prior to the sale, Lake was introduced to Trussville Mayor Buddy Choat, who explained the city’s downtown revitalization efforts. Lake was again intrigued.
“The leadership here I’ve been impressed with,” Lake said. “I would not be in Trussville unless it was the current leadership, the city council and mayor. There’s no way. That is why I’m here, because they are so willing to work with me and help the project.”
The Trussville City Council awarded a $15.2 million bid to Russo Corporation for public improvements in the downtown area. Demolition started on the Braden’s furniture building at the corner of Main Street and North Chalkville Road on Jan. 2. It will make room for retail, parking and maybe a small plaza area. The entire project is scheduled to be complete by June 2020, with shops and restaurants in the area likely opening sooner.
“He’s a worker, I can tell you that,” Choat said of Lake. “He’s a success story that is already happened and will happen again here in Trussville.”
Lake’s draw to Trussville came from studying the area and talking to residents.
“Trussville does not have an area like an entertainment area, where you can park and walk to different shops,” he said. “Most of Trussville is big box stuff. They don’t have anything like this. My vision is to bring personality to downtown Trussville through what I’m doing here at Ferus and also teaming up with other business owners that have the same kind of local, more fun, exciting personality business.”
Lake believes the younger generation is behind the revitalization of downtown Trussville. Residents can walk to the entertainment district, bringing their children and pets along with them.
“Once this is done, this is going to be a cool, hip, walkable entertainment district that is filled with local personalities,” Lake said. “I absolutely hope that it is the heartbeat of the city. I think it will be.”
Choat said he has talked with Lake about ideas for family-friendly stage entertainment and a vision for the area.
“He wants what’s best for Trussville because he thinks what’s best for Trussville will be best for him,” Choat said. “That’s what I like about him.”
Lake predicts that, much like Avondale, downtown Trussville will blossom. He anticipates this development will create a “domino effect” for Trussville.
“I love to revitalize places that are depressed and vacant,” he said. “When I was in Avondale, there was really nothing there. Ninety-five percent of the properties I purchased were vacant. I get a lot of satisfaction and fulfillment from taking an area — whether it be a house or an area or an old building — and improving it, and improving a community. I feel like I am going to, with the help of the city of Trussville, really improve the city of Trussville and this area. Trussville is definitely on the map, but in terms of an entertainment district, I think it’s really going to put Trussville on the map.”
