Ten years in the past, Briana and Andrew Volk introduced new life to Portland, Maine’s bar and restaurant scene after they debuted Portland Hunt + Alpine Membership on September 5, 2013. With the membership now celebrating its tenth anniversary, Briana shares what she and Andrew initially envisioned as they deliberate for the grand opening, what they realized after opening their doorways, and the way Hunt + Alpine has developed over the previous decade.
BRIANA VOLK: Andrew and I met in Portland, Oregon, when he was behind the bar at Clyde Widespread with Jeff Morgenthaler. We had each lived in Portland lengthy sufficient that we’d watched the genesis of it go from a beer city to a very foodie city after which cocktails. I imply, we lived it firsthand, watching it occur.
I labored in promoting on the time, and we moved to Maine for a job for me. Andrew’s initially from Vermont, so he needed to get again to New England anyway. And we have been in Portland, Maine, and this city going, “There’s nice beer right here, there’s wonderful meals right here, however there are not any cocktails but.” Having seen that evolution earlier than, we’re like, “Oh, we all know what this subsequent evolution is. And we wish a spot that reminds us of Clyde or of locations that we like to go to.”
It was throughout a blizzard at this actually divey bar that doesn’t exist anymore, and manner too many pictures of Jim Beam collectively. And I threw the thought at him, “Why don’t you do it? In the event you don’t do it, another person goes to do it. And it received’t be as cool as what you possibly can do.” And we sort of laughed about it, then the following day he began engaged on a marketing strategy.
The plan was for issues we knew and liked, and what we needed to see. The Scandinavian affect is from my household. I’m Finnish and grew up with a grandmother who made conventional Finnish meals. And it’s nice meals to drink with as a result of most of it’s like hearty, and really seasonal. In order that went into each our design and meals decisions. After which Andrew’s actually nice at placing a cocktail program collectively. So he formed it round not solely classics and issues we love, but in addition pushing the bar into creating issues which can be possibly a bit bit outdoors of somebody’s consolation zone. So as soon as they fight it, it opens up their world to different new issues, which is de facto enjoyable.
Some folks liked it. And a few folks have been actually suspicious of our motives as a result of we have been newish to the group and doing this factor that hadn’t actually occurred earlier than. And there are nice bartenders on this city. They have been all the time there, however at restaurant bars, so their packages have been tied to the meals versus us making a full cocktail program. So it was an enormous combine.
From Day One, we’ve had wonderful regulars. We even have one common. After they first began coming in, their son was 11 and would convey him with them. And he simply turned 21, and his first authorized drink in Maine was at our bar. So we’ve had folks like that from Day One, and many first dates, and wedding ceremony receptions, and watching folks then convey their youngsters in, which is de facto cool. I used to be three months pregnant once we opened Hunt. So it’s all the time been prefer it’s a cocktail bar. But additionally I would like youngsters to have the ability to be in there. I would like households to have the ability to be in there, since you ought to be capable to go have cocktail and never really feel such as you’re someplace the place a child shouldn’t be.
“One of many issues we each went into being fairly clear-eyed on was the truth that when you open the doorways, it’s not your house anymore.”
One of many issues we each went into being fairly clear-eyed on was the truth that when you open the doorways, it’s not your house anymore. Your visitors are going to make it what they envision, and the way they wish to see it. We have been each fairly understanding that the house was going to evolve, and it must evolve continuously. Any restaurant or bar wants to repeatedly evolve in some methods, simply to outlive on the market. I believe extra folks possibly thought it was going to be a bit extra high-end than we truly are, or have been. That’s simply clear Scandinavian design, with Eames chairs and Nelson saucers in a spot. Our really feel was, ‘It’s purported to really feel like that, however be comfy.’ And in addition you may get a Miller Excessive Life and a shot of Fernet, and nobody’s going to blink twice.
A lot has modified in 10 years. It’s all the time been an evolution of taking note of what’s happening across the nation, and what our friends are doing, to create fascinating cocktails and keep updated with every little thing. Now we have plenty of folks coming from New York and Boston and main cities. And we wish to be on par with these locations, and be there for them.
And one of many issues we discovered early on, after which began leaning into, was that girls really feel actually comfy coming into the bar by themselves, and approaching first dates. And we nonetheless see lots of that. So we’ve actually, actually leaned into making an attempt to create a secure house that’s comfy, particularly for any solo diner, however for girls to come back in and really feel actually comfy. Which was a very nice shock and one thing we hadn’t had in our heads. However to observe it occur was a kind of issues that we felt actually good about.
Covid shook up every little thing. So what Hunt is now and what it will’ve been with out Covid, I can’t inform you. We undoubtedly modified our model of service. We have been in a position so as to add a patio outdoors, which is very nice and beautiful, particularly within the summertime. And we rethought how we rent and who we wish to be working with us. It’s rather more about, “Have they got these small touches already inherently in them?” as a result of different stuff, we are able to prepare. And we labored on in-depth coaching packages, and if folks wish to transfer up of their careers, selling from inside.
“We simply signed a 10-year lease, so I believe there’ll be one other 10 years hopefully. So far as what’s subsequent, I don’t know.”
We simply signed a 10-year lease, so I believe there’ll be one other 10 years hopefully. So far as what’s subsequent, I don’t know. It’s one of many issues I like about this enterprise, and I do know Andrew loves about this enterprise: You don’t know day-to-day what you’re strolling into whenever you’re coping with visitors. And so far as tendencies and issues like that, we’ve all the time paid consideration. However, actually, we’ve needed to remain classically good, and have a strong base with out making an attempt to hurry and discover the following massive pattern. We’re not that house, and I don’t assume we’ll ever be that house.
We’ll proceed to be what Hunt + Alpine is. Having watched a few of my favourite locations flip 10 over the previous few years, and evolve and develop, one of many issues we’re going to attempt is to maintain the center and vitality of Hunt alive whereas nonetheless making an attempt to make issues higher and higher. We’re continuously adapting to what visitors want and need, and deciding what kind of service we wish to present to folks, so the visitors are going to be comfy and have probably the most enjoyable in our house.
And we’re nonetheless in there day by day—Andrew’s behind the bar proper now. It’s been cool to be right here for 10 years and watch the group develop. We began as the one cocktail bar right here, and now there are a dozen possibly. It’s so cool to see, and I like watching every little thing develop and get higher and higher. Alex Day and his entire crew opened a spot final 12 months up right here [The Danforth]. And it’s good to see associates come up and do this. And in addition folks inside the group.
I do know a bunch of people that have been bartenders years in the past once we opened Hunt, and now have opened their very own locations, which is good to see. I don’t assume you get that in lots of cities anymore, that capacity to have the ability to create your personal house. And so watching that occur over the past decade has been actually cool.
—As advised to Paul Clarke
