The sign at the front door of the new American Legion Building says,“ Come on in, Sit where you please, and be at Ease.”  In the military, we know ‘at ease’ means to stand in a relaxed attitude with the feet apart and the hands behind the back.  On the bay at 700 South Mobile Street, it means to be free from worry and relaxed.  Veterans and Civilians alike will feel this vibe when they take a seat in the brand-new restaurant/bar that just opened last month.

Club Manager Bobby Kilpatrick tells me that he was notified on a Wednesday that the grand opening was scheduled for Saturday, a few weeks ago. He said.” Opening the doors is the hardest part, and I didn't think we were ready, but we did it, and everybody was happy !” 

No stranger to the ins and outs of the service industry, Bobby is the right man for this job. He says he is a well-rounded guy with experience in all facets of running a bar/restaurant. Throughout his career, he has worked as a dishwasher, server, bartender, chef, and has managed both the front and back of the house. He humbly says he is skilled at all of these roles. 

Born and raised in Fairhope, his first job right out of Fairhope High School was as a dishwasher at Ben’s Barbecue. He was the Barback at the famous Judge Roy Beans, the prep cook at 14 South, the Head Chef at Gambinos (where he met his wife of 21 years, Jenny), and a bartender and server at the Wash House. He later invested in and opened My Place, Plow, The Bone and Barrel, and the Little Whisky Christmas Club with partner Noelle Broughton. 

Some of these places still exist, but others, like the Bone and Barrel, are only memories for the local scene. “Because of the COVID pandemic and the creation of the Arts Alley in Fairhope, which was under construction for about 8 months and had limited access to the restaurants, we couldn't really recover, so we sold the businesses, and I was done with the service industry. For the first time in my life, I made a resume and planned to get a regular nine-to-five job.”  

About three months ago, Frank Thrasher, an EC at the Legion and a friend of Bobby's, contacted him to see if he would be interested in the club manager position. Because of his background and knowledge of the local community, he was a perfect fit. “I have hand-picked the staff, some I've worked with before, and some I just know, and they are all amazing!  The support from the Legion, specifically Commander Dale Taylor, has been great; they will do anything that I ask.

The Restaurant and Bar are open from 4 to 10 pm Tuesday through Friday, from 2 to 11 pm on Saturday, and from 4 to 10 pm on Sunday. Bobby says there will be live music 2 or 3 times a week. The menu (see picture) looks delicious and very reasonable, and the good news is that it is open to the public; you don't have to be a veteran to enjoy the establishment. 

Bobby has a new menu in the works and has plans to add more American memorabilia to the decor.  One of the dining rooms can also be converted to a conference room for meetings or parties. I am looking forward to trying the Rosemary Fried Oysters, which Bobby says are delectable. The view of the bay is pretty incredible, too.

In closing, Bobby says, “I didn't get to serve my country, but I can serve our veterans.”  Bobby is such a nice guy, and he feels very privileged to be a part of the American Legion Post 199, and we patrons are lucky to have him at the helm.

**Note his hand gesture while posing for the photo for this article. His hand has made a J, for his wife, Jenny. How sweet is that!