New at West Bottoms: Easy, Tiger retail and new places to eat

Three years ago, Melanie Bridges and Mike Sayre started selling greeting cards in vintage vending machines around town under the Easy, Tiger brand.

Then they expanded their line to include glassware that they designed and are made by local vendors. The items are sold online and at more than 800 shops across the country.

In March, Bridges and Sayre opened a retail shop at their fulfillment center, 1408 W. 12th St., suite 100, that was only open on First Friday weekends. But since they have been there working weekdays, the shop is now open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. On First Friday weekends, they are open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

The shop sells their signature glassware — glasses shaped like beer cans with such sayings as “Beer Snob” and “Nice Hops.” There are also cocktail glasses with gold flamingos or the words “Stay Fancy” and flutes with “Mr.” or “Mrs.” and mugs with “Hot Stuff” or “Coffee Snob.” They also still sell greeting cards, home decor items and T-shirts.

But Easy, Tiger is outgrowing the space and plans to relocate its fulfillment center and convert the space to retail and its office.

Other West Bottoms stops

▪ In January, fire destroyed Blip Roasters’ original space in the West Bottoms. It opened in its new space, 1101 Mulberry St., in April.

▪ Locally owned Lucky Boys, 1615 Genessee St., serves such items as “Louisville” hot chicken, catfish basket and “veggiburgers.”

▪ Locally owned Screamin’ Eagle Bar & Grill has softly opened in the former The Woodsweather Cafe spot at 1414 W. Ninth St. It will have a grand opening after it receives its liquor license, probably later this month.

Menu items include burgers, pulled pork sandwiches, open faced smoked turkey sandwiches, wraps, chicken fried steak, liver and onions, chicken and waffles, rib baskets and entree salads.

▪ Vintage Funk Cafe in Le Fou Flea, at 1400 W. 12th St. Serving a seasonal menu including grilled chicken panini, pulled pork nachos, chicken salad croissants, and for dessert Nothing Bundt Cakes.

▪ West Bottoms Kitchen, 1623 Genessee St. The Southern fare restaurant is open for lunch and offers such items as a BLT sandwich with fried green tomatoes, shrimp and grits, southern Caesar salad with sweet potato croutons, gumbo, etouffee, and a blackened meatloaf sandwich with smoked tomato jam or a blackened meatloaf entree with smoky sweet potato puree, frizzled leeks and apricot whiskey jus.

Coming soon

▪ Rockstar Burgers hopes to open later this month at 1611 Genessee St.

▪ New owners are rehabbing the former Korruption nightclub space at 1717 W. Ninth St. but they aren’t commenting on future tenants. During a rezoning review, the developer said it could be for residential use. The entryway features the word “Pabst” in the tile.

This story was originally published June 3, 2016 at 6:39 PM with the headline "New at West Bottoms: Easy, Tiger retail and new places to eat."