Atomic Lounge
The Atomic Bar and Lounge was a cocktail bar at 2113 1st Avenue North. It was opened in 2017 by Feizal Valli and his then wife, Rachael Roberts.
The bar's interior was inspired by 1960s pop-art and mid-century decor, with several nods to favorite patrons and Birmingham notables, including a large-scale mural of Angela Davis and a recreation of the cover of the Beatles' Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover featuring images of Frank Stitt, Mother Angelica, John Archibald and Electra.
Bar patrons were allowed to borrow costumes, and the bar's signature cocktail, the "Sex Panther", was served with a temporary tattoo of a panther. Atomic Lounge was nominated three times for the James Beard Foundation's national "Best Bar Program" award, and was selected as a semi-finalist in 2020. Though the bar was closed for several months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the owners kept all staff on payroll.
The bar closed at the end of its lease in October 2021, following the owners' separation.
References
- Poe, Kelly (January 11, 2017) "First Look: Atomic Lounge will bring costumes and vintage character to First Avenue North." The Birmingham News
- Edge, John T. (June 11, 2019) "Social Engineering" Oxford American No. 105
- Rebman, Stephanie (August 6, 2021) "James Beard-nominated bar in downtown closing." Birmingham Business Journal