Each time I stopped at any of the stores, I remember there were people. People who needed a gathering place. I was most familiar with Mr. Johnnie's, whose son, I call Uncle Wiley (He's not really close family, but a close enough friend to make family!). He has recently re-opened his restaurant down the road from my parents' house. He has a lot of the old signs and things from Johnnie's Grocery hanging up around the place. For the last 10 years or so, all but Blues Stand closed, leaving a large gap in the community. When Uncle Wiley re-opened, people were ready for a place to gather. Each Friday and Saturday night, Wiley's Smut Eye Grill is busy with folks from all around coming together to enjoy great BBQ and conversation with whoever happens to be in the restaurant at the time. Sometimes I get to help out by waiting tables and I love it! I get to see loads of folks I haven't seen in years and I get to see them enjoying the company of their neighbors and old friends.
Wiley's showed me how important the common meeting place is for rural Alabamians. Uncle Wiley's success is largely due to his great BBQ, but also has to do with him filling a need in Smut Eye for fellowship. It's what inspired me to go ahead and start to chronicle Smut Eye's history. The longer we wait, the more stories we lose. Just think of all the stories that were told in those old stores!
Here's one Uncle Wiley told me the other day:
Uncle Wiley was just a little boy, his dad a young man, when this took place. An old black man would drift around the area and paint logos and ads on vehicles and buildings. He was really good. Johnnie had just had his truck painted and wanted a few words added to the door to really polish the look. So, he commissioned the man to do the work. He went about his business inside the store. Johnnie's brother stayed outside with the painter. The wandering painter was an amazingly talented man, but could only perform his talent when drunk. So, he pretty much spent all of his money on liquor to get him through the next job, to make more money, to get more liquor-you see the cycle? Johnnie's brother knew this and thought he could have a little fun with the guy. As the painter finished the door, Johnnie's brother asked if he didn't think he could do the other door too. Well, of course he obliged and continued to work. When he finished that door, Johnnie's brother asked him if he didn't think he could do a little something above the wheels on each side. He thought he could handle this job as well, so went to work. After many more "jobs" all over the truck, Mr. Johnnie came out to survey the door he had commissioned to be painted. When he found the entire truck covered in ads and slogans for 24 hour tow service (which he did not actually offer) and his phone number and just about everything else you could think of, he shook his head. He knew what had happened and decided he better settle up with the painter. He asked how much he owed him. The painter said, "Well, Mr. Johnnie, since I did so much work for you, I'll give you a break. I think about $150 will do it." Now that might not sound all that climactic, but $150 was a lot of money back then. All Mr. Johnnie could do was pay and remember to NEVER leave his brother alone with the painter again!
