Judy Sells The Shoals

On any given night you will find Wildwood Tavern overflowing with a crowd of young professionals, artists, musicians, and designers grabbing a drink and sitting down for good conversation until late into the evening on East Mobile Street in downtown Florence. Childhood friends Matt Henderson and Tyler Ross left the Shoals for college, only to return to their roots to open up the popular Chicago Café three years ago, and just one year ago, Wildwood Tavern—a bar that is both laid-back and filled with life. The two owners, born and raised in Florence, are devoted to “Keep Florence Funky” – a fun phrase they coined to encourage local residents to embrace and continue to create the soulful style that first put The Shoals on the map—an approach that is apparent in their unique décor, original recipes, and their love for the local community. The funky attitude begins as soon as you walk through the doors of Wildwood Tavern. The rustic space decorated with colorful, pendant lighting, which...

In the early 90’s, with almost 24 years of restaurant expertise, Rick Elliott took a trip to Spain and found unique restaurants, nestled on cobblestone streets, in long, narrow buildings owned by families who poured their lives into perfecting and specializing in good food. After his experience he wanted to bring the same vision and character back to the Shoals and was inspired to create the popular Ricatoni’s Italian Grill that has been a Florence favorite since it opened its doors in the summer of 1996. The recipe for such a successful business over time has been great service, delicious food, and the ability to create a space that is unique and memorable. Walking into Ricatoni’s is much like entering into a restaurant that could be found in Chicago, Boston, or New York—it has a warm, family atmosphere with maroon, leather booths, exposed brick, and a classic embossed ceiling—it feels as though you might find The Godfather himself sitting in the back eating meatballs ...

Located in the heart of downtown Florence, Alabama is Rivertown Coffee Company, a quaint, friendly coffee shop in the Shoals area. Just this past year they celebrated their 10 year anniversary and established themselves as Florence’s beloved coffee shop. This is the place where anyone, young or old, can take a break, relax, enjoy a drink or meal, and feel right at home. Visiting Rivertown feels like walking down the street to have coffee with a friendly neighbor. Owned by John and Jan Cartwright, they love the residents of the Shoals and are eager to serve and provide high-quality coffee in a comfortable environment. If you blink you might miss the entrance to Rivertown on Seminary Street, just a quick walk from Court Street and Wilson Park, but the modest entrance hosts a coffee shop full of vibrancy, originality, and local charm. Upon entering you are greeted by friendly staff eager to take your order at the counter, which displays the everyday coffee and drink options, daily ...

For many years the art and culture of the Shoals has been sustained by the beautiful Tennessee River that runs through it. While normally we might think of the arts in the area as music, fashion, or food, we can now put the art of brewing a good beer in the mix. Singin’ River Brewing Co. has recently burst onto the scene as the first microbrewery in the region and they are onto something big. If you don’t know anything about brewing a beer, I promise there is an art to finding that perfect flavor and making something that’s original and memorable—Singin’ River has done just that with their IPA, Porter, and Handy's Gold.   Singin’ River Brewing Co. opened their doors in 2014 and there is good reason to support this local business— they are putting Florence, Alabama on the map in the microbrewery world. For those who love tasting craft beers, you know that the first thing you do is look at the place it was brewed and the label. This can often lead to conversations with friends...