There’s nothing like the return of an old favorite. When Firehouse Wine Bar closed in 2022 after eight years of operation, it left a hole in the wine bar market in the heart of downtown Mobile. So, when owners and husband-and-wife team Margo Alderton and Andre Lotz reopened Firehouse this year, people were overjoyed. “We have old customers coming back in saying ‘We’re so happy you reopened!’” says Alderton.
The small, red-doored bar makes a striking presence on St. Francis Street in its original Mobile Hook & Ladder Company building location. The wine bar is similar to its past iteration, but this time with a few new changes. Along with wine and beer, the menu also boasts creative cocktails, the brainchild of Manager Emi Bencsath.
“Firehouse was my favorite bar Downtown, and when they closed, I was devastated,” she says. Once she heard of their reopening, the former manager of The Noble South of 10 years was more than happy to come on board. Her menu of rotating seasonal cocktails features unique flavor profiles. Customers have likened the Italian Garden, a limoncello-based drink with vanilla vodka, to a lemon pound cake. Bencsath uses many wine-based spirits, continuing the wine bar theme into mixed drinks. “It’s been a fun process,” she says.
The front of the restaurant has eclectic, cozy living room seating, with booths and bar seating further back. Wine glasses glisten in their place hanging above the bar, and rich reds and blues adorn the ceiling and walls. The barely-there atmosphere music accompanies the chatter of customers over wine and cheese boards.
The wine shop in the back features around 100 bottles of reds, whites, rosé and sparkling varieties for customers to split at a table or take home. Weekly rotating wine flights feature varieties from France, Portugal, Italy and more.
Food includes small bites, cheese boards with fresh fruit, dips, bruschetta and more, with every dish including housemade focaccia, made daily by Lotz. “He comes in every morning at 6 a.m., listens to his music and makes the focaccia,” says Alderton.
Customers flock to periodic Meet the Maker tastings, which highlight wine makers from around the world, and exhibitions from photographers and artists. For events like Mardi Gras and ArtWalk, Firehouse opens their wine window for patrons to take a glass to go. Above all, the bar is a calm, comforting haven for customers. “We have groups of people in their 20s gathered with people in their 60s,” says Alderton. “It’s become a place where everyone of different ages and occupations can get together.”
On the Menu
COQ AU VIN
The most filling dish on the menu features red wine and brandy marinated chicken seared with pork belly and served with carrots, mushrooms and pearl onions over roasted potatoes.
CHOCOLATE SALAMI
Decadent (and meatless), this dessert is made of a rich chocolate ganache combined with nuts and vanilla biscuits for a creamy, crunchy sweet treat.
HOUSEMADE FOCACCIA
Made fresh every morning, this bread is soft and flavorful. Dip it in some olive oil and a balsamic drizzle for the perfect wine side.
BRIE BOARD
Warm brie is accompanied by a selection of seasonal fruit and shaved almonds with a blackberry drizzle and side of homemade focaccia.
Firehouse Wine Bar • 216 St. Francis St., Mobile. 251-888-2297 Facebook
Tue – Thu 4 – 11 p.m., Fri 3 p.m. – 12 a.m., Sat 2 – 11 p.m., Sun 12 – 6:30 p.m., closed Mon
