VINEMONT, Ala. – For years, twin brothers Pat and Chris Thompson would kick back after a long day making flower deliveries to florists around Alabama, crack open beers and share their ideas and dreams with each other. Like so many small business owners, the brothers had to make adjustments and think outside the box to make ends meet thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. For the Thompsons, it was the kick in the pants they needed to stop talking about their ideas and put them in motion. Now, The Man Cave Market is open for business.
From the outside, The Man Cave Market might just look like a nursery, but when you enter the doors, you feel transported. It’s a beautiful place with a feeling of peace and good vibes- a place where you can learn about orchids while listening to Santana or perhaps brush up on your Galaga skills. It’s a relaxing place to hang out with old friends or make new ones over a game of pool or darts while rocking to Jimi Hendrix.
Where is this utopia? South Vinemont.
“When the pandemic hit, it shut 85% of our florists down,” said Pat. “We were sitting here at the bar thinking, ‘What are we going to do?’ We built this for parties and we have a ping pong table and pool table, we’ve got cornhole, we got a sound system over here you can hook a band up to or karaoke. We just had little parties before the pandemic hit and then, when it happened, we had to do something. So, we opened up to the public and didn’t advertise or anything, but the word started spreading.”
Pat and Chris describe themselves as “old hippies.” When walking up to The Man Cave Market, customers are greeted with the sounds of classic rock- and surrounded by beautiful plants and flowers.
Pat said, “We are growing as we speak. Right now, I’m trying to find vendors to get products, and it’s hard to find everything we want. We are going to be unique and eclectic.”
The Thompsons are proud to be in the town of South Vinemont and part of the community by giving back to the Vinemont Schools. Besides supplying gorgeous ferns for this year’s graduation ceremony, they are collecting supplies for the schools.
“They support us, and we support them,” smiled Pat. “I am all about that.”
In order to transform the space into what they had envisioned, Pat and Chris had to completely gut the old building that was once a convenience store.
“We’ve got a long way to go. It’s baby steps, and a year from now, you’re going to be amazed,” said Pat. “I’m going to have a hut out here and an outdoor cooler, TVs out on the sidewalk, a great place for people to come and hang out. Get a biscuit and grab a coke and listen to music. I have TVs everywhere, but I have them on mute because I love music. I don’t want to listen to bad news. It’s all about good stuff.”
The reason the brothers call the business The Man Cave is because they have filled the space with things they have collected for years. Pat and Chris are former boxers and have an extensive collection of boxing memorabilia and equipment. They have added arcade games that are free to play and an electronic dart board. The walls are full of original artwork by both Pat and Chris.
Plants and produce are still the primary focus of the business, and it features fruits and vegetables from local growers. The Man Cave Market has a little bit of everything- orchids, pitcher plants, birdhouses, grilling supplies, succulents, tie-dye shirts, carpenter bee traps, Dirt Road Gourmet meals, pizzas, homemade ice cream, take-home mac and cheese, casseroles, frozen vegetables and more. The brothers hope to continue adding locally-made products including honey, pottery and other crafts. On weekends, the man cave will have burgers, hotdogs and barbecue sandwiches.
The Man Cave Market will also begin offering gardening classes.
Explained Chris, “We make nature gardens or bowls for florists. We will teach people how to do that kind of thing. They will be able to take something home with them. (It’s) something exciting for people to do. There will be woodworking and maybe some air plant designs.”
Pat and Chris still kick back after a hard day delivering plants and running The Man Cave Market. They continue to exchange new ideas while enjoying cold beers.
The Man Cave Market is located at 17897 U.S. Highway 31, Cullman, Alabama 35058. It’s open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sundays. For more information, call 256-735-4232 or visit www.facebook.com/themancavemarket/.
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