There's a new dog in town: Redbone Alley bar gets a facelift

FLORENCE — One of Florence’s favorite old “dogs” has a few new tricks under its collar.

Redbone Alley’s bar reopened last week after an extensive facelift that changed the watering hole’s look from floor to ceiling.

Redbone Alley Restaurant

1903 W. Palmetto St.
Florence, SC 29501
(843) 673-0035

Gone are the enormous signature marquee that had framed the bar since its opening and the beer advertisements that once adorned the walls. In their place? A more sophisticated and mature Redbone featuring tile floors, earthy tones, bamboo and marble, even a live Palmetto tree.

“It had been the same for 17 years,” Redbone Manager Alan Hyman, whose been with the restaurant for eight years, said. “We all figured it was time to do something a little different.”

The removal of the marquee opened the room up and changed the whole look of the area, Hyman said. In addition to the new bamboo bar, builders added a raised seating area toward the back of the bar, which will house large tables constructed from parts of the original bar and video games.

Robbie Lee of Master’s Builders in Florence and his team began construction on the project about three weeks ago and worked long hours to complete the majority of the renovation quickly.

“We only had to close the bar for a week and five days before we were able to reopen,” Hyman said. “You’d think it would have taken a lot longer with all they did, but those guys just did an unbelievable job getting everything done in such a short time.”

The plans for renovation began about two years ago, Redbone Owner Dale Barth said. Barth and his wife came up with a concept and worked with Lee, who was part of the initial development of construction of Redbone Alley, to make their vision a reality.

“Yeah, we thought we needed a little fresh paint in here,” Barth said with a laugh. “Actually, it just started out to be a little facelift, but then it kind of just took on a life of its own.”

Barth said he wanted to make the project a “green” renovation, so he incorporated as many as environmentally friendly elements as he could such as bamboo and live greenery.

The bar features a few unique gadgets as well, Barth said, including an ice-block built into the bar to help keep waiting beers cold until servers can get to them to take to tables and a cooler that continuously drips ice onto the bar’s beer stock to keep it frosty.

“We tried to sneak in some neat little tricks here and there,” Barth said.

Barth opened Redbone Alley in 1993, but it was a dream that had been in the making for nearly 15 years. When a former J.C. Penney department store space became vacant at Florence Mall, Barth seized the opportunity. He hired a builder to tear off the roof and add another story. The additional height, combined with the open space, allowed Barth to recreate the sidewalk cafes of Charleston indoors.

The restaurant and bar were an immediate success, and Barth said he hopes the latest renovations will only improve and enhance business.

“All the feedback we’ve gotten has been positive,” Barth said. “It’s a little bit warmer and maybe a little more upscale, but I think it still fits that Southern sophistication feel. We hope it will continue to be somewhere people love to come and meet up with friends.

“We’re always trying to stay ahead of the curve, but the ultimate goal is always to provide the best service and make this a comfortable place where people want to be.”

— Staff writer Traci Bridges can be reached at (843) 317-7325.