Today we’d like to introduce you to Brittany Stinson.
Hi Brittany, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
We are a husband and wife duo who had been looking to open a bar in Austin, however everything in life kept pushing us towards Smithville. My mother’s family is from there and we’d had our eye on the old Charlie’s bar for years. at the end of 2024 we started talking more seriously about it and after much negotiation, we were able to purchase the property. We knew we had big shoes to fill because Charlene Carlson had built a community who loved her and her bar. It took some time, but we have won many old regulars over and brought in a whole new crowd. Everyone seems very grateful for the work we have put into the place. We’ve enjoyed getting to know everyone and have made it a goal to learn as many people by name as possible. I’m better at learning your name and Kyle is better at learning your drink, but we’re both getting plenty of practice where we are lacking! We make a really good team. We have opposing skills and talents so we have been very pleasantly surprised by our compatibility at owning and running this bar together. The atmosphere was loosely based on the aesthetic of my grandparents homes, family photos adorn one wall and the rest of the art was collected to make a homey vibe, Lots of oil paintings and Windberg landscapes. The name of the bar was taken from Kyle’s family history, the Birdsongs. We have photos of James and Delvy Birdsong on our family wall, along with The Birdsong Tower named after Roy Birdsong who was killed in action during
We host weekly music Bingo, Karaoke, have pool tables, dart board, shuffleboard, arcade games, and corn hole on the patio. We are a full bar with draft beer, bottled beer, wine, seltzers, and cider.
Notable things we changed from the old Charlie’s Bar: We added windows, are now non-smoking with an outdoor patio, offer food and a full bar. We are also no more accessible, we added a ramp at the entrance and ada compliant restrooms and general access.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
renovation was rough, we would solve one problem only to uncover new ones. We have been overall very lucky to have found a good staff that clicks. We all seem to get along and enjoy one another. Lots of talent. Kyle has been bartending since 1998. Other things to note, some of our bartenders have worked Bourbon Street, done craft cocktails, and run many bars in the Bastrop area. We thought we would have a hard time being a new business in Smithville. We know they are very community oriented and loyal to established businesses in town. We’ve felt very welcome and have gained so many new friends who feel like part of the family!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
We strive to keep pricing fair while offering great drinks, cold beer, and friendly service. We are a casual, come-as-you-are neighborhood bar that works to connect with people and the community.
Kyle has been in the industry for decades and has owned and operated bars in the past. Brittany has a degree from Texas State in Interior Design and Technology so there was ample focus put on the ambiance and space planning of the bar.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
We are working on a fun local project that will promote many local businesses, and also help a beloved local and bar regular.
We plan to host community events, meet ups, and host friendly competition, ie. our Super Bowl Chili Cook Off. We may change the dish up each year but do plan to have some sort of cook-off among local businesses or locals in general.
We hope to have market days near the holidays supporting local artisans.
We have a little library, take a book, leave a book – replace it with something else – or simply return it when you’re done.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thebirdsongbar.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebirdsongstx/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577202546179
