A former event hall on Aaron Aronnov Drive has transformed into Fairfield's newest bar, grill, cigar lounge and entertainment destination, and the owners say their mission goes beyond burgers and brunch. Southern Flames opened its doors in Fairfield, Alabama, with co-owners Joi and Deon Watson cutting the ribbon at the grand opening, bringing a stage for live music and comedy, a fully equipped bar and dining area, and an outdoor patio with a fire pit to a site once known strictly as an event venue.
According to Bham Now, the new venue at 6501 Aaron Aronnov Drive includes a big screen and multiple TVs, ample parking, and gathering areas. The space previously served as an event venue. Corporate filings list Power Grid Professionals Inc.'s principal address as 242 W. Valley Avenue, Suite 202, Birmingham, and name Deon Wright as its agent; the electrical utility equipment firm is registered in Alabama, per the Alabama Company Directory.
A Health Inspection Pass Ahead of the Ribbon-Cutting
A September Score of 100 Southern Flames Kitchen and Bar was listed with a score of 100 in September.
The menu leans heavily into Southern comfort food paired with bar-scene staples. Southern Flames is open Thursday through Sunday, with Thursday and Friday hot-bar meat-and-three and vegetable plates served from 11 am to 2 pm, the station's report notes. Saturdays bring brunch with breakfast items, chicken and waffles, and shrimp and grits, while Soul Food Sunday features ribs, collard greens and smoked chicken. A daily bar menu rounds things out with burgers, Philly sandwiches, wings, fries, well drinks, liquor and wine. Kitchen hours run Thursday from 11 am to 8 pm, Friday and Saturday from 11 am to 9 pm, and Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm.
Fresh Food in a Longtime Food Desert
Joi Watson, who has a background in nutrition and is an MD, said Southern Flames will provide healthy food, vegetables at its steam table and a safe environment for people to have fun. That emphasis carries particular weight in Fairfield, which was considered a food desert after its local Walmart Supercenter closed in 2016, leaving the town of roughly 10,000 without a full-service supermarket until Carver Jones Market opened in 2024, according to Speakin' Out News.
The economic backdrop underscores why access to affordable, hot meals matters. U.S. Census Bureau data compiled by Census Reporter shows Fairfield has a median household income of $48,456 and a poverty rate of 32.4%, compared to the statewide Alabama median income of $63,999. Deon Watson said Fairfield has supported Southern Flames, and the owners aim to serve not just the town but surrounding communities including Hueytown, Pleasant Grove, Midfield, Ensley and Bessemer, per Bham Now's report.
Community Efforts Already Underway
Southern Flames isn't the first local response to Fairfield's food access gap. United Way of Central Alabama partnered with the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama in September 2025 to launch school-based food pantries at C.J. Donald Middle School and Fairfield High Preparatory School, serving about 200 individuals each month, according to Bham Now's earlier reporting.
For now, Southern Flames is positioning itself as something more specific to its hometown: a place where fresh vegetables, live entertainment and a long-underserved community's dining options can share the same stage. More details on menu offerings are available at mysouthernflames.com.
