There is a new speakeasy in Orange Beach tucked away behind a vault door by Frank & Company at The Wharf. You don’t see many speakeasies these days. They are thought to have been created during prohibition-era days when illicit hidden bars with alcohol had to be quiet to stay undiscovered. 

Perhaps the most famous speakeasy was the fashionable Stork Club on West 58th Street in New York City. The infamous former bootlegger, Sherman Billingsley, established it during the 1920s. Prohibition ended in 1933, and the need to have secret spots that serve alcohol with unique passwords to enter became unnecessary.

There is a certain mystic and allure to a private club hidden behind secret doors that draw the curious and thirsty. Today’s speakeasies are popping up around the Scenic 98 Coastal area, but you have to know where to find them and have permission to enter. Kind of cool, don’t you think?

8 Reale at The Wharf opened a few months ago. The atmosphere is special, the decor is rich and lavish with an upscale New York vibe. In a beach town, no less! There is no dress code per se because yacht owners don’t always dress up to enjoy the finer things in life.

Behind the vault door with an electronic passcode (There are passwords for passwords these days), you can gain access to 8 Reale through the Frank and Company store, which is the managing partner in the establishment along with the operators of Fresh Off The Boat restaurant, Jerr McCutchen and David Buster. 

The relationship was formed when Jack and Bevelyn Wallace, co-owners of Frank and Company, visited Fresh Off The Boat restaurant often and developed a relationship with Jerr and David. “We liked each other and began talking about opening a high-end bar together in Orange Beach,” says Jerr. “This was 2021, and we were on the same page without really knowing what they were thinking.”  

In June 2022, Jack walks into the restaurant and says,’ We are going to do it.” He had just leased 3500 sf of retail space at The Wharf that had been empty for 6 years. He was opening a second location for Frank and Company Fine Jewelry but didn’t need that much space. “They know jewelry, and we know bars and restaurants,” says Jerr. A deal was made, and 8 Reale became a reality in December 2022.

Jerr did the layout, and Bevelyn planned the decor and purchased all the furniture. The transformation is incredible. The interior is elegant, with no expense spared in creating an atmosphere that mimics the notable speakeasies of prohibition days. The bar is adorned with real pennies, which gives it an aristocratic feel. A beautiful Yahama grand piano sits in the corner and is played Monday through Friday.

Stylish seating areas sit upon original Afghan rugs. Buffalo hide sofas provide relaxing comfort. The walls are constructed of Chicago split brick, but the bar is the focal point of 8 Reale. They pride themselves on rare bourbons, big wines, and cordials. “It is an ultra-premium mixologist bar,” says Jerr. The bartenders are well-versed in creating the perfect concoction for their guests.

I visited with Nate Strong, the bartender who was preparing for the night's crowd. He is one of the few local-born and bred Gulf Shores natives I’ve met over the years. He is a Loyola University graduate in Music Industry Studies and tended bars at two of Nashville’s premier hotels, Thompson Boutique Hotel and the Joseph Hotel.

On a sad note, Jerr told me that during the construction of 8 Reale, his original bartender, Corey Martin, lost a battle with depression in October 2022. “He was the best mixologist I’ve ever known. He made crazy cocktails and won a competition at Las Floriditas, a Cuban-style speakeasy in downtown Mobile. “He was a friend first,” says Jerr. “The battle was real.”

The name 8 Reale comes from the “pieces of eight” term for the Spanish silver dollar. Frank and Company are among the few jewelers in the Scenic 98 Coastal area carrying 8 Reale coins recovered from the Spanish shipwreck Nuestra Senora De Atocha in the Florida Keys in 1985. 

The fleet of 28 ships carried treasure for the King of Spain to pay debts, but eight of the ships were lost to a hurricane in 1622.  The world’s most valuable shipwreck, the Atocha carried 40 tons of silver and gold and 70 pounds of Columbia’s finest emeralds.  

8 Reale is quickly becoming the place to be. On a recent Friday night, the mayors of Orange Beach, Gulf Shores, and the owner of The Wharf, Art Farve, spent the evening together enjoying the understated elegance and fine libations. Plans are to expand 8 Reale to the outside patio area of The Wharf’s marina with comfortable seating, fire pits, and a small bar to serve guests. Charcuterie boards are planned to go with the big wines soon. 

‍8 Reale opens at 5:00 pm and stays open until around 11:00 pm most evenings. It’s a different experience by design, but one that is memorable for sure! Follow them on Facebook to get access to the newest, coolest speakeasy in town.