Karri Buck – Consultant, Virtual Assistant, Paralegal
The Icehouse
What’s the best burger you’ve ever eaten? Do you remember how it melted in your mouth, the rush of juices and that taste; the smoked taste that only a grill can give? Remember how you sunk back in your chair after that first awesome bite and said with a happy exhale, “Now THAT’S a burger.” What if I told you that burger was in your back yard? It is. It’s at the Icehouse in Oakland and Stan Cothren is making them to order. What if burgers aren’t your style? Well, that’s alright too. He makes flatbreads that make your eyes wide at first bite and blow-your-mind brisket. And if you’re really torn, don’t worry, he turns the burgers into a flat bread with beer cheese that you just have to taste to believe!
Stan has created a place in Oakland with a vibe like no other. Stroll through the restaurant and you’ll see photos (many of them signed!) from Janis Joplin to Kiss to Johnny Cash. Stan has been around the music industry for longer than some of us, *ahem*, have been alive. He’s been face to face with the Commodores backstage, brought folks from Texas to Memphis to record and owned his own chain of music stores selling CD’s, DVD’s, posters, t-shirts and more music paraphernalia. His oldest son, at age 6, tried to name the store “Stan’s Big Discs”, but if you say it out loud, you know why “Replay” became the chains name! Stan passed his love of music on to his boys by taking them to KISS and Santana for their first concerts. It’s hard to beat concerts like that, unless of course your first concert was the man in black himself, Johnny Cash; which was Stan’s first.
About 3 years ago the Icehouse became a dream brought to fruition here in Oakland. Stan has a penchant for craft beers and ciders, along with a talent for creating delicious food. The restaurant, and it is a restaurant, not a bar; is bright and open. Music pictures and posters decorate the walls with an eclectic style. There is a bar, from behind which the craft beers and ciders are sold. It has a signature 102-year-old, pecked cypress top crafted by the talented Rob Glossan. But you won’t find a rowdy crowd here. No smoking, no hard liquor. Just delicious food and something delightful to drink with it. It is a family-friendly place. Stan even has highchairs so the littlest of burger connoisseurs can join in.
With 14 craft beers or ciders on tap and mouth-watering food to go with it, what are you waiting for? The menu is online and starting next week you can have it delivered straight to your door by Door Dash. You can also find a second location in Jackson if you’re far from home and get a hankering for brisket, burgers and flatbreads so good it’ll make you sigh.
You’ll find Icehouse in the strip mall across from Walmart in Oakland. Don’t wait. Don’t walk. Run. There’s a burger calling your name.