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Michael Kilpatrick, left, and Mark Torstenson are shown performing with local rockabilly combo The Frigidaires at the Tip Top Cafe. (Courtesy photo)

On a recent visit to AL.com's downtown Huntsville offices, Bill Chapman removes design plans for a rebooted Tip Top Cafe from a storage tube.

He unrolls the plans across a conference room table.

Chapman purchased the old Tip Top building, address 123 Maple Ave., a year or so ago from former owner Lance Church after another purchase, via a 2013 auction, fell through.

Even though it was a tiny dive bar in a tertiary market, during its late-80s and early-90s heyday Tip Top was an epicenter for live music in Huntsville. Acts like the Black Crowes and Widespread Panic played there on their way up. Underground rock bands like Dead Milkmen frequently performed there. As did bluesy legends like Bo Diddley and Leon Russell.

Tip Top is located in a working class neighborhood and eventually City of Huntsville noise ordinances put the kibosh on loud rock shows there. But, Tip Top, which also served a mean lunch special, remains special in the hearts of many Huntsvillians who came of age during the spot's prime.

The old Tip Top Cafe building is located at 123 Maple Ave. in Huntsville. (Matt Wake/mwake@al.com)

Slowly but surely, Chapman, a commercial real estate broker, began some renovations. The interior has been gutted. A new roof installed. Further plans have been submitted to the health department. City inspection would be next, then pending that approval Chapman plans to proceed. When the property was put on auction in 2013 it was zoned "all industry," meaning the building can still offer live music and stay open until 2 a.m.

Local commercial real estate broker Bill Chapman now owns the old Tip Top Cafe building. He plans on reopening the music venue and restaurant. (Matt Wake/mwake@al.com)

A sixth generation Huntsville resident, Chapman has fond memories of hanging out at Tip Top back in the day. Of seeing that legendary Bo Diddley show. Of Church and infamous doorman Lanny Taylor. So why would someone who's been involved in large Research Park projects want to try and revive a long-dead music venue? "I just hated to see a condemned building knocked down that is a big part of our history here in Huntsville," he says. "There are so many musicians that travel in and through Huntsville and North Alabama I think we're going to fill a gap musically speaking. We can get a very small room to get a very different feel. There's something about being at the Tip Top and standing shoulder to shoulder with your closest hundred friends and watching a band tear it up onstage."

Chapman hopes to reopen Tip Top this fall with live music - whether that's acoustic or electric - and dining - lunch and dinner, possibly with a meat-and-three emphasis. Still, with more than 20 years of experience he knows, "In the world of real estate there's no certainty other than the certainty that plans will change."

Chapman, who on this day is wearing a checked shirt, khakis and elephant-skin boots says, "For what we are trying to do, we still have several hurdles to get over. By no stretch of the imagination is this a finished project, but we're in the process and making strides towards it."

Church has given his blessing to use the Tip Top Cafe name. (Even though the design plans read "Bill's Tip Cop Cafe" Chapman says it's just going to be "Tip Top Cafe.") The new owner plans to keep things looking physically "very similar to how it used to." The bar, stage, kitchen and pool table will be in the same place, as will the beer cooler and latter-day exterior sign - the one with the draft beer, burger, eight ball and music notes images. They plan to add new restrooms and walk-in cooler. The venue should seat around 100 people. Chapman sought input from local restaurant friends and paid consultants during planning.

Design plans for a rebooted Tip Top Cafe. (Matt Wake/mwake@al.com)

Chapman says he's "funding a lot of this out of my own pocket" and that completing the project is probably going to take about twice as much as he originally thought. "It's always a struggle getting a new venue open especially one that's of this age and having its issues. We have to be very careful going forward. And we want to be a good neighbor and have a good relationship with everybody in the neighborhood."

Although Chapman wants the new Tip Top to be an "homage" to the original, he says, "You're not trying to be that, but be as good as that was but in a different way."

Church, now a manager at a local Applebee's, agrees that it would be good idea not to try and recapture Tip Top's golden-era vibe. "I don't think you could ever bring it back, but to tap into some of it if you could," Church says. "Try to keep to going. And there's a still a few bands out that played there that are still around. (Chapman) could do some of that - bring them in every now and then."

In addition to hosting touring acts back the day, Tip Top was a key incubator (and brass ring gig) for local bands.

Huntsville musician Michael Kilpatrick, who performed at Tip Top with acts such as the Snob Doctors and Frigidaires, wishes the new owner well. "I'd love to play there again. I think that would be a ball."