At the third ever Camp Runamok there was a Canadian Cabin and I (Josh) was in it. The thing is, even though I was in my early 30s at the time, I was still on the old side of the campers. So by day three of distilleries and tastings and pool parties, I was ready to chill. After playing exactly one round of twister (badly) I wandered around the camp until I found some folks having a nice time sitting on milk crates drinking bourbon and conversing quietly. One of those people was Steva Casey. The following year at Camp Runamok (while I air guitared to No More Tears) Steva asked me when I was coming to Birmingham. *cue that scene from Step Brothers where they become best friends.*
Since then Steva has visited Toronto a lot, Jess and I have visited Birmingham and we have met up with Steva in places like New Orleans and Rome and Detroit because seeing new places with your friends is the best. Recently Steva came to Toronto to go see her Cubs lose to our Blue Jays (sorry) and trespass on Drake’s lawn plus Jess took her on a cheese adventure.
Bartender Atlas: Where were you born?
Steva Casey: I was born in Birmingham, Alabama.
BA: And what city do you work in currently?
SC: I also work in Birmingham, Alabama.
BA: What’s your job title or how would you describe your role in the hospitality industry?
SC: I have so many jobs. One of them is as a bartender at Lou’s Pub and Package Store which has been open 38 years. As well, I own a business that does pop-up dinners that I’ve had for 11 years called Swing Shift. And then the third most prominent thing I do is an event called Tiki by the Sea that is a trade-focused festival of seminars and events focused on sugar cane and tropical culture.
BA: Where do you go to eat and drink on your days off in Birmingham?
SC: My favourite place is probably a nice dinner at Automatic Seafood or a lunchtime hot dog at Gus’s Hot Dogs. Equally great on either side of the spectrum.
BA: What do you do outside of work on your days off? What hobbies have you got that don’t involve eating and drinking?
SC: I read a lot of books and I’m up to 46 this year. I also endeavour to set a goal for myself every year. So this year is to try 12 cheeses where they’re made.
BA: How far in are you?
SC: I’m 2 of 12, which I’m falling behind, however, I have a plan to execute the rest of the year. And I also love to see the weird off-beaten path things.
BA: Who’s your favorite fictional bartender?
SC: That’s a great question. I don’t know that I’ve thought of that before. It would be Whoopi Goldberg’s character on Star Trek.
BA: Great answer! What’s the best advice you’ve ever gotten? It can be work-related or not.
SC: The work-related best advice I’ve ever gotten is you’re still going to have to get your own ice.
BA: Yep.
SC: And probably not work-related but you know can apply to work is that you should know where you want to go.
BA: What is something that you are excited about?
SC: Currently I’m the most excited to possibly see the Northern Lights next year with my sister in Iceland and or Norway. Tangential to that is there’s a Swedish – I think he’s Swedish artist – who builds these giant trolls in forests and I really want to see many of them. There’s one in Alabama that they just put up, it’s in Huntsville, about an hour and a half north of Birmingham. So I really want to see as many of those trolls as possible. I think they’re very cool. They look very cool.
RETURN TO ALL HOSPITALITY GEMS
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Posted September 19th, 2025
