The Top’s 7 Year Anniversary Extravaganza
Words by: Lily Richeson
Photos by: Cory Monteiro

Appeared:
July 7, 2007
The Top, Gainesville

There is nothing that brings people together like a good meal. What’s even better is the aesthetic setting one enjoys it in. Nestled on the corner of Main and University in Gainesville, Florida is a sweet, familiar niche known as The Top; a restaurant and bar that serves delicious soul food where both vegetarians and meat eaters alike can chow down together. Photographs of bands that have played the surrounding venues line the walls, not only giving someone something to look at, but making one realize The Top has really made a place for itself in the community.

Saturday, July 7th appropriately marked The Top’s 7th Anniversary. To celebrate, the restaurant opened its doors with a special barbecue menu, free beer koozies with matching temporary tattoos, and allowed some of Gainesville's favorite local bands to perform. The place, as always, was packed with its loyal customers and filled with music from Peach Tree, Holopaw, and Beat Buttons just to name a few.

Alison Thornsberry, who has been working at The Top for almost 2 years, was the hostess of the evening. She barely had time to talk over the hustle and bustle she was looking after that night, but when she got a minute only said good things about her favorite bistro. “I feel like the owners really care about their employees and the community. We have an awesome manager, Dave Gordon, and I feel like everyone is very supportive of each other, in whatever they do. It’s a pretty comfortable and welcoming place, and I’m proud to be a part of it.”

The atmosphere continued to shine by her praise as more and more people came in for the final act of the evening and for final drinks of the night. I munched on some fried okra and drank cheap beer as people greeted each other with warm smiles and hugs. Every band performing wished the happening little joint a happy anniversary. We all seemed to be raising our glasses to The Top that night for continuing to fill our empty stomachs and for always bringing people together.