MONTGOMERY — For decades, 1048 Jazz and Blues stood as a cornerstone of Montgomery’s live music scene. Located at 1104 E. Fairview Avenue in the heart of Old Cloverdale, it was once the place to catch local legends, discover up-and-coming talent and enjoy the pulse of Montgomery’s nightlife.
The old cliché goes: if you’ve played music in Montgomery, you’ve either been on stage at 1048 or in the crowd watching acts like Ziggy Luis and Ben Hagler of “Zig and the Zigtones,” or the blues powerhouse Blues Old Stand. It was more than a bar — it was a cultural institution.
But in recent years, that reputation has eroded.
As the Cloverdale area has seen a wave of redevelopment and revitalization, new apartment complexes, restaurants and the restored Capri Theatre, many longtime residents hoped the growth would bring new life to one of Montgomery’s most historic neighborhoods.
Instead, they say it’s also brought something else: trouble. And some are pointing their fingers at 1048.
Owned by Doug Gurney, a name that sparks strong opinions in the local community, the club has become the subject of increasing scrutiny. Reports of crime, drug use and public disturbances have mounted, with multiple residents sounding off to the Montgomery City Council in recent meetings, most recently Tuesday night’s meeting.
According to residents and business owners in the area, 1048 has become a hotspot for problems that extend far beyond noise complaints. Eyewitness accounts describe employees drinking on the job, using illicit substances and allowing behavior that spills well past legal boundaries. In some cases, gunfire has been reported coming from the club’s parking lot during late-night hours.
The building itself, once a quirky and inviting corner of Cloverdale’s charm, has fallen into visible disrepair. Many blame the club’s declining condition on Gurney, whose management style and conflicts with the City have made headlines before.
In fact, Gurney and his bar have become regular topics in local media, not for concerts or community events, but for feuds with the City, disputes with neighbors and allegations of public nuisance.
During a recent nuisance abatement hearing, neighbors described a litany of issues tied to 1048, citing everything from vagrancy and drug activity to a general sense that the business is no longer contributing positively to the neighborhood’s growth.
These complaints arrive at a pivotal time for Old Cloverdale. With Huntingdon College just blocks away and the City investing in infrastructure and culture-driven development, many residents are asking: Does 1048 still belong in the future of this neighborhood?
Supporters of 1048 argue that the club is a victim of gentrification and that the recent wave of criticism is an effort to scrub away the rough edges of a once-authentic neighborhood. But for others, it’s not about aesthetics, it’s about safety and accountability.
Gurney has remained mostly silent in public amid the recent outcry, but his establishment is clearly at a crossroads. The nostalgia surrounding 1048’s legacy still lingers, but so do the problems.
As Montgomery continues to grow and redefine itself, the fate of 1048 Jazz and Blues could become a symbol of a larger question: How does a city balance preservation of its past with the demands of its future?
Jason Davenport is a seasoned media professional with over two decades of experience in the fields of broadcasting, audio/video production, and media consulting. Based in Montgomery, Alabama, Jason is the owner of Pulse Media Montgomery, where he specializes in providing innovative solutions for clients, including podcasting, blogging, web design, and social media management.