In the late 19th century, the building that now houses Freedmen's smokehouse and grill served as a gathering spot for Wheatsville, the African-American community made up of freed slaves.

Now, more than 100 years later, the craft cocktail and barbecue restaurant that opened in December at 2402 San Gabriel St. is attempting to uphold the building's legacy, bar manager Myria Free said.

"It was a center of the community, and that is what we try to do there, is keep the community vibe going," she said.

Freedmen's serves barbecue that is smoked in-house. The drink menu offers craft cocktails that are a mix of early 20th century and soda shop recipes.

Freedmen's is different from most of the surrounding restaurants and bars that cater more toward college students, Free said.

"It's more of an older crowd," she said. "It's a crowd that enjoys food and drink in different way."

Freedmen's, which is owned by Cuatro Kowalski and James Stockbauer, has been working to get its Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission license since it opened. In the meantime, the restaurant has been serving two free cocktails per person to customers.

After it gets its TABC license, Freedmen's will stay open later and host events such as 1920s casino nights, Free said. Freedmen's was hoping to get its license Jan. 11, she said.

"We have a place for people who didn't have a place to go in the area before," she said. "There is nothing quite like us around us."