The yellowhammer is the state bird of Alabama, but a mythical bird flies high above the state's coastal region, welcoming all who come to visit.
The phoenix soars above Gulf Shores and Orange Beach atop dozens of condominiums. The Phoenix Condominiums and thousands of homes along the Gulf Coast all started with only $500 and a dream.
Both military veterans, Gene Brett and his brother Tillis, teamed up with builder Tommy Robinson in 1968. From there, history was made, and today, family-owned and operated Brett/Robinson offers one of the largest selections of condominiums and rental houses.
Gene Brett was born in Sycamore, Alabama, in 1936.
During World War II, the family moved to Childersburg so his father could work in the war industry, making powder for bombs. After moving around, the family eventually ended up in Shelby County, where Brett graduated from high school. Because his parents couldn't afford tuition to Birmingham-Southern College, Brett joined the Air Force, where he spent four years as an x-ray technician.
After the military, Brett moved with his wife and kids to Mobile County with his brother. They sold real estate together but worked for someone else, so they decided to go on their own.
They knocked on doors for five years and sold houses to make ends meet. After five years, they decided to take a chance. They approached Tommy Robinson, owner of a local hardware store.
They had already worked with Robinson building houses. He allowed them to pay after they sold the houses and helped them find subcontractors. Thanks to that partnership, the Bretts achieved success.
"We didn't have any money," Brett remembered. "I mean, we might have had $1,000 or $1,500 in the bank, and we each had to have $1,000 a month back then just to pay our bills and keep our families fed."
As a visionary, Brett knew he would succeed, but he wasn't sure how. Every brick that went into building what he has today was laid with persistence and honesty.
"We grew up; our parents taught us to do what we tell the people we're going to do," Brett said.
Since they didn't have an office, Brett contacted a local pharmacy owner about renting space in a shopping center. But he knew the $75 a month was too much, so he thought outside the box and tried to make a deal.
"I said, 'I'd like to talk to you about renting that office back there," Brett remembered. "He said, 'Oh, good, have a seat.' So, I sat down, and he said it would be $75 a month, and I said, 'Well, that's great, but I have a plan that's actually going to get you more than that."
"I said, 'Well, if you will rent it to us, start at $25 a month, then after six months we'll go to $50 a month, and after another six months we'll go to $75, and after that, we'll go to $100, and you'll get more rent out of it by doing that."
However, the owner had his own way of thinking.
"He said, 'Young man, I'm going to give you some advice in business," Brett recalled. "I said, 'Yes, sir?' He said, 'Young man, if you can't afford $75 a month, you don't need to go in business."
Brett said the man was right, but it was his first obstacle in starting his real estate business.
The Bretts and Robinson eventually made their partnership official.
"There was Robinson Development and Brett Real Estate, and it was a handshake partnership," Brett said of the early days. "So, in one year, we built 30 houses or so, and finally, we figured we better start a company. We shook hands on Brett Real Estate/Robinson Development, but now we just call it Brett/Robinson."
The company continued to build and sell for 11 years until Gene Brett had an idea. After Hurricane Frederic in 1979, he decided to build a condominium.
"I come back and say, 'Fellas, we need to build a condominium," Brett remembered. "Neither one of my partners knew what it was. I had to explain."
Island Winds East was Brett/Robinson's first condominium and was among the first built along the coast. The construction quality is top-notch, with a focus on structural strength.
"It's solid concrete, not styrofoam," Brett explained. "Our buildings are built out of solid concrete. We're the only people doing that. Period."
"Even the petition walls, now, there are several buildings that have concrete on the outside, but the petition walls are just metal studs and sheetrock," he continued. "Ours, the petition walls are thick, solid concrete."
For the first condominium, Brett had to hit the road and find people who would buy condos. He traveled all over the southeast to get people to sign on.
The selling was a success and led to the expansion of Brett/Robinson's rental business. In 1985, they purchased an Orange Beach property where a beach house once stood. The home had burned, so there was work to do, but the Brett brothers had a vision. During an economic downturn, they pooled their resources and brought together enough investors to build.
Gene Brett was in a hotel room watching a movie when he came up with the idea for the name. Like the phoenix rising from the ashes, he wanted to see the new building tower over the Gulf Coast. He knew many difficult times would be ahead, but he had faith that God would provide.
After convincing the rest of his team that Pheonix was the name for the condominium, it became official. Phoenix I rose from the ashes as a symbol of resilience and strength.
There have been challenges throughout the years. Before entering the rental business, the Brett brothers had to convince people that Alabama's Gulf Coast would one day be a tourist destination. Now, the area is highly sought after by investors and vacationers.
Several economic downturns over the years have hit the business hard, and at times, Brett said he didn't see a way out. However, he never lost faith in God, and like a phoenix, the business always seems to rise from the ashes.
The company is currently expanding with new condominium builds, Phoenix Key and Phoenix South Point.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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