Whether at their Lake Wilborn home or inside Hoover Steaks & Wines in Knox Square, the Deavours family is known for serving others. Owner-operators of one of Hoover’s newest restaurants and specialty markets, Patrick, Danielle, and Skylar Deavours are deeply committed to giving back to the city they say has given so much to them.

Married for 16 years, Patrick (39) and Danielle (39) both share strong ties to Hoover. Patrick

moved to the city at age six with his mother, Deborah Deavours, who still lives in The Preserve. Danielle moved frequently growing up but came to Hoover in 2002 as a sophomore at Hoover High School, where she met Patrick in a broadcasting class. High school sweethearts, they have now spent more than half their lives together.

“So much of that history has been here, where we now have the privilege of raising our daughter,” Danielle said.

Both graduated from the University of Alabama in 2008 with degrees in Telecommunication & Film. After marrying in 2009, they pursued careers in broadcast journalism in Gainesville, Florida, and Montgomery, Alabama, before returning to the Birmingham area in 2011. They settled in Ross Bridge, where Patrick worked as a sports videographer for ABC 33/40 and Danielle served as an executive producer at NBC 13.

“I was really happy to be back in Hoover,” Patrick said. “It’s where I grew up, and I knew I wanted to raise a family here too.”

Though they longed for children, Danielle was diagnosed with lupus in 2010, an autoimmune disease that can make pregnancy difficult. Doctors told them they would likely never conceive naturally. After nearly five years of failed adoptions, the couple turned to fertility treatments.

Their first IUI appointment in January 2014 was canceled by a rare Alabama snowstorm. The rescheduled appointment the following month was canceled by another ice storm.

“At that point, we decided we’d just be great aunts and uncles,” Danielle said. “We figured God was telling us we just wouldn’t be parents — I mean, two ice storms in Alabama? So we stopped treatments.”

Then, in March 2014, they learned Danielle was pregnant — without treatments or medication.

“It was one of the happiest days of my life,” Patrick said. “It felt like such a sign of God’s faithfulness.”

Danielle’s pregnancy was challenging, and she delivered a month early, but in October 2014 they welcomed their daughter, Skylar — their miracle.

Now 11, Skylar (known as “Sky”) is a straight-A student at Brock’s Gap. She serves as a Peer Helper and participates in several school clubs, including Kindness Club, Priority First Club, GEMS, and chess. She studies art and violin at Hunter Street Arts Academy and is active

at Church of the Highlands.

On the softball field, she plays catcher and third base for Hoover Central travel teams, wearing jersey number 99. But many neighbors know her for another passion: baking.

During the pandemic in 2020, Skylar launched Skypie Baking, turning her love of culinary arts

into a small business. She sold cocoa bombs, cookies, cakes, and other treats throughout Lake Wilborn and beyond.

“I love baking; it’s always been a passion of mine,” Skylar said. “Starting my baking business was a way to share that joy with other people.”

She dreams of becoming a pastry chef and attending the Culinary Institute of America. For now, she has a new venue to share her creations: Hoover Steaks & Wines.

After Skylar’s birth, Danielle stepped away from broadcasting and transitioned into public

relations and marketing roles with the American Heart Association and UAB Medicine. She later earned both a master’s degree and PhD, serving as a communication professor at the University of Alabama, University of Montevallo, and Samford University.

Patrick shifted careers in 2018, moving into marketing for Children’s of Alabama, where he served for more than five years.

In 2024, however, the couple felt called to use their skills in a new way — by serving their community.

They moved to Lake Wilborn in 2020 and later built a home in the neighborhood’s final phase. As the area around Brocks Gap continued to grow, they saw an opportunity.

“We felt this community needed a place like this,” Patrick said. “A local store where people could gather and enjoy great food and wine without driving downtown.”

Partnering with friends Tyler Camp, David Arnold, and Josh Baker, they launched Hoover Steaks

& Wines in May 2024. The concept blends restaurant, butcher shop, specialty grocery, and wine

store, with Patrick and Danielle serving as owner-operators.

To better serve customers, Danielle pursued formal wine education, earning her WSET Level 2 and Certified Specialist of Wine certifications. She acts as the store’s in-house sommelier.

“I was intimidated by wine before this,” she said. “But the more I learned, the more I loved it. We wanted HSW to be a judgment-free place where people can learn and explore culinary experiences.”

Hoover Steaks & Wines offers lunch, dinner, Sunday brunch, ready-made meals, in-house butchered meats, and more than 600 wines from around the world. The store also caters, hosts complimentary tastings twice a week, and offers wine dinners and educational series.

“We love being able to serve our neighbors,” Patrick said. “It’s been such a blessing to connect with the community through the store.”

And when she’s not at school or softball practice, Skylar can often be found in the kitchen. 

“I love being at the store with my parents,” she said. “Chef Matt has already taught me so much. Our customers are so encouraging — it really inspires me.”

The Deavours say choosing Lake Wilborn was one of their best decisions.

“This community has shaped who we are as a family,” Danielle said. “Patrick’s mom lives close by, but beyond her we don’t have much family nearby. Our neighbors have truly become family.”

They participate in neighborhood activities ranging from wiffle ball leagues to book clubs and mahjong groups. They enjoy hiking local trails with their dogs, kayaking on the lake, swimming at the community pools, and riding their golf cart through the neighborhood. They are active at Church of the Highlands-Riverchase and in Bible studies within Brocks Gap.

“I love living in Lake Wilborn,” Skylar said. “I have so many friends here. It’s a joy to live here.”

The Deavours believe one of the defining qualities of Brocks Gap is its commitment to supporting local businesses.

“It’s incredibly difficult to own a small business,” Danielle said. “Opening Hoover Steaks & Wines has been one of the biggest challenges of our lives. But this community shows up for each other.”

She encourages residents to continue supporting Knox Square and surrounding businesses to ensure they remain part of the neighborhood for years to come.

But support in Brocks Gap extends beyond commerce.

“One of the coolest things we’ve seen is how neighbors rally around each other in times of need,” Danielle said. “Whether it’s delivering meals, supporting a family after a loss, or organizing fundraisers for childhood cancer, this is the most loving, supportive community.”

As they celebrate six years in Lake Wilborn, the Deavours look forward to many more years of

connection in the place they live, work, worship, and serve.

For the Deavours family, Hoover isn’t just home. It’s a community they are grateful to invest in — one meal, one neighbor, and one act of service at a time.

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