Cypress trees can live up to 1,000 years in the South. They're lanky, piney giants with roots often fanning into the still swamp waters.

"The older they get, the better," said Josh Smith, one of three owners of The Cypress, Reno's newest music venue in Midtown. He hopes the same for the venue. 

"We hope to grow with the community," said Smith. 

The Cypress is named after the wood that is central to the fresh new look of the venue, formerly The Saint, at 761 S. Virginia St. The showroom opened in January but there's more to come, including a full kitchen and a completed back patio. 

All three owners — Smith, Jarrett Usry and Eric Pilcher — are from the South, where cypress trees are abundant. Smith and Usry are from Mississippi, and Pilcher is from Alabama. The three met because Smith and Usry own two Mo's BBQ franchises together in Mississippi, and Pilcher owns one in Tahoe City, where he lives now. Usry lives in Reno, and Smith lives in Boise, Idaho. 

The Cypress, with a capacity of about 300, recently sold out its show to bluegrass funk band Dirtwire, and has featured other crowd favorites, like guitar maniac Scott Pemberton. 

A music hall is a new venture for the three owners, who initially considered going in on another barbecue joint together. When they found the venue, though, they knew they had to do more with it. 

"Eric already had his foot in the music scene," said Smith of Usry, who helps with a number of local music festivals. 

The brick building was originally a garage servicing Buicks in the 1930s and 1940s, but most recently it was a venue. The space needed some alterations, Smith said. Since signing a 10-year lease, the new owners created a raised stage inside to accommodate bigger acts. They also installed a number of acoustic panels for sound absorption.  

"Before you could snap your fingers, and it would echo," said Smith. 

While making improvements in recent months, the cost of wood skyrocketed, so they used leftover cypress wood from another project, and also cypress harvested from Pilcher's family farm in Mississippi. That includes the stage, tables and bench seating in the outdoor patio.

Using cypress was both a financial and sentimental decision. The trees were already felled in the water back in Pilcher's home down south. 

"You don't want to knock down these trees. They're magnificent," said Smith. 

The venue already is featuring regular nights, like jazz night and salsa night, but the owners are working on booking a mix of local established and up-and-coming artists. They also intend to get a full service kitchen running out back later this year, serving up "Southern tapas." 

The owners can't create a menu too similar to that of the franchises they already own, but you can bet your pork butt there's going to be some smokin' and grillin' involved. 

Smith said Reno can expect good music, good food and good drinks at The Cypress. 

"The challenge is going to be doing it all well, at once," said Smith.

Jenny Kane covers arts and culture in Northern Nevada. Support her work in Reno by subscribing to RGJ.com right here.