Seniors 65 and older in Alabama’s Blount and Covington counties vote Tuesday on freezing their homes’ assessed value for property taxes

Voters in two Alabama counties decide Tuesday, Nov. 3, whether homeowners 65 and older can freeze the assessed value of their homes for property tax purposes. The questions are on the ballot in Blount County and in Covington County. Each is a separate constitutional amendment, and each is worded almost the same way. What a […]

Photos: Candy manufacturer plans $3.8M expansion, 60 new jobs in Irondale

IRONDALE, Ala. (WBMA) — A candy manufacturer in Irondale is planning a multimillion-dollar expansion that could bring dozens of new jobs to Jefferson County, with city leaders considering tax incentives to help make the project happen. Sandblast by Creative Concepts Inc., an existing candy manufacturer located at 1500 Georgia...

You Could Hunt For Treasures For Hours Inside This 120,000-Square-Foot Alabama Antique Mall

Most buildings in Alabama don’t make your heart beat a little faster when you walk through the door, but Irondale Pickers in Irondale, Alabama is not most buildings. It’s a 120,000-square-foot antique mall and indoor market with around 500 vendors, and it earns that elevated heart rate completely.

Husky Barbershop: A Trussville icon returns

The Husky Barbershop has reopened at its longtime location under new ownership, with the original chairs still in place after the shop sat empty for an extended period.

JLL Negotiates $32.5 Million Sale of Power Center in Birmingham, Alabama

Birmingham, Ala. — JLL has negotiated the $32.5 million sale of the second phase of Village at Lee Branch, a power center located at 1201 Doug Baker Blvd. in Birmingham. Brad Buchanan, Jim Hamilton and Anton Serafini of JLL represented the seller, Atlanta-based Cygnus Capital, in the transaction. The buyer was Richmond, Virginia-based Hackney Real Estate Partners. Phase II of the project totals 223,300 square feet.

Jack’s Western and Outdoor Wear Founder Larry Allred named Bronze Alabama Retailer of the Year

GOOD HOPE, Ala. — For Larry Allred, the story of Jack’s Western and Outdoor Wear has always been about more than boots and western wear. It is a story of family, hard work and a community that helped shape his life. Fifty years after opening a small store connected to Jack’s Truck Stop and Café, Allred has grown the Good Hope business into a nearly 30,000-square-foot destination. In recognition of his success and the legacy he has built over five decades, Allred has been named the Bronze Alabama Retailer of the Year by the Alabama Retail Association. Allred’s connection to the business runs deep. As a boy, he spent long days working on his grandfather’s farm. In 2013, he purchased that same land, once owned by his great grandfather, and built the store that stands there today. As Allred puts it, “We are still working the land.” Family remains at the heart of the business. His daughters, Sara Allred Barnett and Kristin Allred Mazur, and son-in-law Les Barnett help keep Jack’s moving forward, while all four grandchildren pitch in, too. From boots and inventory to marketing and modeling outfits, everyone finds a way to contribute. Allred’s commitment to community is

Techstars EnergyTech Accelerator brings new innovators to Alabama

Birmingham, Alabama — Since launching in 2019, Techstars Alabama EnergyTech has quietly built a bridge between early-stage founders and the industrial backbone of the Southeast. . Now entering its seventh year, the 13-week program is run in partnership with Alabama Power, Innovate Alabama and the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama....

How Clotheshorse has thrived in Vestavia Hills for 34 years

Before Clotheshorse upscale consignment was a Vestavia Hills staple, it was a habit passed down in Becky Sager’s family. Her grandmother took her everywhere to thrift, sparking a bargain-hunter instinct that would reshape life with her husband, Tim. “It was in my blood,” Becky said. “I knew I loved...

This Massive Alabama Antique Store Is Where Bargain Hunters Score Amazing Treasures Under $30

If you’ve ever stood in a big box store holding something beige and forgettable and thought “there has to be a better way,” Irondale Pickers in Irondale, Alabama is your answer. It’s an antique mall and indoor market where the inventory is interesting, the prices are reasonable,...

Providers General Store opens near Birmingham’s Ruffner Mountain

Providers General Store, the much-anticipated retail store with a community cafe, opened October 31, 2026. A “gateway to Ruffner Mountain,” Providers is located a couple of blocks from the popular nature preserve, at the former Ruffner Relics spot on 8039 Rugby Avenue, Birmingham, AL in the South East Lake Neighborhood.

Construction Underway at New Saban Smart Home

Alabama Power plan to demolish structure next to Powell Avenue substation stalls over wall design

Your support helps us grow and sustain a newsroom for the City Built to Change the South. Donate today to help Birmingham stay informed. Publisher’s note: The story has been updated on Nov. 2, 2026, to properly identify the project and the property in question. Alabama Power Co. is...

Developers move closer to releasing proposed plan for old Brookwood Village mall

Plans for a mixed-use project for the old Brookwood Village mall may not be moving quickly, but they are moving. Local leaders say more details on the mixed-use redevelopment may be released by the end of the year. “There is movement,” said Mountain Brook Mayor Graham Smith. “The developers are...

Zoning plan submitted for 331 acres in west Hoover

Signature Homes has presented the development plan for its next big community in western Hoover, and the proposal is slated to be considered by the Hoover Planning and Zoning Commission on Nov. 2. Update: The Collier Vallley development plan was continued by the zoning board on Nov. 2 and was...

Alabama Proposes 90-Hour Cap on Digi Power X Diesel Engines

Each of the 42 diesel engines planned for Digi Power X's data center in Columbiana would get 90 hours to run in any rolling 12 months under draft air permits the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) proposed Oct. 29. The public notice covers synthetic minor operating permits for the site at 130 Industrial Parkway in Shelby County, and comments and hearing requests are due within 15 days after publication.

Colder weather begins to freeze Chilton unemployment rate

Chilton County’s unemployment rate went up a bit in September as the colder weather rolls into the area, but the county still sits in the bottom tier of rates across Alabama. Chilton County saw its unemployment rate spike a bit from August to September, jumping from 3.1% to 3.4%....

Twinkle Toes Nanny Agency Expands Franchise Footprint with New Locations in Birmingham and Cleveland

November 02, 2026 // Franchising.com // GAINESVILLE, FL – Twinkle Toes Nanny Agency, a growing brand connecting families with dependable, high-quality in-home childcare, is expanding its national presence with new locations in Birmingham, Alabama, and Cleveland, Ohio. The expansion welcomes three new owners to the Twinkle Toes network: Cathy...

Love a home with character? See inside Birmingham homes with Southern charm

There’s something about a Southern home that just feels good. A wide front porch made for coffee-drinking, a big kitchen for reinventing grandma’s recipes or original hardwood floors that will see generations of family gatherings. In Birmingham, these homes come with some cool character, too. Our neighborhoods are...

Homewood business happenings: November 2026

Alfred’s Antiques and Wine recently opened at 111 Broadway St. in Homewood near Ruby Sunshine. After a trip to France, owner Kat Bailey — who also owns Kat Bailey Interiors — was inspired by the treasures she and her team discovered and wanted to create something of her own. That inspiration turned into a boutique wine and antiques shop where customers can shop unique items while enjoying wine or taking some to go. It has a wide range of pieces including antique dressers, paintings, art, tables, pillows, rugs, candles and more. Alfred’s Antiques and Wine is open Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.