There’s something undeniably joyful about celebrating the opening of a long-awaited restaurant. We watch the buildup on social media as owners post photos of construction on Instagram, inviting us to watch their progress. From permit approvals to décor, it’s fun to watch the process of opening a new restaurant unfold. And even more fun when owners finally post the “Grand Opening” announcement.
From new bars to coffee shops, here are six places in Birmingham to grab a bite to eat.
Helmed by Birmingham native and award-winning artist William Colburn Jr., sculpture garden and bar Elysian Gardens opened on Sept. 23 in Avondale. Colburn, who has exhibited his large-scale whimsical sculptures around the nation, intends for the space to be a multi-use visual and performing arts venue.
“We’re going to have all kinds of art, from music to culinary. Sculptures, we’re going to have all kinds of painting. Yoga classes. We’ll have drum circle classes,” Colburn told ABC 33/40. “Almost everything art will be (there). We’re trying to bring the community into the art culture.”
Details: Elysian Gardens| 101 40th St S, Birmingham, AL 35222
In August, Yvette Chatman moved her bookshop Homecoming Books and Coffee from Ensley to the gift shop in the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. The move was, in fact, a homecoming. Chatman spent over a decade at the BCRI as the Literacy and Program Curriculum Coordinator. In 2018, she opened her bookshop-- a cozy and vibrant store featuring books by Black authors and gifts from Black retailers. The store also served coffee and baked goods.
Earlier this year, Chatman hosted a series of coffee pop ups at the BCRI. She also consulted on a redesign of the institute’s gift shop and bookstore. Those opportunities came full circle in August. Now called Homecoming Book Café, Chatman’s shop is a warm and inviting beacon in the BCRI.
Details: Homecoming Book Café| 520 16th St N, Birmingham, AL 35203| (205) 328-9696
There’s no joy quite like seeing a popular food truck open a brick and mortar location. The latest mobile food eatery to venture into the storefront world is Encore Rouge. Fans of the popular gourmet street food truck can now find the Bayou Burgers, Shrimp and Sausage, Hot Wings, and Uptown Fries on Richard Arrington Blvd.
Details: Encore Rouge| 707 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd S
The Modern House, a non-profit coffee house, opened on Sept. 25 in Titusville. Owners Troy Whetstone and his wife Jeanisha spent almost two years refurbishing a former bail bonds business location. Their mission is to give homeless people a chance at independence and employment. Whetstone envisions the coffee shop as a non-profit where homeless employees will go through financial literacy and nutrition classes, as well as life coaching, and eventually transitioning to Lawson State for job certification.
Details: The Modern House| 422 6th Ave S, Birmingham
[READ MORE: New Birmingham coffee shop gives the homeless a second chance]
Details: Continental Drift| 2201 7th Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35233
This summer, longtime Birmingham bartenders Eric Bennett and John Easterling, opened their anticipated bar, Continental Drift. The bar is a brick and mortar version of the duo’s Continental Drift bartender pop ups. Bennett and Easterling also retooled the name and concept of their food truck. Formerly known as Paradise Chow, the pair revamped the truck’s menu and design. Now called Drift Kitchen, the truck is parked outside of Continental Drift.
This month, Kristen Hall and Victor King, the chefs behind Birmingham’s all day café The Essential and the popular bakery Bandit Pâtisserie opened their third concept-- a Parisian-inspired wine bar called Bar La Fête.
Bar La Fête (la fête in French translates to celebration or party) encompass Hall and King’s dream of adding “a playful yet moody wine bar” to their culinary portfolio.
“We feel that Birmingham already has a pretty sophisticated palate for wine. And our hope is to create a space where those guests feel at home. Where they can find something that’s interesting. Where they can try things they’ve never tried before,” Hall and King told AL.com in an interview last year. “But also (a space) for those who have never really engaged in wine.”
[READ MORE: Birmingham chefs Kristen Hall and Victor King to open Parisian-inspired wine bar]
Details: Bar La Feté| 2212 1st Ave N Suite 201, Birmingham, AL 35203
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