Free land in downtown Birmingham
By Wade Kwon
Found on the stroll to Artwalk Friday evening …
Property location
On Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard between Second and Third Avenues North, this vacant lot is making you an offer:
Barber Companies
We would like to give this property to the organization or individual that will build a building and open a new Birmingham business on this site.
See website for details
www.barbercompanies.com
A quick check of the Barber site reveals no additional information.
Anyone want to open a supermarket? Tanning salon? Coworking space?
What would you put there? Leave a comment.
Saturday, September 11, 2010, 9:29 am
Kitchen incubator!
Saturday, September 11, 2010, 9:53 am
It’s been almost a year since they offered to give it away: http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2009/09/barber_offers_free_downtown_pr.html
Saturday, September 11, 2010, 1:54 pm
Thanks, Dave.
It’s a shame that after a year, no takers. Or no additional info on the Barbers Company website.
Sunday, September 12, 2010, 8:23 am
Great question. While I believe a supermarket downtown is high on downtown’s much needed list, in a perfect world I would like to see a business that would give families an affordable reason to bring their kids downtown. We go to the McWaine Science Center, the Vulcan, museums and other places as much as we can, but it’s not something we can afford on a consistent basis.
I dream about a Creative Kids Zone where you could bring your kids, pay a flat affordable fee and have plenty of creative activity centers and projects. How great would it be to sit down with your child, create something fun, (paint, make a book, go on a scavenger hunt around Birmingham and post findings on a website, etc.) interact with your kid(s) and make lasting memories?
(Hmmmm… maybe I need to find a business partner)
Birmingham is a great city and I want to share it with my kids. I’m always looking for another destination that opens my kids mind, expands their horizons and lets them experience Birmingham.
Sunday, September 12, 2010, 10:33 am
Always room for more family-friendly venues and activities downtown. Thanks for sharing, Chris.
Sunday, September 12, 2010, 7:38 pm
There has actually been a contract signed on this lot, and the plan is for it to be “Ironworks Ale House” – a brewpub and eatery that will celebrate the history of Birmingham.
We are still in the funding and design phase at the moment, but plans are to have it operational within a year.
Sunday, September 12, 2010, 9:51 pm
Thanks, Chappy! That sounds like a place I want to visit when it opens.
Monday, September 13, 2010, 8:39 am
I thought that brew pubs, by law, had to be in historic buildings. It’s one of those arcane state laws. Am I wrong about that?
Monday, September 13, 2010, 8:40 am
Ironworks Ale House has a nice ring to it. I’m with Wade on wanting to visit when it opens.
Monday, September 13, 2010, 9:35 am
Glenn: Maybe they’re betting on legislative reform before opening?
Monday, September 13, 2010, 9:36 am
Well, it’s not a family-style place but I like it just the same. Sounds like a place my wife and I would visit at every opportunity.
Chappy, do you know how we can find out when it opens?