André Natta/Flickr
This longtime downtown Birmingham sign will soon be going away. Harbert Realty Services announced this morning that they will be demolishing the former La Paree restaurant, located at 2013 5th Avenue North, to allow for more space in the planned 4-Diamond Marriott Renaissance Hotel. The $52 million luxury hotel will be contained in the former Regions Bank headquarters at the intersection of 5th Avenue North and 20th Street.
The landmark downtown eatery last served customers in December of 2003 after more than 60 years in business. The demolition will allow for the hotel to have 281 guest rooms instead of the original 255 as the new space can be used for a tremendous increase in restaurant and ballroom space.
Check out this transcript and audio clip from the Michael Matsos, a previous owner of the restaurant.
Sphere: Related Content
6 comments so far ↓
1 Charles Amos Horn // Feb 18, 2008 at 4:00 pm
I love how we just dynamited one “luxury” hotel, and now we see fit to create another…can’t people see “luxury” hotels (an other upper crust catering things) are not a sustainable way to revitalize downtown? Give us more restaurants, a grocery store, more affordable housing, theaters….
Not more rich people who will come downtown, maybe to a convention, stay in the hotel and then leave! Good grief. The city is out of touch with community!
2 Charles Amos Horn // Feb 18, 2008 at 5:27 pm
That is, “developers” are out of touch with community.
3 Melinda // Feb 18, 2008 at 6:02 pm
Reminds of La Paree’s tasty Greek chicken dish and how much I enjoyed going there for lunch.
4 Passing of the Parliament House « Pop Goes the City // Feb 19, 2008 at 9:39 pm
[...] the demolition that *does* bug me is one announced just yesterday: the old La Paree restaurant downtown. I realize the four-star hotel going into the Regions building on the corner could use the [...]
5 Chad // Feb 21, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Come on guys. La Paree was a good place to eat, but do you have any idea of how bad shape that building is in? I’m all for perserving old character is our city, but every old building can’t just be refurbished.
More hotel space downtown will be good for downtown business and will spill over to downtown resturants and bars.
6 StephenS // Feb 21, 2008 at 12:30 pm
At least it’s not being demolished for a parking lot… but i wish they could keep the original structure/front to keep some sense of history about the place.
Join the conversation!