Category Archives: Business

Downtown Get Together, Birmingham Museum of Art

Posted on December 28, 2007 | Comments Off

Here’s a great chance to learn more about what’s going on in downtown Birmingham! Operation New Birmingham, the Downtown Business Association, Birmingham Beverage Company and the Central City Neighborhood Association have joined forces to present this second ever Get Downtown event.

It’s a great opportunity to meet downtown business owners, managers and residents. This time the fun takes place at the Birmingham Museum of Art and it will give you yet another opportunity to view the Pompeii exhibit.

Cost: $0 to attend/$14 to view the Pompeii exhibit

Location:
Birmingham Museum of Art (website)
2000 8^th Avenue North (directions)

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Posted in 35203, Business, Events, Timetable

Random Shots: Soon we’ll be eating good in the neighborhood

Posted on December 27, 2007 | 12 comments

Applebee’s in Five Points West

The Applebee’s restaurant that has long been promised in Birmingham’s Five Points West community nears completion. It will be the seventh metro Birmingham location and only the second location west of I-65 and first in the city limits.

The restaurant is already poised to do great business, especially with the potential of an upgraded Birmingham International Raceway and the steady addition of new businesses on the city’s West side.

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Posted in 35208, Business, Random Shots, Restaurants/Bars

Fox 6 sale may be completed by summer 2008

Posted on December 24, 2007 | Leave a comment

WBRC neon sign

WBRC neon sign. Photo credit: André Natta

In a follow-up to a story that we first posted about in June, News Corporation announced on Saturday that eight of those stations, including Birmingham’s own WBRC-TV, will be sold to Oak Hill Capital Partners, a private equity company with offices in Menlo Park, CA, New York, NY and Stamford, CT. The reported amount paid for the eight stations is $1.1 billion – and its completion is of course subject to regulatory approval.

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Birmingham City Council passes minority inclusion ordinance

Posted on December 12, 2007 | Leave a comment

The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday unanimously passed an ordinance that makes minority inclusion a necessary part of every municipal request for proposals and all city-awarded contracts.

City Councilor Steven Hoyt, who has made minority inclusion his political platform, amended the proposed ordinance on Tuesday’s agenda to remove language “encouraging a minimum of 27 percent minority business participation.” That percentage would have invited lawsuits that, in the past decade, have successfully overturned so-called minority set-asides; high courts have generally ruled them unconstitutional.

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The old Nuncie’s building is going to be…

Posted on December 5, 2007 | 6 comments

an office supply showroom space and headquarters. Yeah, all of those who had dreams of using the space for a nightclub, restaurant or something else can stop fantasizing.

The Birmingham Business Journal reports that Bruce Office City will be the new owners of the building, and for got it for a song…

The building is located at the intersection of Carraway Blvd. and 2^nd Avenue North across from the 2nd Avenue North ramp from the Stephens Expressway northbound.

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Posted in 35203, Business

UPDATED – News flash: Council approves sales tax, business license fee increases

Posted on December 4, 2007 | 7 comments

Langford celebrates passage

Birmingham mayor Larry Langford shakes Councilor Steven Hoyt’s hand as he leaves chambers shortly after the passage of his proposed sales tax and business license fee increases. They will take effect on January 1.

Photo credit: Bob Farley/f8photo

The Birmingham City Council voted to approve both of the mayor’s initiatives during this morning’s city council meeting. While we need to confirm the final vote, Councilor William Bell was not in attendance due to his continuing recovery (though he did take part in the discussion via telephone), while Councilor Valerie Abbott abstained from both votes. ~~We will provide more information as it becomes available~~.

The sales tax passed 7-0 while the business license fee increase passed 6-1, with Councilor Joel Montgomery casting the lone “no” vote. The increases are set to take place on January 1.

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Posted in Birmingham, Business, Citywide

Random Shots: After the rush

Posted on December 3, 2007 | 6 comments

Photo credit: André Natta via Flickr

The view inside of Urban Standard after its first Saturday morning rush. The business, located at 2320 2^nd Avenue North, formally opened last week Friday to a steady stream of traffic… and its open for lunch today. It adds to our already diversifying mix of downtown gathering places, both planned and current.