Tag Archives: 35222

Longtime Forest Park grocer V. Richard’s announces it’s closing via Facebook

V_Richard'sV. Richard’s, the long-time (read: nearly 20 years) specialty grocery store located in Birmingham’s Forest Park neighborhood announced it was closing today via a post to its fan page on Facebook. According to the photo included, the retailer’s lease was broken and everything must go, resulting in 50% discounts off of all meat, grocery, and produce items. There are no plans to reopen this business in another location (per the link included in our update). The news was shared a little less than four hours before the Microlove open house at Naked Art Gallery this evening. The closure means the closest grocery store for area residents is the Piggly Wiggly located at 3314 Clairmont Avenue.

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Its entry on Bhamwiki provides a fairly complete history of the retailer. The business had operated along Clairmont Avenue since 1995, beginning with a space at 3908. It moved into its current location, 3916 Clairmont Avenue — the building formerly occupied by Payless Drugs, in 2004. It allowed for more space, seating for dining, and a considerable increase in customer parking.

V. Richard’s had explored expansion in the Birmingham market twice. It opened a second location in Homewood in 1999 but it closed within 18 months. The grocer had also been announced as an anchor tenant in 2010 for the long-awaited renovation of the Pizitz Building in Birmingham’s City Center, but as the project faced continuous delays it backed out.

The grocery’s parent company still operates Catherine’s Market, located at Lake Martin as part of the Russell Crossroads development. Another property once associated with the company, Enzo’s Market in Chattanooga, TN, closed in June 2014 and was replaced with a concept store called Grocery Bar. The V. Richard’s name will live on, however — the Brookfield, WI location bought from the Littles in 2002 still uses it (albeit in a smaller space than it first occupied).

UPDATE: Bryan Davis of the Birmingham Business Journal reports an inability of owner Ricky Little and the landlord to come to terms on a new lease agreement as the reason for the unexpected closing.

Photo: Courtesy of the V. Richard’s fan page on Facebook.

Saw’s opens second location in Avondale

Inside Saws AvondaleSaw’s BBQ, the popular restaurant in Homewood’s Edgewood neighborhood, opened its second location on 41st Street South in the heart of the Avondale commercial revitalization effort on Wednesday, March 21.

It’s just down the block from Avondale Brewing Company‘s (ABC)  home – they’re excited about their arrival (and the fact they’ll run food down to hungry customers in their taproom). We’re assuming the folks over at Spring Street Fire House are too.) The menu board is currently made up of mostly BBQ sandwiches, burgers and bakers. The space, at 215 41st St. S., was the home to Split & Quick BBQ until recently.

Someone else that may be excited about the new restaurant on 41st Street? Whoever the folks at ABC chose as the winner of the space directly across the street from them – complete with free rent for six months. The announcement’s scheduled for next week Thursday, March 29, at the brewery’s taproom.

The Terminally Happy Hour, The Bottletree

We figured we’d try this again.

Here’s how it’ll happen; we’ll show up at The Bottletree and hang out on the patio starting around 5 p.m. You’ll come on out and join us on said patio as we really hope it’s warm and not raining (although the patio is covered). We’ll have some crazy conversations going on and we’ll all be able to enjoy happy hour drink specials, Magic City Manhattans and chips and salsa.

What more do you need to enjoy a lazy Wednesday evening before the official start of summer? We thought so…

Let us know if you’re coming either through Facebook or Upcoming.org.

Cost: It’s happy hour, come on…

Location:
The Bottletree
3917 3rd Avenue South (directions)

Be Terminally Happy tonight…

Terminally Happy Hour 300In case you didn’t know, we’re hosting our first ever Terminally Happy Hour this evening over at The Bottletree. We’ve learned a couple of things since we first announced this event…

The Bottletree’s going to run happy hour prices until 8 p.m., meaning that we’ve actually got an extra hour for the event (thanks guys!)

There’s going to be a Mystery Science Theater 3000 marathon afterwards (here’s the info courtesy of The Bottletree).

So come on out, enjoy the patio, the Magic City Manhattan (bourbon, sweet vermouth, and a splash of bitters) and the company of fellow readers and members of our staff!

If you feel like letting us know if you’re going to be there, RSVP via our invites on MySpace or Facebook.

We should have gotten the sign first

A little while back we wrote about the continuing pleas of the Forest Park-South Avondale to have the former Avonwood Cleaners demolished as it had become an eyesore in the community. Well, it looks like their prayers have been answered as the Birmingham News reports that the tear down has started.

It’ll hopefully be down by next week.

The contract to remove hazardous materials was originally on the January 2 Birmingham City Council agenda for approval (item 34).

Let’s call happy hour tonight – seriously!

Foosball table

One of the new initiatives that we’re planning on is a monthly happy hour at The Bottletree. Since the weather’s cleared up (mostly), and mainly because I just want to see what happens, I’m calling happy hour for… TONIGHT!!

No, this isn’t the official start, but we thought what the hell (we did mention it on our MySpace profile yesterday).

From 5 – 7 p.m. tonight, venture on over to Avondale and sit out on The Bottletree’s side patio (it’s covered) and enjoy The Terminally Happy Hour.

Right now it’s pretty quiet (but there’s foosball to be played).

If not, we’ll have a couple of announcements tomorrow morning anyway. Enjoy the ride!

This Will Go On Your Permanent Record release party w/The2ndHand No. 27, The Bottletree

So you’ve got to check out this release party and reading for THE2NDHAND contributor Susannah Felts‘ first novel, This Will Go Down on Your Permanent Record, a sort of coming-of-age of the artist, a story of the commitment of youth, given freedom.

There will be readings by Felts, Birmingham poet Chris Lawson, and the trio of THE2NDHAND editor Todd Dills, contributor Nadria Tucker (winner of our 2007 Art Walk competition) and poet Emily Self as Pitchfork Battalion. Music by Through the Sparks‘ Jody Nelson.

Cost: Free

Location:
The Bottletree
3719 3rd Avenue South (directions)