Business Happenings

Now Open

Umami Birmingham, 2808 Seventh Ave. S., is now open and offers everything from sushi, rice bowls, yakitori, cold bites, hot bites, tacos, salads, drinks, sake, a bar and more, with indoor and outdoor dining. 205-201-4337

Reform Motion, 1901 Sixth Ave. N., Suite 150, is a downtown massage therapy and strength and conditioning practice now open to new clients. Founded by Vestavia Hills local Michael O’Neal, services cover the entire spectrum of performance services, including joint rehab, one-on-one training, and relaxation-recovery. 205-907-5523

Red Mountain Theatre, 1600 Third Ave. S., recently completed major construction on its new $25 million arts campus in Parkside. The company held a soft opening, with some classes and events, in May. LIVE Design Group were the architects. Brasfield & Gorrie was the general contractor. 205-324-2424

Cousins Maine Lobster, a national food truck chain, held a grand opening for its Birmingham truck in late April, according to local media reports. It is the chain’s first truck based in Alabama. Chris Papp is the local franchise owner, according to cousinsmainelobster.com

The Southern Environmental Center at Birmingham-Southern College, 900 Arkadelphia Road, officially unveiled the Sharon Burrow Teaching Pavilion at Turkey Creek Nature Preserve on April 30, according to a BSC news release. The pavilion will provide a covered space for the SEC to expand its programming for K-12 and college students throughout the Southeast. 800-523-5793

Mitchell’s Place, an autism treatment center and preschool, opened a second location on Arlington Avenue on Southside on May 17, according to a spokesperson for the nonprofit. The facility — called MP Southside + — shares parking with Triumph Services Inc., which helps teens and adults with autism develop life skills. 205-957-0294

Coming Soon

Iron City Pizza Company had a soft opening in May at its new location at 2005 11th Ave. S. in the Spanish Stores building in Five Point South, according to bhamnow.com. The eatery hoped to open for indoor and patio dining in June, according to the report. 205-847-4396

Media company iHeartMedia is scheduled to relocate its Birmingham offices, including 11 local radio stations, to the historic mixed-use Denham Building, 1143 First Ave. S. in Parkside, this fall, according to a news release from the Colliers International real estate agency. Atlanta-based East Pole Coffee Co. will open a coffee and wine bar in the building. 205-531-0646

Renovations and Relocations

Developer Mike Mouron and Capstone Development Partners, 402 Office Park Drive, recently completed the renovation of the historic Greyhound Bus Terminal on 19th Street North near Birmingham City Hall for multiuse office space, according to media reports. The bus depot, unused since 2017, was built in 1950. 205-949-5050

New Construction

On Earth Day, April 22, Freshwater Land Trust, 2308 First Ave. N., broke ground on the Jones Valley Trail Extension that will connect downtown Birmingham to 41st Street South in Avondale and run parallel to First Avenue South., according to a FLT news release. The organization expects the trail will be completed by the end of this year and ahead of the 2022 World Games. 205-417-2777

Construction Update

Installation of metal panels on the exterior of floors two through seven at the McCallum Basic Science Building at 1918 University Blvd. is underway and is currently 85% complete, according to UAB Media Relations. Completion is scheduled for September. 205-934-4011

Construction continues on Lakeview Green, a large mixed-use project in Lakeview about a block away from Pepper Place at 2901 Fourth Ave. S. The project will include residential units, retail, restaurants and a large public green space. Leasing began in May for the residential units, according to Birmingham Business Journal. 205-769-4544

Construction continues at Protective Stadium, an open-air facility at the BJCC, 1 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N. The facility should be finished in time for UAB football in fall 2021.

News and Accomplishments

The nonprofit Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama, 300 Office Park Drive, Suite 225, is helping support the reopening of adult day care centers in the Birmingham area following the COVID-19 pandemic with “reopening grants.” One recipient is Rose Garden Adult Day Care in Woodlawn, which reopened in May, according to an ACA news release. 205-871-7970

Jones Valley Teaching Farm, 701 25th St. N., launched its Ready to Grow fundraising campaign May 4 to raise money to complete the Center for Food Education, a community hub to be built at the nonprofit’s Downtown Teaching Farm. The facility is scheduled to open this summer, according to a JVTF news release. The campaign website is ready2grow.org. 205-453-7268

Lawson State Community College, 3060 Wilson Road, recently held its annual White Coat Ceremony with the theme, “Developing the Next Generation of STEM Thought Leaders,” according to an April 29 news release from the school. The ceremony honors the character and achievements of STEM scholars at the school who are engaging in rigorous scientific research. 205-925-2515

Princeton Baptist Medical Center, 701 Princeton Ave. S.W., announced April 29 that the hospital had received an “A” for the Spring 2021 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, its fourth consecutive “A.” The Leapfrog Group is an independent national watchdog organization, according to a hospital news release. 205-783-3000

Personnel Moves

Will Ferniany, whose career at UAB began in the 1980s, announced in April that he will retire as chief executive officer of the UAB Health System at the end of 2021. He has served as CEO since 2008. 205-934-4011

Coca-Cola Bottling Company United Inc., 4600 East Lake Blvd., announced in late April that Mike Suco has been named senior vice president and chief commercial officer and that Birmingham native Crawford Jones has been named vice president, East Region. 205-841-2653

The Rev. Kevin J. Long was named the new pastor at Independent Presbyterian Church, 3100 Highland Ave., on May 2, according to a church news release. Long, currently at Sewickley Presbyterian Church in Pennsylvania, will become pastor and head of staff at Independent Presbyterian Church on Aug. 1. 205-933-1830

Anniversaries

Nonprofit BirthWell Partners Community Doula Project, 976 Linwood Road, celebrated its 10th anniversary in May. BWP trains doulas to assist pregnant women. A doula is a professional who provides support for a mother during pregnancy and after the birth. 205-614-3297