New owners set to transform Avondale strip mall

The owners of the popular Shoppes of Crestwood retail center recently purchased the Family Dollar strip mall in East Avondale. They plan to bring the facility to life using the same model they have followed at The Shoppes – ignoring chain operations that fill most neighborhood malls and bringing in a mix of local businesses.

“We want to do the same thing all over again,” said Birmingham attorney Payne Baker, one of three partners in both ventures. “We are committed to attracting local retail that would be a good fit for the neighborhood.” 

Baker and his partners – including Blake Millican, owner of Crestwood Tavern – bought the mall in the 4400 block of Fourth Avenue S. adjacent to the Continental Gin building, from Avonwood Properties LLC for $700,000. The sale closed on May 12, Baker said.

Two tenants had been confirmed – Sheppard's Pet Supply and City Vision Magazine. The partners would also like to attract an organic grocery. A new micro-distillery is planning to come in but has not yet picked a name and must still get its state and federal approval, Baker said. 

The new owners are presently doing some clean-up on the property, but the renovation budget has not been set, he said.

The location of the new facility is attractive because “it is the bridge between Crestwood and Avondale,” Baker said. 

The adjacent Continental Gin building also includes some interesting local companies, including Cahaba Brewing – which moved there in 2015 – and the Triton Stone Group. 

Baker and his partners bought The Shoppes on Crestwood Boulevard — called Crestwood Center before the purchase – in 2014, telling AL.com at the time that they were planning to invest up to $2.5 million to buy and renovate the facility.

“We are still spending that money,” Baker said in May. 

The owners plan to renovate the façade at the Crestwood strip in June. There also will be a local compounding pharmacy with “an old-timey soda fountain” opening this summer, he said.