Seeds Coffee seeks to fill a need with 2nd location

Jeff and Brett Huey, brothers and co-owners of Seeds Coffee in Homewood, are opening a second location in the 29 Seven development on Seventh Avenue South in Lakeview.

They’re excited to become part of Lakeview, which Jeff Huey called a “super eclectic” area with “a lot of different types of people.”

Lakeview has some of Birmingham’s heaviest foot traffic, according to Jeff Huey. “Foot traffic and coffee go hand in hand,” he said.

And there are numerous apartment units opening near the shop. “It’s a huge growth area,” Jeff Huey said.

At our press time, the Hueys expected to hold a grand opening at the new location Nov. 15.

The new Seeds measures about 1,250 square feet and will have approximately 15 employees, according to the brothers. 

The Hueys regularly book musical performances and other events at the Homewood store but have no such plans at the new, smaller Lakeview store. 

“I think we’ll just stick with coffee,” Jeff Huey said.

The new Seeds will offer food, including pastries, house-made granola and breakfast bowls, according to kitchen manager Lauren Gavin. Breakfast could be a good niche for Seeds, which will open as early as 6 a.m., according to Jeff Huey.

“Lakeview lacks healthy breakfast food options, even breakfast in general,” he said.

There are also plans to eventually offer wine and desserts at night and brunch on Sunday, according to Gavin. 

The Hueys operate Seeds as part of the nonprofit Common Threads and used money raised through crowdfunding, as well as other donations of labor, equipment and materials, to open the new shop. 

Another advantage of the new location is a lack of competition, according to Brett Huey. “If you look at the surrounding area, you can see there is not a coffeeshop,” he said.

The closest coffee houses are Saturn in Avondale and the popular Red Cat a few blocks away at Pepper Place, he said. “But that’s still another pocket of town.”