Now Open
MBN Automotive Inc., an automotive machining company headquartered in Germany, has opened a sales and customer support office at 811 Fifth Ave. N. in Hardware Park, according to a news release from the Birmingham Business Alliance. The company manufactures assembly line machines in Germany for Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Volkswagen. The company plans to add to its Alabama sales team. The Birmingham location is MBN’s first office in the United States.
Cannella Gelato, which sells a popular Italian dessert that is similar to ice cream, recently opened at 2212 Morris Ave. in the Mercantile on Morris mixed-use development, according to bhamnow.com. The store also offers sorbetto, a non-dairy frozen treat, as well as coffee, espresso drinks and affogato, a coffee-based dessert.
MK Quinlan — a shop selling art, design and vintage clothing — will soon be moving into the old Zoe’s space at 3900 Clairmont Ave. in Forest Park, according to bhamnow.com. Quinlan is a stylist, interior designer and former journalist who is based in Birmingham, according to the store’s website. 561-215-0069
The Birmingham City Council recently approved a beer and wine license for Good Dog, a dog park and bar under construction in a former steel mill at 2308 First Ave. S., according to al.com. The facility should open this spring, according to an Instagram post from the owners. 205-936-0497
Hi-Wire Brewing, based in Asheville, North Carolina, will open a taproom in Birmingham in late summer 2022, according to a news release from the company. Hi-Wire will be the anchor tenant of the new mixed-use development Lakeview Green, 2901 Fourth Ave. S. in Lakeview. Hi-Wire will have 10 taprooms in four states by the end of the year. 828-738-2448
Coming Soon
Slim & Husky’s Pizza Beeria, a pizza and craft beer restaurant based in Nashville, has announced plans to open a location in Birmingham, according to media reports. It will be the company’s 10th location, most of which are in Tennessee. The eatery is to be located at the intersection of Messer Airport Highway and 41st Street in North Avondale, according to a Facebook announcement from the chain’s owners.
Tina & Gina’s Sandwich Shoppe, said to be inspired by New York-style delis, will open this spring at 1821 Second Ave. N., Suite 3112, in the Pizitz Food Hall, according to media reports. 205-214-9999
The Kroger Co. announced March 4 that it will hire 161 new employees in Birmingham in 2022 to introduce its e-commerce grocery delivery service in the region. The grocery chain has leased a 50,000-square-foot facility at 30 W. Oxmoor Road that will serve as a last-mile spoke location for its delivery network, according to a news release from Birmingham Business Alliance. Kroger said this expansion will create jobs in technology, operations, logistics and transportation, inventory and quality management, and customer service and engagement, while improving access to fresh foods and household essentials. 800-576-4377
New Construction
Austin-based Alamo Drafthouse Cinema will open a theater in Birmingham by fall 2023 at the Powell Steam Plant, according to a news release from local development firm Orchestra Partners. The firm is transforming the historic Alabama Power steam plant, which measures about 85,000 square feet, into a mixed-use entertainment project. Construction on the cinema should begin this summer. Alamo is said to offer a unique movie experience featuring quality films, food, drinks and retail. There are 37 locations in the United States.
Hoffman Media recently had a groundbreaking to mark the beginning of renovations for its new headquarters at 2323 Second Ave. N. The firm is currently located in Hoover. Robins & Morton of Birmingham is the contractor. The design is by Williams Blackstock Architects. The two-story property will be called “The Hoffice” and was previously the home of Waldrep, Stewart and Kendrick law firm. The facility, measuring about 21,000 square feet, will include test kitchens and video and photography studios and should be complete in late 2022. 205-995-8860
Relocations and Renovations
LaRoyce Marsh, owner of d’Trespa Consignment Boutique, recently relocated her store from Homewood to 5529 First Ave. S. in Woodlawn, according to REV Birmingham. Her store offers numerous vintage pieces, including hats and fur coats. She held a grand opening at the store March 5. The boutique was located in Homewood for 11 years. 205-383-5164
News and Accomplishments
Birmingham-based Shipt, 420 20th St. N., will now offer its delivery service through two more national retailers: Walgreens and 7-Eleven, according to a news release from the company. The move increases the number of retail locations where Shipt offers its service by more than 40%. In 2021, Shipt added nearly 1,000 more store locations and more than two million households to its coverage area. 205-502-2500
Momentum, a Birmingham-based leadership organization dedicated to empowering female leaders in Alabama, recently announced the winners of its 2022 Woman of Impact Awards. Sarah Savage-Jones, president of the Huntsville Hospital Foundation, will receive the Barbara Royal Woman of Impact Award. Three other professionals will also be honored as a Woman of Impact: Bobbie Knight, president of Miles College; Cathy Sloss Jones, president and chief executive officer of Sloss Real Estate Company; and Stephanie Bryan, tribal chair and chief executive officer of the Poarch Creek Indians. At press time, the winners were scheduled to be honored March 17 at the BJCC during the Women of Impact Luncheon, part of Momentum’s Biennial Leadership Conference. 205-321-6100
Business and supplemental accounting programs in the Collat School of Business, 710 13th St. S., were reaccredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International, according to a recent report at UAB News. Only 1% of business schools worldwide are accredited in both areas, the report states. All accredited schools must go through a self-evaluation and peer review every five years to maintain accreditation. 205-934-8800
Sylvie Mrug, a professor in the UAB Department of Psychology, was recently named the 2021 winner of the Ireland Prize for Scholarly Distinction, according to UAB News. The annual award recognizes a College of Arts and Sciences faculty member. 205-934-3850
Robin Ennis
Robin Ennis, an associate professor and special education program coordinator at the UAB School of Education, 901 13th St. S., has received the 2022 Martin J. Kauffman Distinguished Early Career Research Award from the Division for Research from the Council for Exceptional Children, according to a recent UAB News. 205-934-7530
Yumi Takamiya, an assistant professor of Japanese in the UAB Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, was recently named winner of the 2022 Educator of Excellence Award from the Alabama World Languages Association, according to UAB News on Feb. 21. The award recognizes postsecondary educators. 205-934-4651
Lamar Advertising recently installed a billboard at an intersection near 132 Sixth Ave. S. to help promote the monthly Community Resource Day at Titusville Branch Library, according to a news release from Birmingham Public Library. Beginning in September, the library has hosted giveaways of free food boxes, diapers and other items. The billboard is near St. Paul Lutheran Church, about a block and a half from the library. 205-599-2700
Birmingham Bound, founded to make Birmingham a good place to grow and scale tech companies, recently announced plans to become a nonprofit and to operate independently of Shipt, where it launched in 2018. The organization also established a board of directors including members of Birmingham’s tech, business and civic community. The board includes Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin; Britney Summerville, founder, Birmingham Bound; Chris Moody, partner, Foundry Group; Deon Gordon, president, Tech Birmingham; Cori Fain, vice president of social impact, Landing; and Chris Comeaux, vice president of infrastructure engineering, Shipt. To date, Birmingham Bound has recruited more than 20 companies to the Magic City, according to a news release from the organization.
Red Mountain Theatre, 1600 Third Ave. S., received a $25,000 grant in February from Merrill Lynch to support its continuing efforts to further diversity and inclusion in the performing arts, according to an RMT news release. Merrill Lynch is a part of Bank of America, one of the theater’s long-standing corporate partners, the release states. RMT founded the Human Rights New Works Festival in 2018 and, as part of its educational programming each season, brings together thousands students from all backgrounds in the Birmingham area. 205-324-2424
Personnel Moves
Luckie President John Gardner has been named CEO of the Birmingham-based marketing firm, according to a news release from the company. Tom Luckie will remain as chairman of the board. Gardner joined the company when Luckie acquired his agency, Integrative Logic, in 2011, and has served as Luckie president since 2013. During his tenure, the company has increased top-line revenue by 41% while growing the company’s Atlanta office into one of the 10 largest agencies in Atlanta. The company recently moved into a new space at 1143 1st Ave. S., Suite 110, in Parkside. 205-879-2121
Forge Breast Cancer Survivor Center, 1321 19th St. S., recently announced five local additions to the Forge Board of Directors. The new members are Javacia Harris Bowser, an award-winning freelance journalist, essayist and entrepreneur in Birmingham; Wayne Carmello-Harper, a former Catholic priest who served in the Diocese of Birmingham as a parish priest, pastor and vice chancellor; Dottie Pak, the general counsel of UAB Health System, having joined UAB after practicing for 26 years at Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP; Christy Parrozzo, a graduate of UAB nursing school; and Kerry Schrader, the co-founder and CEO of Mixtroz. They join current board members Susan Sellers, CEO of United Ability, and Robin DeMonia, EVP of Direct Communications. Forge supports and improves quality of life for Alabama breast cancer patients, survivors and their loved ones. 205-838-6159
Birmingham real estate and financial services law firm Compton Jones Dresher LLP, 2170 Highland Ave. S., Suite 250, recently announced that Vaughn McWilliams has been elected a partner in the firm. He practices primarily in commercial real estate, especially the acquisition, sale and leasing of multifamily properties. McWilliams is a 2003 graduate of the University of Colorado Law School. 205-844-5111
Sean Johnson, Birmingham market president for Progress Bank, 2121 Highland Ave., recently announced that Daniel Lawler has joined Progress as a business banker. Lawler graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree, specializing in economics. He has 10 years of banking experience, working as an assistant manager, then branch manager, for a large financial institution in the Birmingham area. He has also done a lot of volunteer work in the community, including helping with storm cleanup, leading fundraising for Multiple Sclerosis Walks and teaching free financial classes at schools and businesses, according to a news release from the bank. 205-822-5500
Anniversaries
Washer & Refrigeration Supply Co., 716 Second Ave. N., is celebrating its 70th anniversary, according to a company announcement. The company provides parts for washers, dryers, dishwashers, ovens, refrigerators, air conditioners and furnaces in Birmingham and the Southeast. 205-322-8693
