Hoover seeks Entertainment District at Stadium Trace Village where Big Whiskey and Cajun Roux reside

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Hoover Entertainment District Big Whiskeys Hoover seeks Entertainment District at Stadium Trace Village where Big Whiskey and Cajun Roux reside
Big Whiskey’s and Cajun Roux will anchor the proposed Entertainment District in Hoover’s Stadium Trace Village. Photo by Pat Byington for Bham Now

Move over Birmingham, the city of Hoover wants to have an Entertainment District too!

Later this month, the Hoover City Council will consider its first official entertainment district at  Stadium Trace Village. Their proposal comes on the heels of last month’s approval of Birmingham’s fourth entertainment district in Avondale. 

Entertainment Districts are designed to allow people to carry open containers with alcoholic beverages outside bars and restaurants within a defined area. State law allows the city of Hoover to designate three entertainment districts, according to Allan Rice, Hoover’s City Administrator. This is the first Entertainment request received by the city.

Hoover Entertainment District Stadium Trace Hoover seeks Entertainment District at Stadium Trace Village where Big Whiskey and Cajun Roux reside
Sign out front at Stadium Trace entrance off John Hawkins Parkway. Photo by Pat Byington for Bham Now

The 44-acre Stadium Trace Village is located at the corner of Highway 150 (John Hawkins Parkway) and I-459.

“We think it is a fantastic location,” said Rice. “It is a relatively new shopping center. There is a  lot of energy there with several new restaurants. The developer is planning additional entertainment amenities that would be added – for example a big lawn gathering area and a covered stage for musical performances or outdoor theater.”

The district will not include areas with retail outparcels such as the Aldi grocery store or the UAB Medical Clinic.

Notable “Destination” Restaurants 

Hoover Entertainment District Big Whiskeys Barrel Hoover seeks Entertainment District at Stadium Trace Village where Big Whiskey and Cajun Roux reside
Big Whiskey’s opened in early July 2020 at Stadium Trace Village. Photo by Pat Byington for Bham Now

In the past year, Stadium Trace has opened up some “destination” restaurants, notably: 

Popular regional fast food establishments Culver’sSuper Chix and Taco Mama have also opened in the area.

“We’ve had a lot of good feedback from the community. It (entertainment district) is very much where that part of town is going in terms of shopping, dining, gathering with friends and having fun,” concluded Rice

The ordinance is scheduled for a public hearing and a vote of the council on July 20.

Pat Byington
Pat Byington

Longtime conservationist. Former Executive Director at the Alabama Environmental Council and Wild South. Publisher of the Bama Environmental News for more than 18 years. Career highlights include playing an active role in the creation of Alabama's Forever Wild program, Little River Canyon National Preserve, Dugger Mountain Wilderness, preservation of special places throughout the East through the Wilderness Society and the strengthening (making more stringent) the state of Alabama's cancer risk and mercury standards.

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