New restaurant & more planned for downtown Ensley

A new restaurant (and more) could be heading to downtown Ensley, thanks to local investment company Parker & Associates Investment Co. Inc. The company recently acquired a trio of properties along Avenue E, and has big plans for the block. Keep reading to learn more.

Parker & Associates Investment Co. Inc.

As reported by the Birmingham Business Journal, Parker & Associates Investment Co. Inc. recently purchased several properties in downtown Ensley, closing for a total of $150,000:

• 2109 Avenue E, Ensley
• 2118 Avenue E, Ensley
• 2112 Avenue E, Ensley

The three properties—which make up an entire city block in Ensley—are being considered for a number of uses, including a new restaurant.

Taking the lead on the project is Andrea Parker, head of Parker & Associates Investment Co. Inc. According to Andrea, Parker & Associates spoke with multiple Ensley residents to see how the development could best impact the community—and one of the most-requested features was a new, nice restaurant.

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Although Ensley has some highly-regarded restaurants—such as the Green Acres Café—the lack of grocery stores, farmers markets and other restaurants still qualify Ensley as a food desert. However, initiatives like The Color Project Ensley and developers like Parker & Associates are working to address the issue.

What’s Next for Ensley?

Currently, the properties are zoned for commercial use only. So, Parker & Associates are working closely with the City of Birmingham to see how they can help fulfill the city’s goals for the neighborhood. Additionally, the firm is working alongside a consultant to help develop a restaurant concept for the first phase of the developments, which they plan to complete by fall 2022.

This isn’t the only promising development in Ensley. Although we were sad to see the historic Ramsay-McCormack Building come down in April of this year, the City of Birmingham is planning to redevelop the site. Two future tenants, Innovation Depot and Birmingham Promise, have already been announced. In addition, the City of Birmingham has committed $55M to redevelop the former Ensley High School into a mix of affordable housing units, new commercial space & green space.

Excited to see a new development take shape in Ensley? Tag us @bhamnow to let us know!