Lags Eatery sneak peek — Lag’s Eatery co-owners Eric Wallace (left) and Justin Shubert (right). (Nathan Watson / Bham Now)

Breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night options are coming soon to Avondale! Legendary local restaurant Lag’s Eatery is set to reopen this fall after the original Homewood location closed in 2009.

We spoke with co-owners Eric Wallace and Justin Shubert to learn what to expect when Lag’s Eatery opens later this year.

About Lag’s Eatery

Founded in the 1970s by Anthony “Lag” Gagliano, Lag’s Eatery was a popular Homewood restaurant located at 903 Broadway Street, which now houses Sorelle Cafe. The restaurant was a popular spot for breakfast and lunch, with “solid and simple” traditional menu items like sandwiches, hamburgers and hot dogs.

The original Lag’s Eatery closed in 2009; since then, longtime employees Eric Wallace and Justin Shubert have dreamed of reopening the iconic restaurant.

“Reopening Lag’s has been something we’ve talked about for years. It was a great place to hang out and we have a lot of fantastic memories from that time in our lives.

It truly is a labor of love for a couple of dudes that grew up right here.”
Justin Shubert, Co-Owner, Lag’s Eatery

A new home for Lag’s Eatery in Avondale

In January, Bham Now reported that Eric and Justin had found and purchased a new home for Lag’s—the former LoLo’s BBQ building at 4350 3rd Ct. South, just a short walk from Mom’s Basement, Magic City Mercantile, Ohm Jiu Jitsu, Seasick Records, Cahaba Brewing Co. and more.

Over the past eight months, Eric and Justin have worked to transform the former BBQ joint into a home for Lag’s by:

Completely gutting and redoing the interior, including the removal of a full BBQ pit
Replacing the gravel lot with paved concrete
Constructing an additional building in the rear for restrooms
Redoing landscaping on the entire lot
And more

Check out a “before and after” of the building in January vs. its current state in August.

Notwithstanding any unforeseen delays, Eric and Justin aim to have the new Lag’s Eatery ready to open in October 2024.

“We’re going to make Lag’s a spot where you want to hang out, whether its for breakfast or late-night and no matter who you’re with or what you’re doing. And we’re going to make the best cheeseburger in town.”
Eric Wallace, Co-Owner, Lag’s Eatery

What to expect at the new Lag’s Eatery

When you visit Lag’s Eatery for the first time, you’ll notice that there isn’t a ton of indoor seating. In fact, the entire interior only adds up to 800 square feet. However, there will be plenty of seating in the outdoor patio, which Eric and Justin plan to enclose in the future.

Plus, you can order from both the inside and the outside.

“Guests will order, take a number, find a seat and we’ll bring their order to them. It will be a pretty fast process, too—we want people to be able to come in, order and get their food quickly, especially if they are on the go.”
Justin Shubert, Co-Owner, Lag’s Eatery

The menu will consist of breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night options—all classic, affordable dishes done right with no twists. Plus, Eric and Justin plan to offer a small menu of local beer, wine and cocktail options in the near future.

“We plan to start by being open late on the weekends; serving until 2AM on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. If the market is there, we’d love to stay open that late throughout the week.”
Eric Wallace, Co-Owner, Lag’s Eatery

As for parking, Lag’s Eatery will have seven spaces out front (plus one handicap spot) as well as access to street parking and permission for parking in the Avondale Mills Shopping Center lot.

Eventually, the team plans to fence in the area so kids can play in a safe environment while their parents relax.

“Our goal is create a space where people can hang out on the grass, watch a baseball game, get some food and drink some beers. The original Lag’s was a walkable neighborhood hangout spot—we want to bring that energy to Avondale.”
Justin Shubert, Co-Owner, Lag’s Eatery

Excited to see Lag’s Eatery open in Avondale later this year? Follow Bham Now on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn and sign up for our FREE newsletter to stay up to date on the latest exciting news in The Magic City!