REPORT: Downtown Birmingham continues to grow; food and beverage scene booming

Residential occupancy and the number of residents working in downtown Birmingham continue to grow, according to REV Birmingham’s Downtown Birmingham Economic Vitality Report from Q3-Q4 2024.

Produced bi-annually, REV’s Downtown Birmingham Economic Vitality Report takes a comprehensive look at downtown, which they define in the study as:

• UAB
• Five Point South
• Southtown
• Mid-town
• Parkside
• Civil Rights District
• Central Business District
• Uptown
• Lakeview
• The BJCC

“Through each report, we strive to empower Birmingham’s stakeholders and visionaries with valuable insights to guide data-driven decisions for a stronger downtown.” 

David Fleming, President and CEO, REV Birmingham

REV Birmingham’s 5 takeaways from the report

Below are REV Birmingham’s takeaways from the Q3-Q4 2024 data and report:

• Downtown employee presence saw a 10.2% increase compared to the same period in 2023.
• Residential occupancy increased 5% in residential occupancy downtown from 82.2 in Q1 & Q2 in 2024 to 86.9% at the end of 2024
• Downtown Birmingham’s food and beverage scene is booming. 2024 saw 25 restaurant openings and at least 13 announcements for other establishments opening soon.
• Visitor traffic to downtown Birmingham declined in late 2024. In the second half of 2024, downtown Birmingham recorded an average of 88,423 visitor visits per day, marking a 6.5% decrease compared to the same period in 2023.
• The opening of the Coca-Cola Amphitheater in the summer of 2025 is expected to provide a significant boost in downtown visits. With 31 shows already planned for 2025, REV forecasts 220,000 visitors will attend events at the venue this year.

Report contributors

The following organizations contributed data and industry context to the report:

• CBRE
• Colliers International
• Daniel Corporation
• Dobbins Group
• EGS/Cushman Wakefield
• Graham & Co
• Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau
• Harbert Realty
• J.H. Berry & Gilbert, Inc.
• Retail Strategies
• Shannon Waltchack
• Tessa Commercial Real Estate
• The BJCC

“Many opinions about downtown Birmingham are formed and believed, but not all are based in fact.

By compiling this collection of data, we aim to provide a comprehensive and definitive report that reveals the true picture and trends.

This will empower public officials and private investors to make informed decisions that foster growth.”  

David Fleming, president and CEO, REV Birmingham

To access the full report, visit downtownbhm.com/do-business.