7 new businesses in the Birmingham area including a new Lebanese bistro, plus 1 closure

It’s a new week in The Magic City, and that means a new roundup of businesses popping up across town.

From a new Lebanese bistro along the Rotary Trail to a coffee shop that has made a return to Pelham, here are seven openings you need to know about. Plus, one local spot we’re sad to see go.

Now Open

1. Epice | Downtown Birmingham

This week, Nashville-based Lebanese bistro Epice officially opened its new location along Rotary Trail in downtown Birmingham. 

According to manager Frank Gritale, each dish is fresh and bursting with bright, aromatic flavors. Epice’s three menus (lunch, brunch and dinner) each include core dishes and appetizers like hummus, al raheb and falafel, supplementing entrees like lahmajin, sayadeya and tawook.

• Location: 2308 1st Ave S unit 102, Birmingham, AL 35233
• Hours: Monday-Saturday 11AM-4PM, 4-9PM
• Epice Birmingham: Website | Instagram

2. City Bowls | Edgewood

City Bowls has joined the Edgewood neighborhood. (Bham Now)

City Bowls has opened its newest location in Homewood’s Edgewood neighborhood.

Founded in 2017, the family-owned and operated City Bowls uses high-quality açaí, pitaya and other fresh fruits to create the tasty smoothie bowls that they’ve become known for.

In addition, City Bowls will serve drinks from Honest Coffee, a Tennessee-based coffee brand specializing in ethically-sourced coffee.

• Location: 960 Oxmoor Rd, Homewood, AL 35209
• Hours: Monday-Saturday 8AM-8PM, Sunday 8AM-3PM
• City Bowls Edgewood: Website | Facebook | Instagram

3. Tasty China | Irondale

A new restaurant has opened in Irondale: Tasty China! Located at the Cahaba Crossing Shopping Center, Tasty China serves favorites like sesame chicken, General Tso’s chicken and lo mein.

Plus, it offers an affordable lunch special for $9.25, with dinner combinations starting at $10.75 to $13.95.

• Location: 1284 Grants Mill Rd. Suite 144 
• Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 11AM-10PM, Sunday 11AM-9:30PM

4. Climaxx | Downtown Birmingham

A new bar and lounge opened last week in downtown Birmingham at 226 18th St N across from the historic Alabama Theatre.

Climaxx owner, Birmingham native LaKenya Lowe, saw a need for a new LGBTQ+ friendly lounge after the closures of Our Place Lounge and The Quest last year.

According to Lowe, she envisions the space being a Cheers-esque, luxury experience where everyone feels welcomed the moment they want into the door.

• Location: 226 18th St N
• Hours: 5PM-2AM Daily

5. Buck Creek Coffee | Pelham

Buck Creek Coffee, owned by Karen and Torre DeVito and located in Pelham, closed its doors on March 15.

However, according to an update on its social media, the shop has now reopened and plans to remain open “indefinitely.”

• Location: 2947 Pelham Parkway, Pelham, AL
• Hours: Monday-Friday 6:45AM-3PM, Saturday 8AM-1PM, Sunday 8:30AM-9:30PM

Coming Soon

6. Sweet Treats by Hayley | Pelham

A new bakery and pastry shop is coming soon to Pelham. Sweet Treats by Hayley, owned by Hayley Meeks, plans to open on Pelham Parkway in mid-May.

Meeks specializes in custom designed cakes and cookies, cheesecake, bon-bons, chocolate-dipped strawberries and more.

• Location: 2742 Pelham Pkwy, Pelham, AL 35124
• Coming: Mid-May 2025

7. Wingstop | Crestwood South

Wingstop, the popular chicken joint, plans to open a new location at the Shops on Montevallo in Birmingham.

Founded in 1994, Wingstop is one of the fastest growing chicken wing chains in the U.S. with over 2000 locations. The new joint on Montevallo Road will be the 7th in the Birmingham Metro area.

• Location: 4500 Montevallo Rd, Birmingham, AL 35210
• Coming: TBD

Closed or closing

8. Bitty & Beau’s | Homewood

Bitty & Beau’s, the coffeehouse in Homewood that coined the phrase “a human rights movement disguised as a coffee shop”, is closing on April 30.

This weekend, the Bitty & Beau’s team made the announcement via a heartfelt note in the front of the shop:

“To our valued customers, 

With heavy hearts, we share the difficult news that Bitty and Beau’s Coffee Birmingham will be closing. Our last day of operations is currently scheduled for Wednesday, April 30. 

This decision was not made lightly. Unfortunately, the model set by others has proven unsustainable for our location. Despite our best efforts to find a viable solution, we have come to the heartbreaking conclusion that we must close our doors. 

From the moment we opened, you embraced our mission and helped create a place where inclusion and belonging thrived. By choosing to be part of Bitty & Beau’s Coffee Birmingham, you did more than enjoy a cup of coffee. You helped demonstrate that meaningful employment opportunities for people with disabilities matter. Your support has made a lasting impact, not only on our team, but on the Homewood Community.”

With the closure of the Birmingham-area location, the only Bitty & Beau’s Coffee Shop left in Alabama is in Auburn.

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