5 new businesses + 3 closures in Birmingham this week
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It’s a new week in The Magic City, and that means a new roundup of businesses popping up across town.
From a new locally-owned fabric store in Avondale to an update on a highly-anticipated superstore coming to Irondale, here are five businesses that should be on your radar. Plus, three local spots were saying goodbye to.
Now Open
1. Sweet Caroline’s Pizzeria & Creamery | Leeds
Back in October, owners of Sweet Caroline’s ice cream shop in Gardendale announced plans to open a second location in Leeds, focusing on both ice cream and pizza. Now, Sweet Caroline’s Pizzeria and Creamery has finally opened its doors.
The new location is a bit different than the current vibe in Gardendale, according to co-owner Colby King. The new location will offer New York style pizza, wings, salads, sandwiches—and of course, Sweet Caroline’s signature ice cream.
- Location: 8118 Parkway Drive
- Hours: Sunday-Thursday 11AM-9PM | Friday + Saturday 11AM-10PM
2. Hana & Hollow | The Colonnade
A new locally-owned piercing studio has opened at The Colonnade off Highway 280: Hana & Hollow. Owned by Hannah Estes, the studio offers a wide variety of piercing placements (including youth services!), fine jewelry and more.
Coming Soon
3. Magic City Fabric | Avondale
Located down the road from Cahaba Brewing Company, Magic City Fabric is a unique fabric and maker space where crafters can find high-quality materials, learn from others at workshops and classes and connect with a creative community.
Owned by Bea Cross, co-founder of the Alabama Fiber Festival, Magic City Fabric offers a curated mix of materials from boutique lines like Fableism and Ruby Star Society, alongside a growing selection of creative-reuse and secondhand supplies.
While the store celebrated a soft opening this past weekend, it will be fully launching its grand opening in January.
- Location: 4830 5th Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35222
4. Costco | Irondale
This summer, news of a new Costco in Irondale caught like wildfire. According to the city’s Mayor James D. Stewart, Jr., the highly-anticipated superstore is expected to open in Spring of 2028.
So, why the long timeline? For one, the most difficult part of the project is the need to remove 900 cubic yards of solid rock on the site. As a result it will take 12-15 months to do so, which includes blasting.
- Location: 4514 Grants Mill Trail
5. Target | Chelsea
On Tuesday, December 2, the Chelsea City Council approved an incentive package to bring a new Target to The Shoppes at Chelsea, an upcoming shopping center off of U.S. Highway 280 in the Birmingham suburb of Chelsea.
According to the Shelby County Reporter, Chelsea Mayor Cody Sumners stated the development could be open by late 2027 or early 2028 if all goes according to plan.
- Location: Chelsea Corners Way
Closing / Closed
6. Sgt. Peppers | The Summit
As the end of 2025 draws near, the team at children’s boutique Sgt. Peppers announced that it will permanently close its doors in mid-January.
Located in The Summit, Sgt. Peppers sells fashionable apparel for girls, juniors and teens. In the post announcing the closure, the store’s team recognized local brands available in the store that will continue to serve the community, including Swaddle, Soca Girl and GiGi’s.
From now until mid-January, everything available in store is 30% off and final sale.
- Location: 250 Summit Blvd Suite 104
- Hours: Monday-Saturday 10AM-6PM, Sunday noon-6PM
7. Red Sea | Homewood
Red Sea Ethiopian, Mediterranean and Cajun Restaurant, located in the Red Mountain Plaza Shopping Center, has permanently closed, leaving only a “coming soon” banner for a new eatery.
Signage on the former location of Red Sea, located at 22 Green Springs Highway, says that Ali Basha is coming soon. Ali Basha is a Mediterranean food truck operating primarily out of Fultondale, making this a big move to a brick-and-mortar location.
8. Winn Dixie | 2 locations
Two Winn-Dixie stores in the Birmingham area will close in early 2026 as the supermarket chain shifts its strategic focus to Florida and select Georgia markets. In mid-October, Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. announced that it planned to close all Alabama locations by the end of 2025 to focus on its markets in Florida and Georgia.
Although many of those stores have reopened under the Food City and ALDI brands, several are without buyers—including two in Birmingham:
Excited to try these new businesses, or know one we should check out? Tag us @bhamnow to let us know!
