13 new developments that opened in Birmingham in 2025

From adaptive reuse projects like Battery II to massive undertakings like the brand-new Coca-Cola Amphitheater, several highly anticipated developments officially opened to the public this year. Read on for a recap of some of the biggest new openings of 2025, in no particular order.

1. Altec/Styslinger Genomic Medicine and Data Sciences Building

After three years of construction, the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) opened its brand-new Altec/Styslinger Genomic Medicine and Data Sciences Building on Thursday, October 23. Located along 7th Avenue South between 19th and 20th Streets, the new facility is a dynamic hub for interdisciplinary collaboration that unites researchers, equipment and staff from multiple organizations.

2. Battery II

Five years after it was first announced, Battery II—the successor to the popular Battery development—officially opened in Southside. Located at 2143 2nd Ave S in the hundred-year-old Eyers-Raden Building, Battery II is already home to two unique businesses:

• The Painted Lady, a boutique hotel managed by Lark Hotels that features 22 curated rooms and suites capable of accommodating a maximum of two guests. 
• Bygones, a classy cocktail bar backed by Michael Tobey and Phillip Crowe, two local bartenders who wanted to create their own cocktail bar experience.

3. Carrigan’s at The William

Two months after closing its longtime location on Morris Avenue, popular local restaurant and cocktail bar Carrigan’s officially opened a new location in The William, a brand-new development in downtown Birmingham. Originally constructed in 1905 as a furniture/department store, The William is a boutique mixed-use apartment building with 27 apartment units and a retail component on the ground floor—including the new home for Carrigan’s.

4. Coca-Cola Amphitheater

Less than a year after Live Nation and the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC) broke ground on the project, the 9,000-seat Coca-Cola Amphitheater kicked off its inaugural season with a performance from comedian Matt Rife on Sunday, June 22. Located near the former Caraway Hospital campus at 2350 15th Ave N, the Coca-Cola Amphitheater boasts:

• Modern acoustics, including four towers with delay speakers that help mitigate sound flowing into the neighborhood
• A spacious stage that can accommodate the biggest productions touring amphitheaters
• A concrete bowl between the stage and fixed seating sections that allows for flexible seating options, including reserved or standing configurations
• Dual LED walls flanking both sides of the stage
• Clear signage to amenities like ample food and beverage locations, restrooms and the merch shop

5. The James on Highland Avenue

Constructed on the site of the former Highland Plaza shopping center, The James is a new six-story, 272-unit luxury apartment complex with stunning views of the Birmingham skyline from Highland Avenue. The new apartment complex began leasing in October and is located within a short walking distance of Five Points South, Highland Park and more.

6. Lakeview Marina

In early 2025, Seasick Records and Birmingham Classic Cuts Barbershop moved into Lakeview Marina, a brand-new redevelopment located at 514 32nd St S in the Lakeview District of Southside. The most recent phase of the development saw the addition of High Dive, a high-fidelity listening lounge inspired by the jazz kissas of post-war Japan.

7. Livano Liberty Park

This year, LIV Development opened Livano Liberty Park, a 270-unit apartment complex within The Bray—the growing, 700-acre mixed-use development in Vestavia Hill’s Liberty Park neighborhood. Located at 3345 Endeavor Ln, Livano Liberty Park features amenities like a fitness center, pool, clubhouse, a co-working space and more.

8. Southeastern Salvage at the Factory at Golden Flake

On August 4, Southeastern Salvage officially opened its brand new Birmingham location at the Factory at Golden Flake, a new redevelopment of the former Golden Flake Factory at 1 Golden Flake Drive in North Titusville. The company’s new location features more than 66,000 square feet of exterior space and 135,000 square feet of interior space—more than double its former location in Irondale.

But that’s just the first step. Southeastern Salvage owner and founder Bubba Morgan is eyeing additional tenants to help fill out the 36.7-acre property and its 283,310-square-foot warehouse building.

9. Southern Research’s biotech center

In August, local not-for-profit scientific research organization Southern Research unveiled its new, $98M biotech facility located on the corner of Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard and Ninth Avenue South. The new facility is the organization’s first major campus addition since 1987 and doubles Southern Research’s lab capacity while expanding its ability to combat chronic illnesses, cancer and infectious diseases.

10. Trader Joe’s in Hoover

On Wednesday, May 14, California-based grocer Trader Joe’s opened a long-awaited Hoover location at 1769 Montgomery Hwy in the Riverchase Crossings Shopping Center. Located across U.S. 31 from the Riverchase Galleria, the new location is Trader Joe’s second in Birmingham and third overall in Alabama.

11. UAB Science & Engineering Complex

In June, UAB officially opened Frances and Miller Gorrie Hall, the new home for its School of Engineering. Located on 13th Street South beside Mervyn H. Sterne Library, the $77 million Gorrie Hall contains nearly 200 offices and workstations for faculty, staff and graduate students.

12. Urban Supply

Although Urban Supply’s first tenants opened in 2024, the popular redevelopment in Parkside gained real momentum in 2025. Several new tenants opened at Urban Supply this year, including:

• Fairway Social, a sports bar and entertainment center from Atlanta-based Competitive Social Ventures, opened on July 17, 2025.
  • Bonus: A new upscale speakeasy, The Lodge, opened inside Fairway Social.
• Up-Down Arcade Bar, an authentic arcade experience featuring dozens of vintage arcade machines with a large outdoor patio area and an outdoor container bar element, opened on April 4, 2025
• Leafly Boba Bar, based in Huntsville, opened its second Alabama location at Urban Supply on March 29.

13. Valley Post

An innovative new dining and entertainment complex called Valley Post opened in Chelsea on December 2 this year. Located on Highway 280 at 1012 Dunnavant Valley Rd., Valley Post is a collaborative project between Capstone Real Estate Development, Mike Mouron and The Pihakis Restaurant Group (PRG) that four Pihakis Restaurant Group brands on one campus:

• Hero Diner, a beloved breakfast and lunch destination offering brioche-style doughnuts, breakfast plates and sandwiches, burgers and the famous Super Crunch friend chicken sandwich as well as house-made sweets, shakes, salads, specialty coffee and adult beverages. 
• Little Donkey, a 13-year-old Homewood staple known for “Mexican Food with a Southern Soul,” cocktails, shareable plates, Mexican favorites and signature specialties.
• Luca & Lucy, a “little sister” to Homewood’s popular Luca Lagotto. Under the direction of Chefs Rita Bernhardt and Paul Yeck, Luca & Lucy will serve big pizzas and red sauce-infused plates with an Italian-American flair. 
• Rodney Scott’s BBQ, a traditional pit-cooked whole hog barbecue in Eastern Carolina style offering pit-cooked pork, chicken, turkey, ribs and beef alongside delicious sides, salads, beer, wine, and cocktails.

Did we miss your favorite new development? Tag us @bhamnow to let us know!