Reviewed by: Pat Byington
Popular Tuscaloosa gay bar opening new Birmingham location this summer
Reading time: 4 minutes
A new gay bar is coming soon to Five Points South’s Pickwick Plaza—for real this time.
Popular Tuscaloosa gay bar Icon is expanding to The Magic City early this summer, and Bham Now caught up with owner Kyle Richardson to learn more about what to expect.
A new gay bar is coming soon to Five Points South
It’s been nearly 16 years since Kyle Richardson first opened Icon in Tuscaloosa. Located at 516 Greensboro Ave in downtown Tuscaloosa, Icon is the college town’s only dedicated gay bar and is known for its drag shows, themed dance nights and for being a welcoming, inclusive environment for Tuscaloosa’s LGBTQ+ community.
In the wake of the closings of Our Place and The Quest Club—two of Birmingham’s most prominent LGBTQ+ spaces—Richardson started searching for a way to expand Icon’s presence to The Magic City.
“Losing The Quest and Our Place created a big void in Birmingham’s gay community, so I’ve been looking for the right opportunity to open something new for almost two years. When [this space] became available, it felt like it was meant to be.”
Kyle Richardson, Founder & Owner, Icon Tuscaloosa + Birmingham
Richardson’s new venture—Icon Birmingham—will be located at 2012 Magnolia Avenue in the Pickwick Place retail center in Five Points South. The space was most recently home to Hush Lounge, although a couple from Las Vegas attempted to open an unrelated LGBTQ+-friendly bar there in 2025.
“Our new Birmingham location is nearly four times bigger than our Tuscaloosa location, so we’re excited for the opportunities that additional space brings. Icon Birmingham will have a kitchen, but other than that we plan to incorporate many of our Tuscaloosa elements in Birmingham—just on a larger scale.”
Kyle Richardson, Founder & Owner, Icon Tuscaloosa + Birmingham
Icon bringing drinks, food + good vibes to Five Points South
When Icon Birmingham opens early this summer, guests who have visited its predecessor in Tuscaloosa will feel right at home.
On the entertainment side, Icon Birmingham is leaning into what made the Tuscaloosa location such a hit: drag shows and brunches, themed parties and collaborations with local LGBTQ+ and other social organizations. When it comes to drinks, Icon’s beverage program features approachable, crowd-pleasing favorites.
“We’re not really a ‘mixology’ bar, but we’ll have great drinks—martinis, classics, things people know and enjoy.”
Kyle Richardson, Founder & Owner, Icon Tuscaloosa + Birmingham
One of the biggest additions to Icon’s new Birmingham location is its full kitchen. Although the menu isn’t fully finalized yet, guests can expect pizza, pasta, wings, salads and other classic bar food favorites.
“We also own Broadway Pizzeria South in Tuscaloosa, so we’ll be serving food that’s similar to our offerings there. I think people will enjoy having somewhere they can grab food late—maybe something to take home at the end of the night.”
Kyle Richardson, Founder & Owner, Icon Tuscaloosa + Birmingham
Icon Birmingham opening Summer 2026
According to Richardson, he and his team are in the final stages of acquiring the necessary licenses and permits to open Icon. The space itself is nearly ready to open—aside from a few finishing touches.
Pending approval, Richard anticipates opening Icon Birmingham by early May 2026.
- Icon Birmingham: Instagram | Facebook
- Address: 2012 Magnolia Ave S, Suite R1 and R2, Birmingham, AL 35205
Have you been to the original Icon Tuscaloosa? Tag us @bhamnow on social media to let us know!
