Burrito cut in half, filled with ground meat, peppers, onions, and cheese, on parchment paper — Avondale’s locally-beloved Ampersandwich just opened a new location in Downtown Birmingham. (Nathan Watson / Bham Now)

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

From a new shaved ice shop on Valleydale to a new antiques and wine lounge in Homewood, here are five new businesses and two upcoming openings that should be on your radar.

Check out last week’s openings

Now Open

1. Alfred’s Antiques & Wine | Homewood

A new antique shop and wine bar recently opened in Homewood!

Described on its social media as “a thoughtfully-curated mix of European antiques by day and a seasonal selection of wines by night,” Alfred’s is located on Broadway Street in Edgewood, near spots like Ruby Sunshine and Trilogy Leather.

Location: 111 Broadway St, Homewood, AL 35209
Hours: Thursday-Saturday 4-9PM

2. Ampersandwich | Downtown Birmingham

Group of Ampersand staff members in matching black shirts, smiling behind the counter of the shop — (Nathan Watson / Bham Now)

Great news for fellow sandwich-lovers in the Magic City—Avondale’s popular Ampersandwich has officially opened a second location!

Located in the former Zoe’s space, Ampersandwich’s downtown location is perfect for downtown workers looking for a quick, tasty bite for breakfast or lunch.

Founded in 2021 by Joe Phelps, owner of Pilcrow Cocktail Cellar, Ampersandwich is a popular neighborhood sandwich shop in the heart of Birmingham’s Avondale entertainment district. Known for its made-to-order sandwiches—made with fresh ingredients and bread from Birmingham Breadworks—Ampersandwich’s menu includes made-to-order classic and specialty subs.

Location: 1819 5th Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35203
Hours: Monday–Friday, 7 AM–4 PM (breakfast 7AM-10AM)
Ampersandwich Downtown: Website | Instagram

3. Garage | The Summit

storefront — Garage at The Summit. (Cindy Hatcher / Bham Now)

Garage Clothing, the popular Canadian fashion retailer, officially opened this Labor Day weekend at The Summit.

Located next to Tommy John and American Eagle Outfitters, the global brand is known for its appeal to Gen Z and young millennial shoppers. Best sellers include tank tops, denim, hoodies and sweats, dresses and more.

Location: 214 Summit Boulevard
Hours: Monday to Saturday -10AM-9PM I Sunday – Noon-6PM
Garage Clothing: Website | Facebook | Instagram

4. La Catrina | Five Points South

A new late-night cocktail bar just celebrated its grand opening in Birmingham! La Catrina, located in Five Points South near Mr Shawarma and T-Bone’s, is now serving craft cocktails in a fun, energetic environment featuring live DJs and dancing.

Location: 1005 20th St S, Birmingham, AL 35205
Hours: Monday-Wednesday 4PM-midnight | Thursday-Friday 4PM-2AM | Saturday Noon-2AM | Sunday Noon-Midnight

5. Chilly Willy’s Shaved Ice | Inverness

Need a little something to cool down? A new shaved ice spot is now open on Valleydale in Inverness off Highway 280.

Chilly Willy’s Shaved Ice offers shaved ice with more than 25 flavor options, including classics like watermelon and sour apple to signature flavors like Yeti’s blood and arctic sunset. You can even add toppings like condensed milk, pop rocks, whipped cream and more.

Location: 5291 Valleydale Rd, Birmingham, AL 35242
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday noon-8PM

Coming Soon

6. Fit For a Queen | Homewood

A new fashion destination in Homewood is expected to welcome its first customers in late fall 2026! Fit For A Queen, a popular Atlanta-based boutique specializing in formalware for events like proms and formals, is preparing to open its first Alabama location in the former Tire Depot property in Homewood.

Founded in 2015 by owner Lady Danzy, Fit For A Queen is a formal retailer offering custom-made and couture designer gowns for all sorts of special occasions—proms, pageants, formals, weddings and everything in-between. The boutique carries a variety of designer and custom-made accessories to complement its gowns.

Location: 1812 27th Avenue South
Opening date: Late Fall 2026

7. Santos Coffee | Gardendale

santos 5 new businesses + 2 coming soon to Birmingham — Santos coffee is re-opening its Gardendale branch. (Bham Now)

The wait is almost over for fans of Santos Coffee in Gardendale! The cafe has been undergoing a full renovation, and will officially reopen on Wednesday, September 16.

The location, which first opened in 2023, is located off Highway 31 in the Gardendale area.