Shopping

Without question, Birmingham is the unrivaled retail giant of Alabama. From outlet malls to upscale boutiques, shopping opportunities are near endless. Following is a list of major shopping destinations in the area.

• Major Malls
• Antiques
• Downtown Shopping 
• Other Than Ordinary Shopping

Major Malls

Riverchase Galleria
3000 Riverchase Galleria, Suite 1000
Hoover, AL 35244
(205) 985-3020

Riverchase Galleria is Alabama's number one free tourist attraction, boasting one of the largest skylights in North America.  Anchor stores include Belk, Macy's, Sears, JCPenney with a four-star, four-diamond preferred Wynfrey Hotel and a 17-story class-A office tower attached to the two-level shopping mall.  Other retailers include: Banana Republic, Cache, bebe, Arden B. and many more. Be sure to save some time for the Galleria's great dining and entertainment.

The Summit
I-459 at Highway 280
(205) 967-0111

This shopping destination continues to thrive and expand. A recent addition brought shops such as Coldwater Creek, Anthropologie, Merrell and J Jill to the list which already includes Williams-Sonoma, Old Navy, Restoration Hardware, Chico's, The Pottery Barn, a luxury spa and some very good restaurants. 

Trussville Shopping
The booming suburb of Trussville includes three large shopping areas. Target, Books-a-Million, and Old Navy anchor the mall on U.S. 11.  A second shopping area, the Pinnacle Tutwiler Farm shops, sits above this area and is anchored by Belk and Best Buy. The third cluster of shops occupies both sides of Chalkville Mountain Road, just after the first I-59 Trussville exit, with a Wal-Mart Supercenter, other fine shops and restaurants on one side and a Kohl's anchoring the other.

Vestavia City Center
This well designed shopping area just south of the city houses a great independent bookstore, Milestone Books, along with great places to eat such as Panera Bread, Sekisui Japanese & Sushi Restaurant, Nonna's Italian restaurant and the very popular Local Restaurant & Cocktail Bar.  Also in the complex are Stein Mart, Publix and Starbucks. Hwy. 31 South in the heart of Vestavia.
 

Colonial Brookwood Village
Shades Creek Parkway
(AL 149 between US 280 and US 31)
(205) 871-0406

Home to several specialty retailers like Gus Mayer and Betsy Prince as well as larger retailers such as Belk and Macy's. Also houses several particularly good restaurants. Garage and courtesy valet parking is available.

The Shops of Grand River
6200 Grand River Blvd. East
Leeds, AL 35094
(205) 699-3700

The Birmingham areas newest shopping outlet! New home of Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store, Nike Factory Store, Kenneth Cole, DKNY, Talbots and Chico's outlets, as well as many more. Check out the store directory for a complete listing.

 

WaterMark Place
4500 Katie's Way
(I-59/20, Exit 110)
Bessemer, AL 35022
(205) 425-4554
Fax: 205-425-4520

This outlet center offers huge discounts on name brands such as Tommy, Polo, Lane Bryant, the Gap and more.


Western Hills Mall
U.S. 11 at Aronov Dr.
(205) 923-2525

A landmark in the western section of the city, the recently renovated mall stores include Burlington Coat Factory, City Gear and Mr. Burch Formalwear. The omnipresent Wal-Mart Supercenter is next door to the mall.

 

Antiques

Shopping for antiques is a personal experience. One man's chiffarobe is another man's armoire. There's just no accounting for taste. As the popularity of antiques shopping has grown in Birmingham, so has the selection of places to shop, making the city one of the major antiques centers in the Southeast. Shoppers can find the perfect birdseye maple, Deco frames, fine French furniture, McCoy pottery and philodendron curtains at these antique malls and shops.

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Downtown Shopping

Birmingham's city center has its own shopping character, with an interesting mix of old and new businesses lining the heart of the city. Along downtown 20th Street shoppers find Bromberg's Jewelers. Investigating downtown shopping is an adventure in itself.  Check out BB's China & Glassware (2427 1st Avenue North) where you'll find an enticing assortment of dishes and glassware, some bearing the logos of defunct hotels from around the country, along with Fiesta ware and seconds at good discounts. Move onto downtown 20th Street to the historic Bon Ton Hatters, where you can get your hat steam cleaned while you get the best shoeshine in town. Just off 20th on Third Avenue North is a treasure trove of memories at Reed Books (see Arts and Antiques section).  Back over to 20th Street and south a few blocks is the Peanut Depot. Stop in for treats or just to see the beautiful old roasters that are still in use.  Head further south down 20th into historic Five Points South.  A good photo background here is The Storyteller, a fountain designed by Birmingham-native sculptor Frank Fleming.  While in this district, stop in at Charlemagne Record Exchange, if only for the atmosphere and the personnel. Also check out McNolia's Cards and Gifts for funky stuff and at The Golden Temple, where sprout sandwiches are sold alongside herbal supplements and Birkenstocks.

Check out other fine downtown merchants at the Downtown Business Association.

Conveniently located at 2nd Avenue South and 29th Street, you'll find the shops, design studios and galleries of the beautiful historic district known as Pepper Place. Pepper Place satisfies Birmingham's thirst for the imaginative with a unique shopping experience. Here you'll discover Architectural Heritage (European antique garden and architectural pieces), Cantley and Company (Classic kitchen designs), Masonryarts Stone (Custom stonework and natural tile), Richard Tubb Interiors (Unique furniture and gifts), Wildflower Design (Floral designs) and Interiors Market at Pepper Place (Furniture, antiques, decorative accessories, silver, linens and rugs) and many more fine shops. Be sure to visit The General Store at Pepper Place while you're there.

Downtown Homewood
Old-style shopping along main street in the Birmingham suburb of Homewood includes upscale clothing shops, home decorating stores, and nationally acknowledge high end antique galleries.  A stop by Savage's Bakery, a local landmark, is a necessity.  The new Soho Square includes an interesting mix of boutiques and restaurants at sidewalk level below residential lofts. In neighboring downtown Homewood, the newly renovated Main Street-look along 18th Street draws shoppers to the popular Pink Tulip (2848 18th Street-Homewood), a women's clothing and accessories store; Homewood Toy and Hobby Shop (2830 18th Street-Homewood), with traditional children's toys and the best selection of stocking stuffers in the state; and At Home Furnishings (2904 18th Street-Homewood), carrying home accessories including funky, hand-painted martini sets.

English Village, Mountain Brook Village and Crestline Village
In the heart of the suburb of Mountain Brook, these three distinct shopping areas are linked by tree lined sidewalks.  English Village has restaurants, coffee houses and garden shops.  Mountain Brook Village has funky art shops, high end boutiques and home furnishing stores. (Don't miss a stroll through Smith's Variety for a variety of toys and candy bins.)  Crestline Village has a nice mix of restaurants and high fashion shops with special emphasis on children's clothing.

Patton Creek
Combines a "main street" element with parking and sidewalks in front of an eclectic mix of quaint, unique shops and restaurants, with larger retailers like Dick's Sporting Goods, Rave Motion Pictures and Circuit City. In the Birmingham suburb of Hoover between I-459, the Riverchase Galleria, and Alabama 150.

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Other Than Ordinary Shopping

Other places to shop in the area deserve special attention... actually lots of them do, but these are a sample of some of our favorites:

Really Cool Stuff
McWane Center
200 19th Street North
(205) 714-8360

The gift shop at McWane Center lives up to its name. Space gizmos and science-related t-shirts, games and toys join really nice, pricey stuff for great mementos from a visit to this science attraction.

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Reed Books
2101 Third Avenue North
Birmingham, AL 35203
(205) 326-4460
www.jimreedbooks.com

Book lovers from throughout the world enjoy visiting author Jim Reed at his rare-book loft, Reed Books. Jim, a popular inspirational columnist and gentle gothic humorist, has authored several books, the latest of which, Dad's Tweed Coat: Small Wisdoms, Hidden Comforts, Unexpected Joys can be purchased (autographed) at Reed Books, or may be ordered from any new-book store in the country. Reed Books is "Alabama's largest, most wonderful old book loft and museum of fond memories." Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm.

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A Birmingham fixture since 1907, the old roasting ovens in this historic building crank out thousands of pounds of roasted peanuts every week- more during football season. You can sample a 50-cent bag or cart off a trunk load.

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Maralyn Wilson Gallery
2830 6th Avenue South
(205) 322-4141

This fashionable, upscale shop in the Pepper Place features the best in museum quality art, along with jewelry and ceramics from fine artists and craftsmen. Shoppers are sure to find unusual, must-have gifts to take home to friends and family.

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Smith Variety
2715 Culver Road-Mountain Brook
(205) 871-0841

This old-time five-and-dime has a splendid assortment of children's toys, along with ribbons and fringes on the bolt, cafe salt and pepper and sugar shakers, various other nifty kitchen utensils, collectible dolls, a whole room full of party goods, and an old-fashioned candy counter for scooping up and weighing jelly beans, malted milk balls, gumdrops, candy corn and other seasonal sweets.

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Birmingham Civil Rights Institute Gift Shop
520 16th Street North
(205) 328-9696

This ever-growing collection of items includes books and prints by African-American authors and artists. A good selection of books about the Civil Rights Movement in America and the South is also available, along with tributes to the leaders of the movement.

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The Birmingham Shop
Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau
Visitor Information Center
2200 9th Ave. North
(205) 458-8000
Visit The Birmingham Shop online

Birmingham's largest and most diverse selection of souvenirs is at The Birmingham Shop:

• Vulcan wine corks
• Tote bags
• A hip new selection of Birmingham t-shirts
• CDs of Alabama storytellers
• Birmingham mugs
• Portfolios
• Mouse pads with skyline
• Coolers
• Golf shirts
• Notecards with skyline
• Lapel pins
• Golf umbrellas
• Business card holders
• Safari hats
• Books/cookbooks by local authors
• Grits

The Birmingham Shop is operated by the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau
Shop Hours:
Monday - Friday
8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Closed weekends