Appleseed Workshop is renovating a downtown building to house its new headquarters - and it's bringing a new restaurant downtown.

The Birmingham architecture firm has purchased the 28,000-square-foot Graves Building at 1818 3rd Ave. N., across from the Alabama Theatre.

Shu Shop, an izakaya and ramen shop, will open on the first floor.

- has purchased the fourth floor of the building.

Appleseed workshop will restore and update the Lichter sign, which represents the building's most recent tenant, Lichter's Furniture.

There's another 6,200 square feet of space on the third floor and another 3,200 square feet on the first floor available for lease.

Appleseed Workshop currently operates out of 409 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. S., but the company's first office was located under the Lyric Theatre.

Interior demolition has already started, and move-in is expected in the first quarter of next year.

"Appleseed is all about identifying existing value and working to bring the magic back, one building at a time," Appleseed President Mike Gibson said in a statement. "The Graves Building is a part of that plan and serves as a testament to the lasting value in Birmingham. We're ready to make it our new home."

Appleseed Workshop is known for its creative architecture work and has designed buildings including Bottle & Bone in Uptown, Paramount Bar on 20thStreet North, Revelator Coffee Company next door to The Lyric, El Barrio, the Whitmire Lofts, and Brick & Tin Mountain Brook