The North Alabama community will get an early glimpse of MidCity Huntsville, one of the largest commercial real estate projects under construction in the U.S.

Developer RCP Companies will soon unveil MidCity Camp, a new concept at the former Lone Star Steakhouse site on University Drive. RCP co-founder Max Grelier said the Camp will serve as a precursor to MidCity, which represents a $350 million investment where Madison Square Mall once stood.

"We always had the idea that we would do early activators to try to create some sense of place into MidCity while we were trying to build it because it takes years to build these kinds of projects," he said. "The idea is it's a very casual, fun place that is price point friendly, but has high quality food."

The Camp will have rotating food venues, a fixed restaurant, game area, dog-friendly park, covered canopies and a variety of events, from live music and yoga to farmers markets and CrossFit. Alchemy Lounge, the coffee shop at Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment, is the first confirmed tenant for the space.

John Stough, who founded Alchemy with his wife Candace, said MidCity will have the same coffee-forward menu, but will also offer beer, wine and a limited selection of craft cocktails. Alchemy also will have a small food selection with to-go items and other specialties, including a charcuterie board.

Alchemy's new MidCity location will blend into the nearby community in the same way the location at Lowe Mill has since it opened last year on 2211 Seminole Drive. Because the business will operate in a two-level shipping container, there won't be a lot of inside seating.

Stough said they will encourage guests to hang out outside, enjoying the rest of what the Camp has to offer and watching MidCity Huntsville come to fruition.

"No one should expect that what you find at Alchemy at the Camp is going to be a mirror of the Alchemy Lounge (at Lowe Mill)," Stough said. "They're two entirely different feels, but with the same level of quality in the product we offer."

Alchemy Lounge specializes in nitrogen cold brew coffee, a drink infused with nitrogen through a pressure value. The creamy, beer-like draft coffee is served from a tap and made in a style similar to cocktails using elixirs, local ingredients, simple syrups, bitters, and rim salts and sugars.

The shop also serves beer, grab-and-go food and baked goods, including gluten-free, paleo and vegan options. Alchemy frequently sources ingredients from local farmers and has a number of area partnerships, including Piper & Leaf, Mason Dixon Bakery, Chef Will and more.

Here are a few other things the Camp will offer:

MidCity Camp Office –

The "Melting Pot" –

Game Zone –

Construction is underway at the Camp, which will debut in August and feature 4-6 food and beverage offerings over time. Grelier said they are emphasizing small business at MidCity because they offer a level of quality and authenticity you can't find elsewhere.

"We're trying to make it a fun place where we can share the MidCity story, but at the same time, we can have something that's helping to create a sense of place at MidCity," he said. "We're merging a lot of destination users with local curators and artisans."

Construction will begin this fall at High Point Climbing and Fitness, an indoor climbing gym slated to open in mid-2018. High Point joins fellow tenant TopGolf, a high-tech driving range with a 53,000-square-foot venue and 72 climate-controlled hitting bays.

MidCity Huntsville will be a 100-acre community featuring specialty retail, high-tech office space, and more than 900 residential units. The Camp adds an experiential element to the project, RCP Director Odie Fakhouri said.

"Creating these opportunities is community empowerment," he said. "This is what gives people the option to do more with what they have."