Backyard Party

A grand reopening and plenty of improvements are planned for the Outlet Shops of Grand River in Leeds. The development, called The Backyard, will debut in early July with the grand re-opening of the shopping center’s popular drive-in movie theater, as well as a re-landscaped mini-golf course, new snack shack, new off-leash dog park, and relocated and upgraded playground. Fall 2019 will bring the opening of SAW’s BBQ and Neighbors Beer House. Phase two of the project, expected to be complete in 2020 or 2021, includes plans for a 6,000-person amphitheater, a canoe launch on the Cahaba River, and an observation deck on the banks of the river.

The Gold and Green

“GO GREEN!” now has a new meaning for UAB, as the campus and hospital are set to implement a net-zero waste plan by the year 2025. The UAB Sustainability Strategic Plan, released in late 2018, detailed plans for the initiative that will encompass purchasing, operations, recycling, and waste. Next steps for the project include assessing total solid-waste and specialized waste produced; benchmarking and setting goals for waste reduction; composting major organic waste streams; developing a student-run recycling center; increasing recycling through in-house bailing for direct sales of recyclable commodities; and evaluating a business model for internal paper shredding.

Into the Blue

Next time you see friendly-looking folks in bright blue uniforms around downtown, stop for a second to say hello to our CAP (City Action Partnership) safety ambassadors. Dedicated to serving downtown workers, dwellers, and visitors, CAP ambassadors make it their mission to keep downtown safe by going on safety patrols, serving as security escorts, offering directions, and providing street outreach. They also strive to keep the city clean through litter patrols, pressure washing, graffiti removal, and general beautification. The group’s new uniforms for 2019 are just one improvement from a list that also includes adding Segways, an umbrella-topped info cart, and a pressure-washing tricycle to their fleet.

Wildwood Wins

While we wait for Cookout to announce further details for their Birmingham debut, find out what other businesses are now calling Lakeshore Drive home.

Crazy Cazboy’s – a discount store with a descending price structure from Zoe’s Kitchen creator John Cassimus. Items at Crazy Cazboy’s start at $6 on Friday and go down in price each day of the week until they are sold for just $0.25 on Wednesday. Products include clothes, bulk foods, toys, home décor, electronics, and more.

Yummy Bowl – a Mongolian stir-fry and sushi restaurant

Conn’s Home Plus – a Houston-based home goods chain offering appliances, mattresses, electronics, and furniture.

A Helping Hand

With Mental Health Awareness Month (May) just behind us, the stigma often associated with seeking psychological help continues to be broken down. On board with the positive change is a new easy-access counseling service called Apollo Counseling. The start-up, located downtown on 22nd Street South, is run by Patrick Norton, a certified counselor who specializes in providing mental health care to adolescents, young adults, professionals, parents, and couples. One of the main goals of the service is to provide affordable, easy-to-access care for those who need it, with a price scale that ranges from $75 to $100 per session.

This story appears in Birmingham magazine’s July 2019 issue. Subscribe today!