1st Avenue North (Downtown)

1st Avenue North (Downtown) is the section of 1st Avenue North running through downtown Birmingham's Fountain Heights and Central City neighborhoods, between 13th and 26th Streets. The street is also part of U.S. Highway 11.

In the downtown area, 1st Avenue North has a 100-foot right of way, 20 feet wider than the typical street. It carries two lanes of traffic in each direction with a central turn lane and parallel parking at each curb.

Locations

1st Avenue North continues west through Smithfield to Center Street, continuing as Cotton Avenue Southwest

Fountain Heights

13th Street intersection

• • North side (Block 93)
    • 1300: former location of Sharp Poultry & Eggs wholesaler (1964)
    • 1308: Fashion Etc Hair Salon, former location of U.S. Department of Agriculture officer (1964)
    • 1310: former location of Trader Joe's restaurant & lounge (1964)
      • 1310b: former location of Paul A. Pocopanni & Associates accountants (1964)
    • 1314: former location of City Body & Paint Service (1964)
    • 1316: former location of Music Center One-Stop (2007)
    • 1318-1322: Hibbett Sports team sales
      • 1318: former location of Sterling Distributors warehouse (1964)
      • 1320: former location of Universal Printing Co. (1964)
    • 1324: former location of The Plate Shop lithographers (1964)
    • 1326: former location of Sterling Distributors wholesale beer (1964)
    • 1330: former location of Birmingham Motor Transmission Service (1964)
  • South side (Block 111A)
    • 1301: The Elegant Earth warehouse, former location of Buffalo Electric Co. (1964)
    • 1303: Ebsco Engineering, former location of Discount Television (1964)
    • 1307: former location of Blackburns Manufacturing Co. textiles (1964)
    • 1309: former location of ABC Store No. 76
    • 1331: Bailey's Corner gas station (Catch-out Corner), Tacos Dos Hermanos, former location of Spur Distributing Co. (1964)

14th Street intersection

• • North side (Block 94 & 95)
    • 1500: Innovation Depot and Culinard Café, former location of Sears Roebuck & Co. (1941-1990)
  • South side (Block 110A & 110B)
    • 1419: former location of Ward Baking Co. thrift store (1964)
    • 1517: former location of Archives Security Inc. (2007)
    • 1521: former location of Harry Charles & Son pianos (1964)
    • 1527: former location of Atlas Chemical Company janitorial supplies, Giles Warehouse & Transfer, and Whitaker Paper Co. (1964)
    • 1529: former location of Southern Bell Telephone & Telegraph Co. training school (1964)

16th Street intersection

• • North side (Block 96)
    • 1600: former location of Darnell's Downtown Gulf gas station (1964)
    • 1606: former location of Nelson's Cafe (1964)
    • 1612: former location of Allright Birmingham Co. parking lot (1964)
    • 1620-1624: former location of Car Park Inc. parking lot (1964)
    • 1626: former location of Beesley Products Co. (1964), Babe's Hot Dogs (1985-1990), Erika's Beauty Unlimited (2007)
    • 1628: former location of B. I. T. Cafe (1929), Term Financial Co. loans (1964)
  • North side (Block 109B)
    • 1601: former location of Hendon Car Park parking lot (1964)
    • 1605-1617: former location of Pizitz warehouse (1964)
      • 1613: former location of Architectural Interiors, Jeffcoat Warehouse (2007)
    • 1619: former location of Beck Candy & Grocery Co. (1929)
    • 1621: former location of Noble Bryant Co. mill supplies (1929), Birmingham Trust National Bank printing department (1964), American Armored Transport (2007)
    • 1623: former location of West Disinfecting Co. (1929)
    • 1625: former location of Dixie Asbestos Co. (1929), Salon Oni's
    • 1627: former location of Enterprise Furniture Co. (1929), Wallace Fabrics drapery material (1964), Cabaret Event Center (2007)
    • 1631: Downtown Lounge, former location of C. D. Kenney Coffee Company (1937)

17th Street intersection

• • North side (Block 97)
    • 1700: former location of Sinclair Filling Station (1937), Ralph Fowler's Service Station (1964)
    • 1710: 1710 Building/Birmingham Police Headquarters (Birmingham Pledge mural), former location of Doster-Northington Drug Co. (1929), McKesson-Doster-Northington, Inc. wholesale drugs (1937), Southern Bell divisional office (1964)
    • 1714: former location of Boyd Manufacturing Company
    • 1718 & 1718½: former location of Welsh Vinegar & Extract Co. (1904)
    • 1720: former location of Jason Clark Electrical Co. (1929), Billingsley-Duddy Inc. appliances (1964)
    • 1722: former location of Boyd Manufacturing Co. (1929-1937), Seaboard Finance Co. (1964)
    • 1724: former location of Doster-Worthington Drug Store (1929), Continental Commercial College (1970)
    • 1726: former location of Birmingham Gas Appliance Co. (1964)
    • 1728: former location of Magic City Candy Co. (1929), parking lot (1937)
    • 1732: former location of Alabama Barber Supply Co. (1929-1937), Maytag Sales & Service (1964)
      • 1723B: former location of Here Tiz Lunch Stand (1929)
    • 1734: former location of Herring-Hall & Martin Safe Co. (1929), ABC Store No. 12 (1964)
    • 1736: former location of Gulf States Life Building, Boyett's Cigar Store (1929), American Life Insurance Company of Alabama (1937), Wheeler Business College (1964)
  • South side (Block 109A)
    • 1701-1703: former location of M. C. McCoy Filling Station (1929), Lee Rodgers Garage
      • 1701: former location of Allright Birmingham Co. parking lot (1964)
    • 1705: former location of B. P. Ballard & Co. dry cleaners (1929), Watts-Newsome Company (1937)
    • 1707-1709: former location of Jefferson Furniture Co. (1929), Alabama Paper & Metalware Company (1937), R. B. Broyles Furniture Co. warehouse (1964), He & She Scene, Club Asia, Club Heat, Club Rave nightclubs
    • 1711: former location of Erdreich Bros. & Marx liquors (1904), Kilgore Furniture Co. (1929), McKelvey-Coats Furniture Co. warehouse
    • 1713-1715: former location of Ransom's Garage (1929), Standard Oil Gas & Garage (1937), First Avenue Garage (1964)
    • 1717: former location of T. M. Nesbitt & Associates, Finance Inc., Nesbitt Agency, William R. Brown Manufacturing Co. (1964)
    • 1721-1723: former location of Birdwood Paper Co. (1964)
      • 1721: former location of Talking Machine Co. (1929)
      • 1723: former location of Birmingham Woodenware Company (1929), Magic Palace
    • 1725-1731: Young & Vann Building (built 1899), offices of the Alabama Media Group (2014-), formerly the Meyer-Marx Co. wholesale beverages & cigars (1899-), Young & Vann Supply Company's mill & mine warehouse (1912-), Center for Regional Planning and Design (2002-2014)

18th Street intersection

• • North side (Block 98)
    • 1800-1812: Pizitz parking deck (1965), former location of Shoppers' Park Lot (-1964)
      • 1800: former location of Manhattan Cafe (1929),
      • 1802: former location of Clothing & Shoe Store (1929), Paint & Hardware (1937), Car Park Inc. (-1964)
      • 1804-1806: former location of Pandora Cafeteria (1929), Sears Roebuck & Co. parking & auto accessories (1937)
      • 1808: former location of I. R. Hochstadter wholesale liquors, Chinese Restaurant (1937)
      • 1810: former location of ABC Store #12 (1937)
      • 1812: Amway Batts Distributing Co., Batts Services (2007), former location of T. P. Raley (1929), Majic City Barber Supplies (1937)
    • 1814: former location of Central Loan Office (1929), Shook & Fletcher Supply Company (1937-1964)
    • 1816: former location of B & B Store (1929), parking lot (1937)
    • 1818-1822: former location of Sokol Brothers furniture (1937), Sokol's (1949), Spencer Furniture
      • 1820: former location of Tanner & Elledye saloon, Sokol Brothers clothing (1937)
      • 1822: former location of Whaley Furniture Co. (1929)
    • 1824-1832: former location of O'Brien Opera House, Molton-Henley Retail Block, Expanded Sokol's store
      • 1824: former location of Old Clothing Store (1929)
      • 1826: former location of Watches Jewelry Repairing Store (1929), H. M. Park real estate (1964)
      • 1830: former location of Goodyear Welt Shoe Repairing (1929)
      • 1832: former location of I. Goldburg Store (1929)
      • 1834: former location of K. D. Likes Confectionary (1929)
  • South side
    • 1801-1803: former location of Alabama Grocery Company, Earl Brothers wholesale grocers (1929), Alabama Appliance Company (1937)
    • 1805-1807: former location of Renard Rubber Co. (1929), Haverty Furniture warehouse (1937),
    • 1809-1811: S. J. Bennett Professional Building (Kee School of Real Estate (2007), Turner Realty, Loder PC attorneys, Tyme Mortgage, W. L. Williams, Jr attorney)
      • 1809: former location of Sokol Brothers warehouse (1937)
      • 1811: Action Printing & Supply (2007), former location of Bay Theatre, Veltex Co. (1937-1964)
    • 1815-1819: former location of National Birmingham Garage (1937-1964), Budget Rent-A-Car (1964)
      • 1815: former location of W. G. Patterson Cigar Store (1929)
      • 1817: former location of Birmingham Refrigeration Co. (1929), Highland Cleaners (1937), Matthews Electric Company, Independent Reciprocal Exchange & Commonwealth Life & Accident insurers (1964)
      • 1819: former location of Electrical Speciality (1929), Roberts Electric (1937), Robert P. Parker real estate & Joseph A. Miller, Jr civil engineer (1964)
    • 1823: former location of Golbro store, Goldstein Brothers Inc. (1964)
    • 1825-1831: Jemison Flats (Giattina Fisher Architecture Studio, Big Communications, etc), formerly the Lincoln Life Building/Chamber of Commerce Building/Stallings Building. Former site of the Chalifoux Building
      • 1827: former location of National Finance & Discount Co. (1964)
      • 1829: former location of Lincoln Life Barber Shop (1929)
      • 1831: former location of Whittington Drug Co. (1929)

Central City neighborhood

• 19th Street intersection
  • North side (Block 99)
    • 1900-1904: Saks building (built 1895), former location of the Marre building (1872-1895)
      • 1900: Ruby Saloon (1880s), Louis Saks Clothing Store (1895-1916), Spielberger Brothers (1916), Doster-Northington Drug Store (1929), Morris Jewelers (1964)
      • 1902: former location of Old Gold and lunch counter (1937), Marvin Hawkins Pen Store
        • 1902a: former location of Birmingham Hearing Center, Marshall Allen optometrist (1964)
      • 1904: Coyote Logistics (2015-), former location of Boxer's Bakery (1929), European Bakery (1937), Model Sales Co. clothier (1964), Childcare Resources (2000s), Corporate Realty (2005-2015)
    • 1906: former location of Hochstadter & Wise wholesale liquors (1875-1884), Iron City Exchange (1884-), Linnehaw Jewelry Store (1937), Roseman's Shoes (1929), Dial Finance Co. (1964)
    • 1908-1914: parking lot
      • 1908: former location of J. Friedman & Co. mens' wear, Vaughn's Men's Clothing (1929), Lichter Department Store / Lichter's Magic Credit (1937-1964)
      • 1910: Bishop Colvin Johnson & Kent attorneys, former location of Outlet Shoe Store (1929), Robertson Hardware Company (1937), Lipsitz Credit Clothiers (1964)
      • 1912: former location of Standard Clothing Company (1937), Standard Furniture Co. (1964)
      • 1914: former location of Guarantee Hardware & Paints (1929), Standard Furniture Co. (1937)
    • 1916: former location of King Tailoring (1904), Alabama Home Furniture Co. (1937), McCauley's Furniture (1964)
    • 1918-1924: Alabama Gas Corporation building Marriott Hotel, former location of Birmingham Gas Company (1937), Alabama Gas Corp. (1964)
      • 1918:
        • 1918½ : former location of John Westbrook's mercantile and lime kiln (1880s)
      • 1922: former location of Palace Royal saloon (1880s), Porter's Clothing, Bank for Savings and Trust (1937), and Putta-Links indoor golf
    • 1926: former location of Chris' Place Café (1909-1934), Empire Steak House (1934-1944), Top that Chick, Seven Seas Seafood (1964), Toby's (1999-2007)
    • 1928-1930: Empire Building Empire Hotel (built 1909)
      • 1928: Empire Hotel (proposed)
      • 1930: former location of Bank Saloon (1883-1908), Empire Cafe/Brown's Cigar Store (1900s), Patterson's Cigar & Soda Store (1929), Greene Drug Company (1917-1937), City National Bank (1965-1982), Colonial Bank (1982-2009)
  • South side
    • 1901-1911: Allright Parking Garage
      • 1901-1907: former location of Morris Block (built 1891, demolished 1958)
        • 1901: former location of Meyer-Engel Real Estate (1929), Morris Tavern (1937)
        • 1903: former location of New Morris Barber Shop (1929), Morris Jewelers
        • 1905: former location of Morris Hotel entrance (1894-1958)
        • 1907: former location of Davison Electric Co. (1929), Woodward Billiard Parlor (1937)
      • 1909: former site of Allen Building (1880s), former location of Engel Realty Co. (1937)
      • 1911: former location of Marc Linx Men's Clothing, Marc Linx Tailors (1929-1964)
    • 1909-1917: former site of Potter Building, former location of Wheeler Business College (1888-)
      • 1913-1917: former location of Britling Cafeteria No. 1 (1919-1964)
        • 1917a: former location of Artists Recording Company / Reed Records (1956-1960s)
    • 1919: former location of Western Union (1929), Robert Dickerson portrait studio (1954-)
    • 1921: former location of the Evening Chronicle / Sunday Chronicle (1883-1890), llinois Central Railroad ticket office, People's Tailors (1929-1937)
    • 1923: former location of Bandman-Marx tailors, Shrib Optical Co. (1937), Budget Finance Corp. (1964)
      • 1923a: former location of Smile Cafe (1929), Lontos Cafe (1937), Salvador's Restaurant (1964)
      • 1925: former location of Frisco Lines ticket office (1937) Tinder Optical Co. (1964)
    • 1927: Woodward Building (built 1902)
      • 1927: PNC Bank, former location of Hugh Price Opticians (1964), MetroBank

• 20th Street intersection: Heaviest Corner on Earth
  • North side (Block 100)
    • 2000-2010: Brown Marx Building (built 1906, expanded in 1908), former site of National Bank of Birmingham building (Linn's Folly, built 1873)
      • 2000: former location of cigar store (1929)
      • 2004: former location of Western Union telegraph office (1929-1937)
      • 2008: former location of Simon Klotz insurance office (1929), Steiner-Rouse & Co brokers (1964)
      • 2010: former location of Birmingham Post Office (1880s), Central of Georgia Railroad office (1929), Fidelity Loan Company, American Plan Corp loans (1964)
    • 2012: Brown Marx annex (built 1909), H2 Real Estate, former location of R. A. Brown & Company real estate (1929-1937), Utopia Cleaners (1964)
    • 2014: former location of Zac Smith Stationery Company (1922-1970s)
    • 2016: former location of Glidden Paint Store (1929-1937), Gold Bond Gift Center (1964)
    • 2018: former location of Harris Floral Co. (1929), Kohlmeyer & Co. investment securities (1964)
    • 2020-2022: former location of Esquire Parking Lot (1937-1964)
      • 2020: former location of Robertson Hardware Co. (1929)
      • 2022: former location of Sorsby & Smith (1883-), Smith & Montgomery (1885-1902), Zac Smith Stationery Company (1902-1922), Morris Supply Co. (1929)
    • 2024: former location of E. B. Peddinghaus photographer / Peddinghaus Studio (1910s), Alabama Home Co. (1929), Garber, Cook & Hulsey (1937)
    • 2026: former location of Alabama Home Building & Loan Association, Birmingham Federal Savings and Loan
    • 2030: former location of Patterson Cigar Store (1929), Sarris Grill (1937), Guaranty Federal Savings and Loan (1960-1990), New City Church (1995-2010), Birmingham Healthcare (2010), Lewis Communications (2015-)
  • South side (Block 107)
    • 2001: John A. Hand Building
    • 2013: McAdory Building (former location of Wimberly & Thomas Hardware)
    • 2015-17: Caldwell-Milner Building (former location of Batiste & Associates, Head's office supplies and Underwood Typewriters)
    • 2009: former offices of Wilda & Dearborn real estate brokers
    • 2017: former offices of Sutcliffe, Armstrong & Willett Architects and location of Seals Piano Company, Mazer's Office & Store Equipment) Birmingham Rug & Linoleum and Simmons Electric)
    • 2019-21: former site of Alverson Business College
    • 2023: former location of William Parish's art studio, W. D. Colby Decorating Co. (1903), Colby & Roll
    • 2025: Skyline Lofts (former location of Zac Smith Stationery Company printing department, Reprint Company)
    • 2027: Protective Life building (Commerce Center)
• 21st Street intersection (Rainbow Viaduct)
  • North side (Block 101)
    • 2100: Landmark Building (former location of PKA Architects), (former site of Slaton, McGlathery & Burwell, and Birmingham Railway, Light and Power Building)
    • 2104: former location of Birmingham Athletic Club (1895-1903) and R. P. McDavid & Company radios & refrigerators
    • 2106-2108: former location of Morris Greenhouses, Doster-Northington Drug Co.
    • 2108: former location of W. F. Orr livery stable & Abernathy Furniture Co.
    • 2112: former location of Protective Life Insurance and Employers Insurance Co.
    • 2114: former location of Gus Dugger Saloon, photo studio
    • 2118: Birmingham Realty Company building
    • 2126: former location of Tillman-Levenson furniture store
  • South side
    • 2101: Steiner Building (KPS Group), former location of Steiner Brothers Bank and barber shop (former site of William Nabers shop)
    • 2105: parking lot, former site of Bradford-Norton, Inc. millinery and Tillman-Levenson
    • 2107: former location of Tillman-Levenson
    • 2109: former location of McDavid, Terry & Garland real estate agents
    • 2111: former location of Jefferson Sea Food Café, Typewriter Exchange
    • 2121: Body & Soul Fitness
• 22nd Street intersection
  • 2200: Goodall-Brown Lofts/Wine Loft, former location of the Caldwell Hotel
  • 2201: Transportation Building (Wee Care Academy)
  • 2208-2210: former location of R. D. Burnett Cigar Company warehouse
  • 2209: The Fanaei Building (formerly Slater Sales)
  • 2213: former location of Steve Watson Restaurant
  • 2215: Krewe on First bar
  • 2226: former location of Europa
• 23rd Street intersection
  • North side (Block 103)
    • former location of the Winnie Davis Wigwam (1894)
    • 2300-2302: Fix Play Lofts, former location of Fix Play Displays (1964)
      • 2300: Birmingham Oddities, former location of Phillips-Lester Manufacturing (1929)
      • 2302: former location of Hutchins Co. clothes (1929)
    • 2304: former location of Wynn-Knox Candy Co. (1929), Jaffe Dry Goods (1964)
    • 2306: former location of Levine-Abelson Candy and Grocery Company (1929)
    • 2308-2314: 2314 1st Avenue North building, former location of The Feldstein Co. wholesale clothing (1964)
      • 2308: former location of Markstein Millinery (1929)
      • 2310: Neighborhood Market, former location of D. Friedman & Co. dresses & coats (1929)
      • 2312: Weld for Birmingham offices, former location of Frankel & Feldstein Clothing Co. (1929)
      • 2314: former office of James Morgan, Jr
    • 2316-2318: The Avenues Lofts
      • 2316: former location of Star Hosiery & Underwear Co. (1964)
      • 2318: former location of Greenwald Shoe Co. (1964)
    • 2320-2322: Raymond Rose Building, former location of Rose Commission Co. wholesale dry goods, Raymond Hosiery Co. & Raymond-Temerson Co. (1964), Alabama Uniforms
      • 2320: Tavern on 1st (2015-)
    • 2324: Mike's Fine Jewelry & Music Center (1965-)
  • South side (Block 107)
    • 2321-2325: Wooster Lofts
    • 2301: Liberty House Lofts (Bancography, Literacy Council of Alabama)
    • 2321: former location of Wood-Frutticher Grocery Co.
    • 2323: formerly Cafe Lanetta
    • 2325: Phillip Griffith Photography, former location of Reed Books
    • 2329: Wooten Lofts
• 24th Street intersection
  • 2400: United Trophy & Specialties
  • 2401: Security Bonded Warehouse (former Royal Cup building)
  • 2411: ABC Foodservice Equipment
  • 2413: From Darkness to Light Biblical Counseling Ministries
  • 2416: Johnston Lofts, former location of Johnston Manufacturing Co. (1930s), Standard Distributors (1980s)
  • 2420: Mr Burch formal wear
  • 2425: Dixie Fixtures
  • 2429: Blackwell Furniture/BB's China and Glassware
  • 2431: former location of A & P's "East Side Downtown Super Market" (1944-)
• 25th Street intersection
  • 2500: Roger's Trading Company Building (Vazda Studios, Intermark Interactive, formerly Crawford's Auto Shop, Maring-Crawford Ford and Roger's Army Navy Store)
  • 2506: former location of Peyton King residence
• Red Mountain Expressway overpass (former site of Birmingham Farmer's Market)
• Carraway Boulevard intersection

• 1st Avenue North continues east through North Avondale, Woodlawn, Wahouma, and East Lake to West Boulevard, continuing as Parkway East