2020

2020 is the 149th year after the founding of the City of Birmingham.

Events

• January 5: Two people died in a plane crash at Cullman Regional Airport.
• January 21: The new I-20/59 downtown viaduct opened after a year of construction.
• February 27: AL.com disabled its online comments section.
• March 7: A Lil Baby rap concert at Bill Harris Arena was broken up by a backstage shooting.
• March 16: Alabama public schools were closed to slow the spread of the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic.
• April 12: A tornado outbreak affected central Alabama on Easter Sunday.
• April 17: An apartment building at 1613 19th Street Ensley was damaged by fire, and one resident was killed.
• April 19: The Moody Music Building at the University of Alabama was damaged by fire.
• May 28– : A series of protests were held over the death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
• May 31: A surge of vandalism following a day of protests caused significant damage at Linn Park and around downtown Birmingham.
• June 1: The Confederate Soldiers & Sailors Memorial at Linn Park was dismantled by the City of Birmingham.
• July 1: Parking at Birmingham's 3,945 downtown metered spaces could be paid for through the "ParkMobile" mobile app.
• July 11: The first Alabama Jazz Festival was held at Railroad Park.
• September 14–16: The Frontier Conference 2020, originally scheduled for April, was held at the Lyric Theatre.

Business

• January 1: TTL Inc. of Tuscaloosa acquired DBS & Associates Engineering of Tennessee.
• January 1: Graham & Co. acquired the Brookmont Realty Group.
• January 14: ProctorU announced a merger with Yardstick Assessment Strategies of Ottawa, Ontario to form Meazure Learning.
• January: Daxko acquired PlayerSpace of Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina.
• Regions Bank consolidated workers at its Regions Riverchase Operations Center and closed its Regions Lakeshore Operations Center.
• GoodJob acquired Fetch Talent.
• Wayne's Pest Control acquired Priority Pest of Mt Juliet, Tennessee.
• ProAssurance acquired NORCAL Group of San Francisco, California.
• February: ARC Realty merged with H2 Real Estate.
• February: PS Holdco acquired Southeast Logistics of Tuscaloosa.
• March: JEST IPA, Princeton Premier IPA, Red Mountain IPA, Shelby Chilton IPA and Synergy IPA merged to form the Iron City Independent Physician Association.
• April: EBSCO Industries acquired Zepheira of Reston, Virginia.
• May: Longtime pharmacist Matt Leach purchased Crestline Pharmacy from Mike Cobb and Scooter Hammers.
• May: Birmingham Fastener & Supply acquired Atlanta Rod & Manufacturing.
• May: PS Logistics acquired the assets of CT Transportation of Savannah, Georgia.
• May 26: Birmingham Direct Primary Care moved from 2231 Victory Lane in Hoover to 901 Oxmoor Road in Edgewood.
• June: George Sarris merged his Yellow Bicycle Catering Co. with Richard Wilkins' R & S Food Services.
• Washee Quickee Car Wash moved from 2700 3rd Avenue South in Lakeview to 4401 4th Avenue South in Avonwood.
• July: Jay and Laura Middleton purchased the Fleet Feet Birmingham franchise at Patchwork Farms in Vestavia Hills.
• August: Ponder Properties merged with NAI Chase Commercial Realty.
• October 1: Hamilton Wealth Advisors relocated from 1 Corporate Drive at Chase Corporate Park to 100 Concourse Parkway in Riverchase.

Establishments

• January 7: Art's Barber Shop reopened at 3301 Crestwood Boulevard
• January 7: Yum Yai reopened at 5426 U.S. Highway 280
• January 20: Dave Horn and Taylor Hughes opened SoHo Standard at SoHo Square.
• Marco and Juan Perez opened Maya Mexican Restaurant at the former Del Toro in Alabaster.
• February: Marco Butturini opened Le Fresca at 2218 2nd Avenue North.
• June 7: Refined to Go opened in Old Town Helena.
• July: Sublime Media acquired the assets of Alliance Communications, including Fabricating and Metalworking magazine.
• August 1: Gardendale Pickers opened in the former K-Mart at 901 Decatur Highway in Gardendale.
• August 3: Michael's opened at the Negro Southern League Museum.
• August 6: Urban Market opened at 200 9th Street South Bessemer.
• August 30: Frank and Katherine Alverson opened Porch in Crestline Village.
• Summer: Rob and Emily McDaniel opened Helen restaurant in the Meelheim Building at 2013 2nd Avenue North.

Disestablishments

• ISCO Industries of Louisville, Kentucky acquired M. T. Deason.
• Zula's Mart on Highland Avenue closed.
• January 8: Magic City Krabs at 2201 4th Place West closed.
• January 15: Charlemagne Records on 11th Avenue South closed.
• January 18: Hot Diggity Dogs of 5th Avenue South closed.
• February: Plant Power & Control Systems was acquired by IES Holdings of Houston, Texas.
• March 8: The Whole Foods in Hoover's Whole Foods Market Plaza closed.
• March: Babalu at 29 Seven closed.
• March: Mile End Deli at Parkside Apartments closed.
• March: Brio Tuscan Grille at Brookwood Village closed.
• March: Command Alkon was acquired by Thoma Bravo of San Francisco, California.
• April: Gold's Gym locations at The Colonnade and Oak Mountain Marketplace closed.
• April: Olive Garden closed its Eastwood Village location.
• April: Cowfish closed at The Summit.
• April: Momma Goldberg's Deli locations on Frank Street in Trussville and at Station 121 in Midtown closed.
• April 22: The North Jefferson News was shut down.
• April 27: Z's Restaurant closed.
• May 4: Lucy's Coffee and Tea closed.
• May: The Kordoroy Krocodile consignment shop closed.
• May: Sol's Sandwich Shop at Two North Twentieth closed.
• May: Blevins Barber Shop at Two North Twentieth closed.
• May: Books-A-Million closed its Brookwood Village store.
• June: Klingler's in Vestavia Hills closed.
• June 14: Cocina Superior at Brookwood Village closed.
• June: Shrimp Basket closed its Crestwood Boulevard location.
• June: Johnny Ray's closed its Chelsea location.
• June 17: Urban Standard on 2nd Avenue North closed.
• July: Building Specialties was acquired by the Cook & Boardman Group of Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
• July: Avanti Polar Lipids was acquired by Croda International of Snaith, United Kingdom.
• July: Sur la Table closed its store at The Summit.
• July: Jason's Deli closed its Brookwood Village location.
• July 14: California Pizza Kitchen closed its restaurant at The Summit.
• July: Ann Taylor LOFT closed its store at Brookwood Village.
• July: Birmingham magazine suspended print publication.
• July: Brennan's at Five Points South closed.
• July: StrategyWise was acquired by E Source of Boulder, Colorado.
• August 2: Woodlawn Cycle Cafe closed.
• August: Little Savannah Restaurant & Bar closed.
• August 10: Grede closed its Columbiana foundry.

Education

• March 16: Public K-12 schools were closed by order of Governor Kay Ivey due to the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic.
• July: Strayer University relocated from Grandview Parkway to Two North Twentieth.

Government

• The City of Trussville celebrated its Bicentennial.
• January 7: Randall Woodfin delivered the 2020 State of the City address.
• March 17: Jefferson County Health Officer Mark Wilson imposed countywide rules restricting visitors to nursing homes, barring on-premises service at restaurants and bars, and closing private schools and pre-schools.
• March 19: Governor Kay Ivey ordered on-premises food and beverage service, public gatherings and beaches to be closed due to the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic.
• March 24: The Birmingham City Council passed a "shelter in place" ordinance due to the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic.
• March 27: Governor Ivey issued a statewide order to close non-essential businesses and prohibit gatherings of 10 or more people.
• April 3: Governor Ivey issued a statewide "shelter in place" order.
• May 19: The City of Fairfield filed for municipal bankruptcy.
• July 14: Mayor Randall Woodfin announced a ban on police chokeholds and a requirement for officers to intervene and report incidents of excessive violence.

Religion

• March 15: Dorinda Broadnax was installed as pastor of First Congregational Christian Church in College Hills.

Sports

• January 1: The Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Michigan Wolverines 35-16 in the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida.
• January 1: The Auburn Tigers lost to the Minnesota Golden Gophers 24-31 in the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Florida.
• January 2: The Cincinnati Bearcats defeated the Boston College Eagles 38-6 in the 2020 Birmingham Bowl at Legion Field.
• January 6: Alabama Crimson Tide juniors Henry Ruggs III, Jerry Jeudy and Tua Tagovailoa announced for the 2020 NFL Draft.
• February 22: Deontay Wilder fought Tyson Fury to defend his WBC heavyweight title.
• March: UAB Men's basketball coach Rob Ehsan was fired and former player and assistant coach Andy Kennedy was hired to succeed him.
• March 6–8: The 2020 Bassmaster Classic was held at Lake Guntersville and the BJCC.
• The 2020 Birmingham Legion FC season was postponed.
• June: The 2020 National Indoor Pickleball Championship was held at the Finley Center in Hoover.

Individuals

• Chef Brandon Cain left Roots & Revelry.
• January 27: Ginny Tucker succeeded interim Brooke Bowles as CEO of Impact America.
• February 3: Cory Moon was sworn in as Chief of the Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service.
• April 17: Andrea Taylor resigned from her role as CEO of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.
• May 4: David Hyche succeeded Sean Lemley as chief of the Calera Police Department.
• May: State Representative April Weaver resigned her office to accept a job in the Trump administration.
• July: Lee Yount was hired as interim director of United Ability.

Awards

• Alabama Music Hall of Fame: Gary Baker, Mervyn Warren, Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton and Elton B. Stephens

Retirements

• August: WBRC 6 news anchor Janet Hall retired.
• August: Lawson State Community College president Perry Ward retired.
• November: Vestavia Hills Rebels head football coach Buddy Anderson retired.

Deaths

Sammy Salvo (1932–2020)

Tarvaris Jackson (1983–2020)

Cleve Eaton (1939–2020)

• January 10: John Bresnan, Chief of the Homewood Fire Department
• January 13: Doug Barnes, street character
• January 21: De'Runnya Wilson, former college football player
• February 2: Raymond Williams, former NASA administrator
• February 6: Jerry Levin, journalist and activist
• February 7: Sammy Salvo, crooner and grocer
• February 11: Dartie Flynt
• February 22: Thracie Pace, Birmingham Public Library Friends Bookstore manager
• March 1: Mable Anderson, psychology professor and activist
• March 8: Parker, a red panda at the Birmingham Zoo
• March 17: Mamie Brown Mason, healthcare consultant and co-founder of the ACHMR Choir.
• March 27: Joseph Lowery, Methodist minister and SCLC co-founder
• April 2: Ruth Appelhof, former Birmingham Museum of Art curator
• April 6: Rodney Dodson, former Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service Captain
• April 12: Tarvaris Jackson, former NFL quarterback
• April 25: Erskine Faush, AME Zion minister, radio executive and gospel singer
• May 3: Brandy Ayers, former Anniston Star publisher
• May 4: Jeff Fore, Trussville Fire Department fire marshal and assistant chief
• May 5: Lewis Manderson Jr, founder of Creative Displays
• May: Thomas Linton, barber and civil rights leader
• June 1: Pat Dye, former Auburn Tigers football coach
• June 5: Gary Edwards, CEO of United Ability
• June 6: Joseph Boohaker, former presiding judge for the 10th Judicial Circuit of Alabama
• June 18: Matt, a Komodo dragon at the Birmingham Zoo
• June 19: Tadpole, a Nile hippopotamus at the Birmingham Zoo
• June 21: Jimmy Pursell, founder of Pursell Industries
• June 26: Thomas Blanton, convicted murderer
• June 28: Peggy Prickett, clothier
• July 1: Elise Penfield, educator and community activist
• July 5: Cleveland Eaton, jazz bassist
• July 9: Billy Joe Driver, Mayor of Clanton
• July 14: Ron Johnson, state legislator
• July: Dave Holloway, naturalist
• July: Marty Schulman, naturalist
• July 21: Stanley Robinson, professional basketball player
• July 23: Ouida Fritschi‎, community activist
• July 29: James Nelson, art critic
• July 30: Harvey Updyke, former Texas state trooper convicted of poisoning the oak trees at Toomer's Corner
• August 1: J. D. Weeks, author and historian
• August 6: Wayne Shirley, former chief of the Chelsea Fire Department
• See also:
  • 2020 Folsom Field plane crash
  • List of homicides in 2020

Works

The completed I-20/59 downtown viaduct on January 16, 2020. Photograph by Joe Songer.

Books

• The Summer House, novel by Lauren Denton

Buildings

• 1001 20th Street South at Five Points South
• 20 Midtown Phase 3
• AIDS Alabama Way Station in Smithfield
• Howlett Clubhouse for the A. G. Gaston Boys & Girls Club at CrossPlex Village
• Redevelopment of American Life Building as "workforce" apartments
• Bessemer Amazon Fulfillment Center
• Evonik Birmingham Laboratories expansion
• Firehouse Shelter
• Freedom Manor renovations
• I-20/59 downtown viaduct
• Planned Parenthood Birmingham Clinic on 1st Avenue North in Smithfield
• Macaroni Lofts
• New Ideal Lofts
• UAB Technology Innovation Center
• Valley Hotel on 28th Avenue South Homewood
• Wylam Library renovations

Demolitions

• January: Ensley High­lands Presbyterian Church
• July: De Paul Building at St Vincent's Birmingham
• Victory Tabernacle Community Church at 1300 12th Avenue North

Context

In 2020 a worldwide pandemic associated with the "COVID–19" virus caused massive disruption to public health, markets and society. The United Methodist Church split over acceptance of gay marriage. President Trump approved a drone strike that killed Qasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis at Baghdad International Airport. Massive bushfires spread across Australia. The 2020 Olympic Summer Games were held in Tokyo, Japan.

Notable deaths in 2020 included activist C. T. Vivian; actors Wilford Brimley, Robert Conrad, Olivia de Havilland, Brian Dennehy, Kirk Douglas, Ian Holm, Kelly Preston, John Saxon, Jerry Stiller, Max von Sydow, and Fred Willard; basketball stars Kobe Bryant and Curly Neal; business executive Herman Cain; cartoonists Gene Deitch and Mort Drucker; composers Johnny Mandel and Ennio Morricone; critic Michael Sorkin; directors Alan Parker, Carl Reiner, Joel Schumacher and Lynn Shelton; former president of Egypt Hosni Mubarak; General Electric chairman Jack Welch; journalist Jim Lehrer; writers Clive Cussler, Roger Kahn, Terrence McNally, Charles Portis, Elizabeth Wurtzel, and Carlos Ruiz Zafón; Monty Python founder Terry Jones; musicians Charlie Daniels, Joe Diffie, Little Richard, Vera Lynn, Ellis Marsalis, Neil Peart, John Prine, Kenny Rogers, Adam Schlesinger, Joseph Shabalala, McCoy Tyner and Bill Withers; former NBA commissioner David Stern; physicists Freeman Dyson and Katherine Johnson; playwright/activist Larry Kramer; publisher Earl Graves Sr; television hosts Grant Imahara and Regis Philbin; and U.S. Representative John Lewis.

2020s

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