12th Avenue North

12th Avenue North (or Twelfth Avenue North, formerly Fountain Avenue and 12th Avenue) is an east-west street running north of downtown Birmingham and continuing in sections through the east side of the city.

12th Avenue North begins as a continuation of 12th Avenue West at Center Street in East Thomas and runs eastward for two blocks, terminating at Bankhead Highway North and Dorothy Spears Greenway. The street resumes at 3rd Street North in Enon Ridge, and continues as far as 5th Street North, where it is interrupted by Malfunction Junction. It begins again east of I-65 in Fountain Heights and jogs slightly northward, continuing to Oak Hill Cemetery at 17th Street North.

12th Avenue picke up again at Arthur Shores Park and past the north side of Protective Stadium. It crosses over the railroad tracks between 26th and 27th Street North and through Norwood, with an overpass over I-20/59, continuing to Vanderbilt Road at the offices of McWane Cast Iron Pipe Co.

12th Avenue resumes at Appalachee Street, near W. C. Patton Park in East Birmingham, terminating at 40th Street North. It picks back up at 42nd Place North in Kingston for two blocks, then reappears between 45th Street North to 50th Street North.

Notable locations

East Thomas neighborhood

• avenue begins at Center Street North
  • north side:
  • 14: Oscar Adams residence (1970)
• 1st Street North intersects
• avenue ends at Bankhead Highway North

Enon Ridge neighborhood

• avenue resumes at 3rd Street North
  • south side:
    • Enon Ridge Cemetery
• 3rd Place North intersects
  • north side:
    • 328: Ernest Taggart residence (–1968)
  • south side:
    • Enon Ridge Cemetery
• 4th Street North intersects
• 4th Place North intersects
• avenue ends at 5th Street North

Fountain Heights neighborhood

• avenue resumes
  • north side:
    • 1120: former location of Hancock Apartments (1970)
    • 1132: former location of Magic View Apartments (1970)
• 12th Street North intersects (north only)
• avenue jogs north at 13th Street North
  • north side:
    • 1300: former location of St John Baptist Church (1970)
  • south side:
    • 1301: former location of Fountain Heights Methodist Episcopal Church (1926)

• 14th Street North intersects (south only)
  • 1418: former location of Jackson Kindergarten of Fountain Heights (Nat Jackson 1941)
  • 1428: former location of WKBC-AM transmitter (1926)

• 15th Street North intersects
  • north side:
    • 1530: Omar's Discount convenience store
  • south side:
    • 1521: former location of Cline Apartments (1941), A. G. Gaston Apartments (1970)
• 16th Street North intersects
• avenue ends at 17th Street North (Oak Hill Cemetery)

Druid Hills neighborhood

• avenue resumes at F. L. Shuttlesworth Drive (formerly Huntsville Road)
  • 1920: His Word Ministries
• 20th Street North intersects (north only)
  • north side:
    • 2018: former location of Echols & Haddon Inc. building materials (1970)
    • 2020: Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles Day Reporting Center
    • 2024: former location of Frew Rug Service carpet layers (1970)
  • south side:
    • 2001–2031: Patriot Center (built 1974), Jefferson County Department Of Human Resources, former location of Social Security Administration Southeast Program Service Center (1974–2008)
      • 2009: former location of Magnolia Court Apartments (1970)
      • 2027: former location of Lilly Dennis boarding house (1970)
• 21st Place North intersects
  • north side:
    • 2112: The Installation at Uptown (2018–) / SARCOR LLC / SolarUp, former location of Jefferson County Employee's Credit Union
  • south side:
    • 2127: former location of Sterling Wortham statue manufacturer (1970)
    • 2129: Briana Smith Hair Studio
    • 2131: Bahakel & Bahakel attorneys

• 22nd Street North intersects
  • north side:
  • south side:
    • Protective Stadium (built 2021)

• 23rd Street North intersects (north only)
  • north side:
    • 2304: Greater Birmingham Ministries
  • south side:
    • 2301–2319: Protective Stadium (built 2021)

• 23rd Place North intersects (north only)
  • north side:
    • 2322: former location of Guarantee Cleaning Co. (1926), Benton Bros. Cleaners (1941–1970)
  • south side:
    • 2321–2331: Protective Stadium (built 2021)
      • 2331: former location of Norwood Filling Station (1926–1941), Uncle Jim's Barbecue (1970)

• 24th Street North intersects
  • north side:
    • 2400: former location of One Star Cafe (1941), Leontis & Kosmas (1970), Old Rebel Barbecue (1970)
    • 2402–2404: Electronic Repairs, former location of La Dame Laundry & Cleaners (1941–1970)
    • 2408: former location of James Goins chiropractor (1970)
    • 2410: Mani Stop
  • south side:
    • 2401–2431: TopGolf (built 2017), former location of BJCC Parking Lot P-11 (-2017)
      • 2401: former location of Hillman Drug Co. (1926), Liles Drug Co. (1941), Wingard Florist (1970)
      • 2403: former location of Blue Moon Cafe (1926), Tom Jones Dry Cleaning & Laundry (1941)
      • 2405–2407: former location of Norwood Quality Market grocery (1941)
        • 2405: former location of Skelton Variety Store (1970)
        • 2407: former location of Piggly-Wiggly (1970)
      • 2490–2411: former location of Great A & P Tea Co. (1926–1941)
      • 2413: former location of Chambers Dairy (1926), George Stanfield barber (1941), Hamby's Barber Shop (1970)
      • 2415: former location of The Norwood Apartments (1926–1970)
      • 2417: former location of Glen Iris Dairies (1926), Chick's Creamery (1941), Chick's Poly-Clean laundromat (1970)
      • 2419–2421: former location of Hill Grocery Co. (1926–1941), Wood's Drug & Apothecary (1970)

• 25th Street North intersects (north only)
  • north side:
    • 2500: former location of Mine Safety Appliances Co. (1970)
    • 2516: former location of Ivan's Drive-In restaurant (Ivan Anglin 1970)
    • 2520: Exotic Wings & Things, former location of Rally's drive-in
    • 2530: former location of Norwood Service Station (1941), Cleveland Gulf Service (1970)
  • south side:
    • 2501–2515: former location of Brown-Service Funeral Home (1941–1970)
    • 2519: former location of Service Insurance Co. of Alabama (1970)
    • 2521: former location of Norton's Florist (J. S. Norton & Forney Renfroe 1921–)
    • 2523: former location of The Wonder Bar B Q restaurant (1941), Roothee's Lounge (1970)
    • 2531: former location of Feagin Service Station (1941), Haffey's Service Station (1970)

Norwood neighborhood

• 26th Street North/Carraway Boulevard / U.S. Highway 31 intersects
  • north side:
    • 2600: former location of Alley's Norwood Drug Store (1926), Helm's Color Service photo finishing (1970), Assembly of Divine Reality
    • 2602: former location of Howard Odorless Cleaners (1941–1946), Helm's Durell Studio photography (1970)
    • 2604: former location of Sunshine Cleaners (1941), Norwood Cleaners (1970)
    • 2630: former location of Norwood Grocery Co. (1926)
  • south side:
    • 2601: former location of Norwood Pharmacy (1926), Tradewinds restaurant (1970)
    • 2605: former location of Hill Grocery Co. (1941), Bill Smith's Barber Shop (1970)
    • 2607: former location of Norwood Beverage Co. (1970)
    • 2609: former location of The Birmingham News branch (1941)
    • 2611: former location of Thompson Barber Shop (1941), Corky Bell Dance Studio (Corky Bell 1964), Neat Job Cabinet Shop (1970)
    • 2613: former location of [[[Norwood Bakery]] (1926), G & R Electric Motor Repairs (1970)
    • 2623: former location of Acme Cycle Shop (1941), Primp-Up Beauty Salon (1970)
    • 2629–2631: former location of Birmingham Awning & Tent Works (M. D. Smith Jr 1920s–1941)

• avenue passes over Southern Railway / Frisco Line railroad tracks

• 27th Street North intersects
  • 2701: Moussa Food Mart / Boosh Quick Stop, former location of Qwik Mart (1970)

• 27th Place North intersects

• • 2720: former location of Hargis Clinic (1941), Leigh-Ann Rest Home (1970)
  • 2728–2730: former location of The Hooper apartments (1926), Luray Apartments (1941–1970)

• 28th Street North intersects
  • north side:
    • 2812: former location of John Parrish structural detailer (1970)
    • 2816: former location of The Roberts apartments (1926), Jennings Apartments (1941–1970)
  • south side:
    • 2817–2831: former location of Bon Air Apartments (1941–1970)

• 28th Place North intersects
• 29th Street North intersects
  • 2900–2918: former location of The Aberdeen Apartments (1926–1970)

• 29th Place North intersects
  • 2930: former location of Simon-Williamson Clinic (1970)

• 30th Street North intersects
  • north side:
    • 3000: II Fish V Loaves grocery store (Antonio & Temesha Washington, 2017–), former location of Warren Drugs (1970)
    • 3002: Sol's Hot Dogs (Solomon Zarzaur 1970–), former location of Norwood Barber Shop (–1970)
    • 3004: former location of Utopia Cleaners & Laundry (1970)
    • 3006: former location of Edith Mullins Beauty Shop (1970)
    • 3008: Sani-Clean Laundromat
    • 3014–3020: former location of Whiteside Apartments (1941)
    • 3020: Shell gas station / McCullough Snappy Services Oil Co., former location of Myrtle Vaught dressmaker (1941), Glenn Hauser Texaco service station (1970)
  • south side:
    • 3001–2005: Family Dollar #7275, former location of A & P Food Store (1941–1970)
    • 3011: former location of Willis Beauty & Barber Shop (1941), Tom Jones Cleaning & Laundry Co. (1970)
    • 3013: former location of Coe Grocery Co. (1941)
    • 3015: former location of Norwood Paint & Hardware Co. (1970)
    • 3017: former location of Franklin-Hoadley Grocery Co. (1926)
    • 3019: former location of Great A & P Tea Co. (1926), LaDame Cleaners (1941), Banks Beverages (1970)
    • 3021: former location of Home Roofing Co. (1941)
    • 3023: former location of R & R Cleaners (1926), Jesse Walls shoe repair (1941)

• 31st Street North intersects
  • north side:
    • 3100: Texaco gas station, former location of The Norwood Terrace apartments (1926–1941)
    • former location of Milo's Hamburgers (Milo & Bea Carlton 1946-1963)
    • 3116: former location of Handy Pack convenience store (1970)
    • 3118: former location of Bell Beauty Shop (1941), Norwood Shoe Shop (1970)
    • 3120: former location of Norwood Grill (1941–1970)
    • 3128: former location of Piggly-Wiggly (1926–1941)
    • 3130: former location of Lane Drug Co. (1941), Lew Murray Drugs (1970)
  • south side:
    • 3105: former location of Ward Apartments (1941)
    • 3107: former location of Norwood Hamburger Shoppe (1941)
    • 3115: former location of Hill Grocery Co. (1941), Raceway Auto Parts (1970)
    • 3117: former location of Lucky & Lynch (1926), Aral Lucky baker (1941)
    • 3119: former location of Hill Grocery Co. (1926), A. N. Pharo 5¢ & 10¢ Store (1941)
    • 3121: former location of Duke Bradford physician (1941)
    • 3125–3127: former location of A & R Food Store (1941)
      • 3125: former location of Norwood Plumbing & Heating Co. (1926)
      • 3127: former location of Norwood Art Cleaning Co. (Howard Burchfield 1926)
    • 3129: former location of Tom Jones Dry Cleaning & Laundry (1941)
    • 3131: former location of Masberg Arnold Drug Corp. (1926), Palace Cafe (Pete Cosmos 1930s), Harper's Cafe (1941)

• 32nd Street North intersects (south only), avenue resumes
  • former location of Norwood Exchange Club Recreation Center
  • north side:
    • 3200: 12th Avenue Bar & Grill, former location of Miller's Drug Store (1941), Economy Forms & Office Supplies (1970), Cosmos Sports Bar & Grill (Stephen Tutt, 2011–)
    • 3202: former location of Utopia Cleaners (1941), Mailing Service Inc. (1970)
    • 3204A: former location of Economy Press Inc. (1970)
    • 3204B: former location of Sandy's Beauty Shop (1970)
    • 3204C: former location of Tucker's Barber Shop (1970)
  • south side:
    • 3201–3213: former location of The Arnold apartments (1926), The Larchmont apartments (1941)

• 33rd Street North intersects (north only)
• avenue passes over I-20/59
• 34th Place North intersects (south only)
  • 3412: former location of The Averyt apartments (1940)
• 35th Street North intersects (south only)
  • north side:
    • 3508: former location of Skyview Apartments (1970)
  • south side:
    • 3531: former location of Thomas Graffo grocery & meats (1941)

• avenue ends at Vanderbilt Road

East Birmingham neighborhood

• 3902: former location of Alabama Pattern Works (1941), Metal Plate & Coathings Inc. Plant No. 2 / Metal Stamping & Processing Co. (1970)
• avenue resumes
• Appalachee Street intersects
• Coosa Street intersects
  • north side:
    • W. C. Patton Park
• Cahaba Street intersects (south only)
  • north side:
    • W. C. Patton Park
    • 3924: former location of Amanda's Beauty Shop (1970)
    • 3926: former location of William Parker barber shop (1941)
    • 3928: former location of Sam's Barber Shop (1970)
    • 3954 [sic]: former location of The New Blue Bird Inn (1970)
  • south side:
    • 3937 (formerly 4601): St Luke AME Zion Church (1926–)
    • 3953: former location of Thirty-Nine Fifty-Three Apartments (1970)
• Escambia Street intersects (south only)
  • north side:
    • W. C. Patton Park / Shields Conference Center
    • 3928: (formerly 4606) former location of East Birmingham School (1926), Alberta Shields Elementary School
    • 3952: former location of Thomas Clark confectioner (1941)

• avenue ends at 40th Street North

Kingston neighborhood

• avenue resumes at 42nd Place North
• 43rd Street North) intersects
• avenue ends at 44th Street North
• avenue resumes at 45th Street North
  • 4506: former location of Clark's Place night club, dancing pavilion and coal yard (E. M. Clark 1919)
• 46th Street North intersects (south only)
• 47th Street North intersects
• 48th Street North intersects
  • 4812; former location of Benjamin Scott building contractor (1941)

• avenue ends at 50th Street North