17th Street North

17th Street North is one of the primary north-south streets in downtown Birmingham's business district. Downtown, south of 11th Avenue North, the street is one-way for South-bound vehicular traffic. The change was made in 1973 as part of the Alabama Department of Transportation's TOPICS (Traffic Operations Program to Increase Capacity and Safety) program.

17th Street North begins at Morris Avenue just north of the Railroad Reservation. It continues north past Kelly Ingram Park and below I-20/59. Alongside Oak Hill Cemetery, the street changes to 17th Street Viaduct and continues as 18th Street North. 17th Street picks up separately south of 13th Avenue North and continues past 16th Avenue North just shy of I-65.

17th Street resumes north of the interstate between 16th Terrace North and 19th Avenue North. North of Village Creek another short section begins at 22nd Avenue North and crosses Finley Boulevard. It is interrupted at 27th Avenue North for the Ensley Branch and Birmingham Mineral Railroad, but resumes at 28th Court North and continues to the foot of Sand Mountain at Zion Heights.

17th Street North forms the western edge of the Downtown Birmingham Retail and Theatre Historic District. The 300 block of 17th is included in the 4th Avenue Historic District. Formerly the No. 5 Ensley-Fairfield streetcar line, the No. 6 Pratt-Ensley streetcar line, the No. 7 Wylam-Bush Hills streetcar line, and the No. 27 Ensley No. 38 South East Lake streetcar line utilized parts of 17th Street.

In 1945 electric lighting was installed on 17th Street North between 1st and 6th Avenues under the city's contract with the Birmingham Electric Company.

Notable locations

For an alphabetical list of locations, see the 17th Street North category.

Fountain Heights neighborhood

• Railroad Reservation
  • Downtown Lounge
• 1st Avenue North
  • west side (Block 96):
    • 100–114: Brokers Building (built 1920s), former location of Jeffers & Thomas lumber yard and planing mill, New Washington Hotel
      • 100–102: former location of J. F. Day Screen & Weatherstrip Co. (1938), Catholic Church of St. Christopher (1955), Z's Restaurant dining room (2011–2020)
      • 102: former location of Ethel's Coffee Shop (1947)
      • 104: former location of Southern Films Inc. (1924), Southern Testing Laboratories (1925), Z's Restaurant (2008–2020)
      • 106: former location of Southern Culvert Co. sales office (1938), Southern Furniture Service upholsterers (1947), vacant (1957), Partners Tax & Accounting
      • 108–110: former location of The Shaw Co. refrigerators (1947)
        • 108: Plum Bar, former location of The Voice of the People newspaper (1916–) Burnie Clifton novelties / Alabama State Tax Commission (1938), vacant (1957)
        • 110: former location of Boswell Finance Co. (1957)
      • 112: Visions Hair Salon, former location of Turner Printing Co. (1938–1957), Frank Turner piano tuner (1947), Birmingham Box Lunch
      • 114: Dirty Ash's Urban Lounge (2011-), former location of Associated Sals Agency storage (1938), Howard Odorless Cleaners & Launderers (1947–1957), Terri's Big Top (1970s)
    • 116–130: Thomas Jefferson Tower (built 1929 as Hotel Thomas Jefferson)
      • 120: former location of Thomas Jefferson Barber Shop (1938)
  • east side
    • Birmingham Department of Equipment Management Downtown Service Center
    • 117: former location of Kilgore Motors auto repair (1947), City Motor Exchange auto repair (1957)

• 2nd Avenue North intersects
  • east side (Block 88):
    • Phoenix Building/Phoenix Lofts, former location of Orr & Lanning livery stable
    • 205: former location of Phoenix Cafe (1947–1957)
    • 207–211: former location of Southern Bell Telephone & Telegraph Co. storeroom (1947–1957)
      • 209: former location of International Products Co. trunks (1938)
      • 211: former location of Mint Vending Co. (1938)
    • 213: former location of residence (1911), Western Newspaper Union (1920), W. Wallace Gammon sign painter (1947), vacant (1957)
    • 215–231: former location of printery
      • 215: former location of C. H. Hartsfield Co. printers (1938–1947), Family Shop clothing (1957)
      • 217: former location of Nixon Printing Co. (1938–1957)
      • 219–221: former location of Moskowitz Electrical Co. contractors (1947)
        • 219: vacant (1957)
        • 221: former location of City Printing Co. (1938), Gerber's Furs (1957)
  • west side (Block 89):
    • 204: former location of L. M. Berry & Co. advertising (1957)
    • 212–230: former location of Hippodrome Theater (1900s), Orpheum Theater (1911), Hippodrome Skating Auditorium (1916–)

• 3rd Avenue North intersects

View on the 300 block of 17th Street North in the 1930s

• • former location of the Birmingham Printing & Binding Company
  • west side (Block 70):
    • 300-310: parking lot
      • 300–302: former location of dwelling (1891), Edward Hotel, D & H Drugs (1929) Mecca Hotel (Frank & Alice Gelke 1931–1960), Blue Ribbon Shoe Shop repairs (1964), Nelson Brothers' Cafe
      • 304: former location of Bagley Gas Appliance Co. (1947), Smith Brothers Furniture Exchange used furniture (1957)
      • 306: former location of Smith Brothers Furniture Exchange used furniture (1947), vacant (1957)
      • 308–310: former location of Hill Furniture Repair Co. (1947)
        • 308: former location of The Standard Press printers (1938), vacant (1957)
        • 310: former location of Gulf Loan Co. (1957)
    • 312-322: Nelson Building (built c. 1925)
      • 312-316: Nelson Brothers' Café
        • 312: former location of Birmingham World offices (1937–1957)
        • 314–316: former location of Poro School of Beauty Culture (1935–1949)
          • 314: former location of Poro Beauty Parlor (1935–1949), Willie's House of Style (1980)
          • 316: former location of Kelley's Barber Shop (1937), Ruth's Beauty Shop / Ruth's News Mart / Ruth's Beauty Service (Ruth Jackson, 1959)
      • 318: Boost Mobile, former location of Ashjoy Bakery (1937), LaDell Manufacturing Co. toilet preparations (1938), Nelson Brothers' Café (1943–1957)
      • 320–322: Fly V boutique (2016–), former location of Edwards Hotel (1920)
        • 320: former location of Standard Cafe (1938), Ora Walker confectioner (1947)
        • 322: former location of Cotton Club (1936-1938), Carver Theatre (1947)
    • 324: former location of Britton Bros. shoe repair and photographers (1938–1947)
    • 326: former location of Madam Greenley's Beauty Parlor & Barber Shop (1938), Molton Gray real estate (1947)
    • 328: former location of Gray's Grill (1938), Patton's Beauty Shoppe (1947)
    • 330: Carver Theater (built 1935), Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
  • east side
    • 317: Ga Briella's, former location of Hill Harris restaurant (1938), People's Cafe (1940), Nancy's Cafe (1940-1948)
    • 319: Urban Impact, former location of Ann's Beauty Salon (1938–1947)
    • 321: former location of Kumfort Shoemakers / Kumfort Shoe Shop (1919–1942), Calvin Carey shoe repair / Rapid Printing Shop / Golden Hour Digest (1947)
    • 323: former location of O K Cleaning Co. hat cleaners (1938), Cleve's Cafe (1947)
      • 323½: former location of Hotel Dunbar (1925–1930s), New Dunbar Hotel (1935–1947)
    • 325–331: former location of Dunbar Cafe (1920), Charles Alexiou restaurant (1938)

A Beech-Nut Girl outside the Little Savoy Cafe on 17th Street North in the 1940s

• 4th Avenue North intersects
  • west side:
    • 400-412: Colored Masonic Temple building (built 1924)
      • 400: building entrance, former location of Earnest Ford jeweler (1938–1947)
      • 402: Esquire's Shoe Care, former location of Temple Pharmacy (1938–1947)
      • 404: former location of the E. H. Holland Tailor Shop (1938–1947), Temple Record Bar (J. Earle Hensley 1947–1960), Malcolm's Reading Room (Courtney & Simone Snelling 2007-2009)
      • 406–408: former location of Booker T. Washington Library (1924–1956)
        • 406: former location of Harris Bros. Co. grocer (1925), Simp's Barber & Style
      • 410: former location of Your Flower Shop
      • 412: building entrance, former location of Service Beauty Shop (1938), Patton's Beauty Shop, John's Alterations & Repair
    • 414-428: Freedom Manor (built 1986)
      • 416: former location of Joseph Jordan shoe shiner (1947)
        • 416 rear: former location of George B. Bragan Heating & Roofing Co. (1938)
      • 418: former location of Madam Greenley's Barber Shop (1947)
      • 420: former location of Foster Electric Co. (1938), Geneva Coleman restaurant (1947)
      • 422: former location of William Lindsay tailor (1938–1947), Reuben Lindsay clothes cleaner (1947)
      • 424: former location of Loo King laundry (1938–1947)
      • 426–430: former location of Chris Gakias restaurant (1938)
  • east side:
    • 401-403: History Park, former location of James Luckie residence
    • 405-431: Hugo L. Black Federal Courthouse parking lot
      • 405: former location of William Minos side entrance (1938)
      • 407–409: former location of Bennett & Peters Studio photographers (1938), Brown's Studio photographers (1947)
      • 409–411: former location of Little Savoy Cafe, Maizie's Beauty Shop (1938), Zanzibar Cafe (1947)
      • 413: former location of Guice Bros barbers (1938), Twentieth Century Barber Shop (1947)
      • 415: former location of Modernistic Beauty Salon (1938), Hazel Willis Beauty Shop (1947)
      • 417: former location of Eric Portlock dentist (1938), Henry Craig fruits (1947)
      • 419: former location of Albert Campbell jeweler (1938), Johnson Brothers Beauty Supply Co. (1947)
      • 421: former location of Colored Veterans Cab Co. (1947)

• 5th Avenue North intersects
  • former location of Temple Emanu-El (1886-1914)
  • west side:
    • Kelly Ingram Park (dedicated 1871 as West Park or West End Park)
  • east side:
    • 505: former location of John Beach painter (1938), Booker T. Washington Insurance Co. (1947)
      • 505½: former location of Douglas Apartments (1938), Charles R. Johnson (1947)
    • 507: former location of Reynolds Printing Co. (1938), Milady's Beauty Shoppe (1947)
    • 509: Birmingham Parking Authority Deck 7, former location of Molton, Allen & Williams warehouse (1938), A B & Z radios & appliances (1947)
    • 511–521: AT&T Microwave Tower (built 1968), former location of residences (1938)
      • 511: former location of William Smoot residence (1947)
      • 515: former location of Catherine McCurdy residence (1947)
      • 517: former location of Juanita Swanson residence (1947)
      • 519: former location of William Smith residence (1947)
      • 521: former location of Lucy Taylor residence (1947)

• 6th Avenue North intersects
  • west side (Block 17):
    • 630: 17th Street Apostolic Overcoming Holy Church of God, former location of Knesseth Israel Congregation (1903-1955)
  • east side:
    • Alabama Power Company parking deck
    • Alabama Power Company Headquarters Complex
    • 621: former location of Michael Arcidiacano grocery (1938)
    • former location of West End Grammar School/West End School/Henley School

• 7th Avenue North intersects
  • 708: Birmingham Police Credit Union, former location of Carpenter's Hall / Jefferson County District Council of Carpenters Unions / Carpenters and Joiners of America Local No. 103 (1938–1947)
  • 720: former location of R.S. Rutter grocer (1887), Samuel Schwartz used furniture (1938)
  • 726: former location of Nellie Marshall dressmaker (1938), Anthony DiPiazza storeroom (1947)
  • 728: former location of Ehlers News Co. (1938), Tony Giangrosso shoe repair (1947)
  • 730: former location of Antonio DiPiazza grocery (1938–1947)
  • 750: APCO Employees Credit Union

• 8th Avenue North intersects
  • former location of W. B. Summerville's Weather Forecast Office Birmingham (1886-1900)
  • 801: David J. Vann Municipal Justice Center
  • 806: former location of Widow's Curb Market (1957)

• I-20/59 passes over
• 9th Avenue North intersects
  • west side:
    • 900: Metro Mini Storage, former location of Charles Renta grocery (1938), Sam Zideman grocery
    • 908: former location of Apostolic Church of God (1947)
    • 916–918: former location of Minnie Watts restaurant (1938–1947)
    • 922: former location of Macedonia Baptist Church (1938–1947)
    • 924: former location of William Brown radio repairs (1947)
    • 944: former location of Samuel Nero grocery (1938)
  • east side:
    • 925: former location of Madison Cowan barber (1938–1947)
    • 927–929: former location of Apostolic Church of God (1947)
    • 937: former location of Birmingham Plating Works (1947)
    • 941: former location of Lena Lovoy grocery (1947)
    • United State Drug Enforcement Administration

• 10th Avenue North intersects
  • west side:
    • 1010–1014: former location of Central Cahaba Coal Co. (1938), Mobile Paper Co. (1947)
    • 1016: former location of R. L. Miller auto repair (1947)
  • east side:
    • 1001–1003: former location of American Grain Co. (Sidney Norwood 1910–1911), Western Grain (1957)
    • 1023: former location of Nellie Davis beauty shop (1947)

• 11th Avenue North intersects
  • Oak Hill Cemetery
  • 1125: former location of Francis Fossett contractor (1938)

• 11th Court North intersects

• 12th Avenue North intersects
  • 1214: former location of Margaret Stateson dressmaker (1938)
  • 1500: former location of M.E. King grocer (1887)
  • 1526: former location of apartments (1947)
  • 1630: former location of North Highland Methodist Episcopal Church (1938), North Highlands Methodist Church (1947)
  • 1756: Ephraim Temple
  • 1758: former location of Ernest House building contractor (1947)
  • 2221: Deep South Freight
  • 2400: former location of Mt Hebron Baptist Church (1938)
  • 2416: former location of Mt Calvary Baptist Church (1938), Mt Hebron Baptist Church (1947)

Acipco-Finley neighborhood

• • Popeye's
• Finley Boulevard intersects
  • McDonald's
• 26th Avenue North intersects
  • 2615: former location of Drummond Coal Co. (1947)