21st Street North

View up 21st Street North from Southside in August 2007

21st Street North is a north-south street running through downtown Birmingham. The street begins as part of Richard Arrington, Jr Boulevard, picking up at the middle of the Rainbow Viaduct over the Railroad Reservation. From there it continues north to the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex, where it bends onto 10th Avenue North, onto which Richard Arrington, Jr Boulevard continues.

21st Street North proper picks up again north of the BJCC, continuing through Druid Hills on a route that jogs to the east and west at several intersections before ending at 15th Avenue North. Another section picks up on the other side of F. L. Shuttlesworth Drive and bends to the southwest under I-65 to 18th Street North. Yet another section picks up again east of I-65 near Finley Boulevard and continues to just beyond 26th Avenue North, where it bends onto 26th Court North. It picks up again at 29th Avenue North and continues through a residential section of North Birmingham to the campus of Carver High School.

Electric lights were installed 21st Street North from the viaduct to 8th Avenue North in 1945 under the city's contract with the Birmingham Electric Company.

Notable locations

For an alphabetical list of locations, see the 21st Street North category.

• Railroad Reservation/Rainbow Viaduct over Morris Avenue (continues as 21st Street South)
  • west side:
    • 2: former location of McDavid Realty Co. (1927)
      • 12½: Producers' Exchange Building (former site of A. C. Keily photo studio)
    • Protective Life building (former site of Birmingham Ledger building)
  • East side
    • 11: former location of Irish Deli (1977–1980)
    • 15: Porter, White & Company
    • Steiner Building (former site of William Nabors residence)

• 1st Avenue North intersects
  • west side (Block 100)
    • 100-104: former site of Central Block building
      • 100: New City Church, former location of Parisian Dry Goods & Millinery Company (1887-), candy & ice cream (1891)
      • 102: former location of Collins Barber Shop (1923)
      • 104: former location of Trimble & Stewart insurance (1887)
        • 104½: former location of A. Y. Harper & William Vaughn Attorneys at Law (1887), Mrs. M.H. Churchill dress maker (1887)
    • 106: former location of Hilleary, Keith & Kirkpatrick insurance (1887), saloon (1891)
      • 106½: former location of Salvador Sutton lumber dealer (1888)
    • 108-112: former location of Brown & Jacobs (1887), Galatoire's Hotel & Restaurant (c. 1889-1896)
      • 108: former location of Kyle Lawson insurance agency (1923), Tasty Sandwich Shop (1957)
        • 108½: former location of Electric Blue Printing Co. / Bethel W. Whitson Co. surveyors & map makers (1938)
      • 110: former location of George Lunsford real estate (1887)
        • 110½: former location of Denson & Dobbs Attorneys at Law (1887), Harry Breeding's architectural studio, the Twenty-First Street Hotel (1920)
      • 112: former location of John's Restaurant (Phil Hontzas 1978–2004), John's City Diner (Shannon Gober 2004–2023)
    • 114: former location of Hoover & Debeck (1887), Birmingham Stock Exchange (1888), Israel Tailoring Co. (1896)
      • 114A: former location of tobacco shop (1891)
      • 114B: former location of drug store (1891)
      • 114½: former location of Frank White & James E. Zuntz attorneys / George S. Brown, A. G. Douglass, T. E. Dryer & J. G. Griggs physicians / J. T. Bailey / Cocke & Hudson / Dunlap & Nelson real estate (1887), printer's office (1891), Charles Allen contractor (1911)
    • 116: former location of M. M. Smith drug store (1886-1891)
      • 116½: Friel & Moore carriage & wagon Manufacturers (1887)
    • 118-124: Phenix Insurance Building (built c. 1884), former location of Wilson, Martin & Leedy insurance (1887-1891) drug store (1891),, Rex Shoe Repair (1984)
    • 118½: former location of Weatherly & Putman attorney (1887)

• • east side (Block 101):
  • 101: Landmark Center (1915-), former site of Birmingham Railway, Light & Power Building (1902-1914)
  • 107: Walker Electric Co. (1924)
  • 113–115: Harris Building (built c. 1886)
    • 113: former location of Jas. B. Hopkins & Co. iron and tinware (1885-), E.D. Kohn real estate (1887)
    • 115: Barry Walker attorney / former location of Harris Brothers art supply, decorators / W. J. Bowen merchant tailor / Anery & Sedwick real estate (1887), Smith Print & Copy Center (1984), Spring Brew Coffee Company (Cody Robinson 2023–2024)
      • 115½: former location of Sutcliffe, Armstrong & Willett Architects (1887)
  • 117-131: Florentine Building (built 1925–1927), former site of Richards House hotel, Jefferson County Bank Building (built 1884, demolished 1925)

• 2nd Avenue North intersects
  • former location of Labor Temple Hall (1904)
  • west side (Block 85):
    • 200-210 City Federal Building (built 1913 as Jefferson County Savings Bank Building, later called the Comer Building)
      • 200-206: former location of Wilson House (1888-1891)
        • 200-202: former location of saloon in basement / offices on 2nd floor (1891)
        • 204-206: former location of "Chinese laundry" in basement / vacant ground floor / hotel on 3rd & 4th floors (1891)
      • 208-210: former location of Southern Music Co. (1891-1899) / Alabama Club (1891), Hawkins Book Store (1945)
    • 2nd Alley North intersects
      • • 208: former location of Wilson House Barber Shop (1888), dyers & cleaners (1891)
          • 208½: former location of S. L. Ledbetter ear, nose & throat (1896), Commercial Club of Birmingham (1902), Southern Theatrical Exchange (1920)
        • 210: former location of Young Woman's Club (1920)
          • 210½: former location of Lippe Dance Studio
    • 212: former location of Chichester & Co. real estate (1887), New York Steam Dye Works (1899), Home Federal Savings & Loan (1943-1956)
      • 212½: former location of Charles M. Allen & Son builders (1924)
    • 214: former location of White & Byrd milk depot & confectioners / New York Combination Store / C. D. Haynsworth real estate broker / Eclipse Sewing Machines (1887), B. F. Byrd bakery (1888), photography supplies (1891) Dr Gus Coffee House (1940- ), John's Restaurant (1944–1978)
      • 214½: former location of Senn & Bethea attorneys (1887)
    • 216: former location of ice cream & confections (1891), Gatchel's Photo Stock House (1904), (Birmingham Sandwich Shop (George E. Moore 1928), Sneaky Pete's (1970s)
      • 216A: former location of WKAX-AM broadcast studio (1951)
      • 216½: former location of J. L. Yancy insurance (1887), Birmingham Letterhead Co. stationers (1925), Birmingham Blue Print Co. (1938)
    • 218–224: Massey Building (built 1925 as Bankers Mortgage-Bond Building), former location of office block (1891)
      • 218: former location of Rogers Printing Co. (1887), Sloss Iron & Steel Company (1887)
        • 218½: former location of Birmingham Mining & Manufacturing (1887), D. A. Helmich architect (1904), Dr Gwin & Co. specialists
      • 222: former location of Theodore Furman merchant tailor (1899)
      • 224: former location of Remon's clothier, My Brother's Place restaurant (Bryant & Pat Foster 1960s–1970s)

• • east side (Block 84):
    • 201: former location of saloon (1891), Palais Royal Hotel (1900)
    • 207:
      • 207A: former location of saloon (1891)
      • 207B: former location of barber shop (1891)
    • 209-211: vacant lot, former location of Lunsford Hotel / Palais Royal Hotel / Colonial Hotel / Milner Hotel (built 1887, demolished 2009)
      • 211: former location of S. B. Johnston & Co. decorators (1890s), Charles Denton paperhanger (1896), Colonial Hotel Cafe (1923), Dr Scholl's Foot Comfort Shop
    • 213-217: Jackson Building (built 1925), First Commercial Bank, former location of Jefferson County Building & Loan Association (1925-), Jefferson Federal Savings & Loan (1959-), MetroBank
      • 213: former location of J. M. Van Hoose attorney (1887), printing office (1891), Birmingham News building (built 1895), Birmingham News (1895-1917)
        • 213½: former location of Alabama Abstract Co., (c. 1887)
      • 215: former location of Jesse French Piano & Organ Co. (1877-), Arrington & Ellis insurance (1887), office & sewing machine showroom (1891), Frank Norris & Co. clothiers (1896)
    • 217-231: commercial row (built 1891)
      • 219-231: Jemison Building (built 1925), Jemison Company / Jemison-Seibels Insurance Agency (1925-), Jefferson Federal Savings & Loan (1959-)
        • 219: former location of Hollingsworth & Frickhoeffer general contractors (1905)
        • 223: former location of F. Govenette confectioner and fruit dealer (1887), DuBois & Webb (–1895)

• 3rd Avenue North intersects
  • west side (Block 74):
    • 300: Title Building (built 1903), former location of fruit stand (1891), Safari Cup (2002-2009), O'Carr's (2010)
    • 308-310: Alabama State Land Building (built c. 1911), law offices, former location of Electric Blue Printing Co. (1985), former site of Alabama Engraving Company (1905)
      • 310: former location of dwelling (1891), Israel Tailoring Company (1911–)
  • 3rd Alley North intersects
    • 312-324: Jefferson Corner (built 1910), former location of 2-story dwelling (1891)

• • east side (Block 75):
    • One Concord Center, former location of Jefferson County Courthouse (1889)
    • Downtown YMCA
      • 321: former location of DuBois & Webb (1896–)

• 4th Avenue North intersection
  • west side (Block 59):
    • 400-428: Birmingham Parking Authority Deck 3 (built 1976)
      • 400½: former location of George Headley candy factory (1927)
      • 404: former location of Woodlawn Federal Savings & Loan Association (1939)
      • 408: former location of Wheeler-Lacey & Brown real estate (1949)
      • 412: former location of The Advance / Avondale Sun newspapers (1927), Gridly-Lee Ice Cream Co.
        • 414½-416½: former location of Acme Engraving Co. (1949)
        • 414½: former location of Walbert Piano Studios (1949)
      • 416: former location of Birmingham View Company, Knox Portrait Studio, Stephenson Studio (1914), M. H. Wilson photography studio (1920)
      • 420: former location of First Presbyterian Church ("Old Sail", burned November 1890), Beecroft & Mallory Sales Co. (1924)
  • east side (Block 58):
    • First Presbyterian Church (built 1888)
    • 409: Pathways Women's Center/Safe Haven shelter
    • 413: former location of Montgomery's Flowers (1946)
    • 419½: former location of Plumbers and Steamfitters Building (built 1942)
    • Redmont Hotel, former location of First Christian Church

• 5th Avenue North intersects
  • west side (Block 48):
    • 500–510: Advent Episcopal School parking lot
    • 512-516: Advent Episcopal School
    • 518-530: Cathedral Church of the Advent parking lot
      • 524: former location of Herbert Brown Motor Company (1948)
  • east side (Block 49):
    • 503: former location of Avalon Hotel (1910)
    • 515: B. F. Eborn real estate (1887)
    • 517: D. O. Whilldin office (Wininger Law Firm)
    • 519-531: Colonial Plaza (built 1982)

• 6th Avenue North intersects
  • west side (Block 33):
    • 600–614: Tutwiler Hotel (1986), formerly the Ridgely Apartments (built 1913)
      • 600–610: former location of dwelling (1911)
      • 612–614: former location of the Enslen Building (built 1890, demolished 1913), Birmingham High School (1890–1913), Birmingham Public Library (1891–1913), private infirmary (1911)
    • 614–616: former location of Dine-A-Nite Restaurant (Arthur Eddie / Delio Arbasley 1946)
  • east side (Block 32):
    • 601–613: Energen Plaza (built 1998), former site of Robert E. Lee Klan meeting hall (proposed 1924, never built), Essex House/Daniel-Branscomb Tower (built 1951, demolished 1977)
      • 601–603: former location of dwelling (1911)
        • 603: former location of Lux Lighting Fixture & Supply Co. (enlarged 1951)
      • 605–613: former location of dwelling (1911)

• Park Place intersects
  • west side:
    • 700–708: Linn-Henley Research Library (built 1927)
  • east side:
    • 615–631: Birmingham Central Library (built 1984)
      • 615–619: former location of dwelling (1911)
      • 621–625: former location of dwelling (1911)
      • 627–631: former location of dwelling (1911)

• Park Place (west) / 7th Avenue North (east) intersect
  • west side (Block 22):
    • 700–
    • 716: Jefferson County Board of Equalization
    • 710-730: Jefferson County Courthouse (built 1931)
      • 700–708: former location of large residence (1902–1911)
      • 710: former location of dwelling (1902–1911)
      • 712: former location of dwelling (1902–1911)
      • 714–720: former location of dwelling (1902–1911)
      • 726–728: former location of Henry Gray residence (1892–1911)
    • 732–748: Jefferson County Courthouse Annex (built 1962)
      • 730–732: former location of dwelling (1902–1911)
      • 734–736: former location of dwelling (1902–1911)
      • 738–740: former location of dwelling (1902–1911)
      • 742–744: former location of dwelling (1902–1911)
      • 746–748: former location of dwelling (1902–1911)
  • east side (Block 23):
    • 701–711: former location of dwelling (1911)
    • 713–715: former location of First Christian Church and Education Building
      • 713: former location of dwelling (1911)
      • 715: former location of dwelling (1911)
    • 717–731: Jefferson County Parking Deck
      • 717–719: former location of dwelling (1911)
      • 721–727: former location of dwelling (1911)
      • 729: former location of dwelling (1911)
      • 731: Sophia's Deli, former location of dwelling (1911)

• 8th Avenue North / Reverend Abraham Wood Jr Boulevard intersection
  • west side (Block 6):
    • 800–834: Birmingham Museum of Art (built 1951)
      • 800–808: former location of store (1902)
      • 810–812: former location of dwelling (1902)
      • 814–816: former location of dwelling (1902)
      • 818–820: former location of dwelling (1902)
      • 822–824: former location of dwelling (1902)
      • 826–828: former location of dwelling (1902)
      • 830: former location of dwelling (1902)
      • 832: former location of dwelling (1902)
      • 834: former location of W. J. Lemp Brwwing Co. storage (1902)
  • east side:
    • Mel Bailey Criminal Justice Center (built 1984)

• continues under I-20/59
  • 901: former location of Hugo's Rotisserie (1985)
  • 913: former location of Yeilding's farm store (1957), Tieco Inc. (1970)
  • Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex
  • Sheraton Birmingham
• 11th Avenue North intersection
  • Social Security Building (1974)

• 20th Avenue North intersection (street resumes)
  • 2231: Mount Calvary Baptist Church
• Bridge over Village Creek

• becomes 21st Avenue North (when it turns southwest)