Dansby Foods
Dansby Foods is a planned grocery chain founded in February 2020 by former Auburn and NFL football player Karlos Dansby, with Jeff Gentry as director of operations. It leases office space at the Iron Age Project at 212-218 20th Street North.
The company announced plans to operate full-size grocery stores and distribution centers in the former Winn-Dixie No. 405 at 2020 Bessemer Road in Five Points West and in a former Wal-Mart at 7201 Aaron Aronov Drive in Fairfield. Dansby also planned a smaller store with a chef's table in the Cortland Vesta Apartments at 2173 Highland Avenue. The city of Fairfield and the owner of the Southside apartments both offered incentives to the company.
In early 2021 5 Points West Shopping City LLC filed a civil suit against Dansby Foods, seeking unpaid rent and other monetary damages. Highland AL Partners LLC also sued the company when it failed to open on schedule. Dansby has claimed that the COVID-19 pandemic prevented them from keeping their schedule and put the chain's development on hold as it amended its plans to favor company-owned stores.
References
- Rebman, Stephanie (June 18, 2020) "NFL veteran, Woodlawn native bringing two grocery stores to Bham neighborhoods." Birmingham Business Journal
- Rebman, Stephanie (August 7, 2020) "Grocery store coming to former Walmart in Fairfield." Birmingham Business Journal
- Rebman, Stephanie (February 18, 2021) "Lawsuit filed over grocery store project in Five Points West." Birmingham Business Journal
- Mann, Joshua (September 24, 2021) "NFL star's grocery chain push in metro Birmingham on pause for now." Birmingham Business Journal