5th Avenue North

5th Avenue North is an east-west downtown street in Birmingham's northside. It ends at a drainage headwall for Valley Creek at 7th Street North to the west and becomes Messer Airport Highway to the east as it crosses below the Elton B. Stephens Expressway and the Norfolk Southern Railroad.

The eastern end of 5th Avenue North downtown was once the principal entranceway into Birmingham by rail, as it was the site of the Birmingham Terminal Station. Many of Birmingham's early hotels were constructed along 5th Avenue heading west toward 20th street from the station.

The intersection of 5th Avenue North with 24th Street North is close to the geographical center of Birmingham. A large storm culvert extends from downtown to I-65 below 5th Avenue North.

There is a short, block-long strip of 5th Avenue North adjacent to Forest Hill Cemetery in Woodlawn and another dead-end section between Trotwood Park and I-59. A longer section of 5th Avenue North is located in East Lake between 73rd and 90th Streets. An unconnected short dead-end section can also be accessed by 91st Street North near Zion Memorial Gardens.

History

In 1945 electric lighting was installed on 5th Avenue North between Center Street and 19th street under the city's contract with the Birmingham Electric Company.

In October 1958 5th Avenue North was converted into a four-lane thoroughfare by eliminating on-street parking from Bush Boulevard in the west to 41st Street in Avondale. The move was expected to increase the street's traffic-carrying capacity by 30 percent and was part of a traffic plan by which 1st and 5th Avenues would serve as cross-town thoroughfares while 2nd, 3rd and 4th would serve for bus traffic and as connectors to the downtown business district. The installation of new coordinated traffic signals and the removal of obsolete streetcar wires was part of the conversion.

5th Avenue North was converted from two-way to one-way (eastbound) traffic was from 9th Street North to Red Mountain Expressway in 1973 by the Alabama Department of Transportation's TOPICS (Traffic Operations Program to Increase Capacity and Safety) program.

Notable locations

• • 411: former location of Ernest Brantley restaurant (1928)
  • 700: former location of George Washington Grocery (1925)
  • 702: Bearings & Power Transmission
  • 708: National Seating & Mobility
  • 712: Element Garage
  • 716: Your Mechanics
  • 808: Abanks Mortuary
  • 811: Long-Lewis Distribution Center
  • 812: former location of Standard Coffee Co. (1941)
  • 911: former location of American Paint Manufacturing Co. (1941)
  • 912-914: former location of Premier Printing Co. (1941)
  • 916-918: former location of Magic City Food Products potato chip plant (1941)
  • 920-922: former location of Crandall Engineering Co. (1941)
  • 921: former location of Pittsburgh Testing Laboratory (1941)

Fountain Heights neighborhood

• I-65 crosses over
  • 1000: former location of Patio Restaurant & Lounge (1964)
  • 1030: former location of Mary Cobbs restaurant (1941)
  • 1105: former location of Samuel Acoff barber (1941)
  • 1107: Red Mountain Automotive Group
  • 1108-1110: former location of Manhattan Rubber Manufacturing (1941)
  • 1111: Tweety Pie Childcare Center, former location of H. R. White & Co. roofers (1941)
  • 1130: former location of Rachel Light grocery (1941)
  • 1135: former location of Joseph DeMarco grocery (1941)
  • 1230: former location of Jack's Coal & Transfer Co. (1941)
  • 1235: former location of Wesley Stinson restaurant (1941)
  • 1140: Alabama Jack Co.
  • 1300: former location of Caldwell-Watson Foundry Machine Co. (1926-1941)
  • 1301: Jim Burke Subaru, former location of James Pilato grocery (1941), Jim Burke Pontiac/Buick/GMC

• 14th Street North intersection
  • former location of Slater School (1888-1929)
  • 1401: former location of A. F. Dunker grocer (1887)
  • 1403: former location of George Earl wood dealer (1941)
  • 1409: Jim Burke Chevrolet/Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge

• 15th Street North intersection
  • 1501-1503: former location of Birmingham Tobacco Co. wholesale (1941)
    • 1503: former location of Hill Grocery Co. (1926)
  • 1510: former location of A. G. Gaston Motel (1956), A. G. Gaston's Supper Club
  • 1513: former location of C.J. Wagner contractor (1887)
  • 1516-1518: former location of The Salvation Army social services and store (1925-1941)
  • 1527-1530: A. G. Gaston Building (built 1960), former location of Booker T. Washington Business College / Booker T. Washington Burial Insurance Co. (1941-)

• 16th Street North intersection
  • North side (Block 44):
    • 1600-1630: Kelly Ingram Park (formerly West Park or West End Park)
  • South side (Block 63):
    • 1601-1631 (addressed 1617): Freedom Manor apartments (built 1986)
    • 1603-1605: former location of U. S. Postal Service garage (1941)
    • 1603: former location of Great A&P Tea Co. grocery store (1926)
    • 1605: former location of R. G. Snider Concrete Co. (1925)
    • 1607: former location of Shelley’s Record Mart (1963)
    • 1617: former location of Frank May, physician / Judie White chiropodist / Henry May coal dealer (1941)
    • 1623-1625: former location of Consumers Electronic Co. (1926)
      • 1625: former location of Fifth Avenue Hotel (1925)
    • 1627: former location of Gary Hotel (1926)
    • 1629: former location of Fifth Avenue Hotel (1920), Gary Hotel (1941), Aqua Lounge night club
    • 1631: former location of Dixie Barbecue restaurant/confectioner (1941), Le Bistro Hickory House restaurant

• 17th Street North intersection
  • North side (Block 45):
    • 1700-1730: Birmingham Parking Authority Deck 7 (built 1987)
      • 1700-1702: former location of John M. Hennessy men's clothes (1941)
        • 1700: former location of Birmingham Times (1970)
        • 1702: former location of O'Keefe & Lyons Electric Co. (1926)
      • 1704: City Action Partnership
      • 1712: Juanakee Adams, optometrist
      • 1714: former location of J. LaLoge Baker (1887)
      • 1716: Huggs & Kisses sick child care, former location of Church of the Nazarene (1926)
      • 1718-1722: former location of DeSoto Hotel annex (1926)
        • 1720: former location of Dixie Drive-It-Yourself truck rental (1941-1970)
        • 1722: former location of Ace Garage auto repair (1941)
      • 1724: former location of Western Union office (1970)
      • 1726: former location of Oriental Tea & Coffee Co. (1926-1941), Reid Distributing Co. (1970)
      • 1728: former location of Erie Leather Co. (1926), hotel lobby (1970)
      • 1730: former location of Bill's Place, Happy John Bollas Barbecue) restaurant (1920s-1960s), Music Center (1970)
  • South side (Block 62)
    • 1701-1729:
      • 1701-1713: Hugo L. Black Federal Courthouse parking lot (1987-)
        • 1701: former location of Contos & Apostolakos restaurant (1928), Parkview Barbecue restaurant (1941)
        • 1705: former location of Sidney Paley service station (1941)
      • 1715-1731: Hugo L. Black Federal Courthouse (built 1987), former site of Benjamin Roden residence (demolished 1913), Roden Hotel (never completed, demolished 1917), Hill's Food Store (1970), Adamson Ford

• 18th Street North intersection
  • North side (Block 46)
    • 1800-1832: Robert S. Vance Federal Building (built 1921)
  • South side (Block 61)
    • 1801-1805: Federal Reserve Building (built 1924), Robertson Banking Company
    • 1807-1817: Federal Reserve Annex (built 1957), Urban Cookhouse
      • 1807: former location of Thomas Donald auto parking (1941)
      • 1811-1817: former location of Lellard Robinson auto parking (1941)
    • 1819-1831: One Federal Place (built 2002)
      • 1819: former location of Run-A-Ford Co. auto rental (1926-1941) / Delivery Service Co. (1941)
      • 1821: former location of Fraser's Garage (1926), Central Supply Co. barbers' supply (1941), Alabama Typewriter Co. (1970)
      • 1823: former location of Burnett Jewelry Co. (1941-1970), House of Exotics patio lounge
        • 1823½: former location of Industrial Life & Health Insurance Co. (1926), William Price and Randolph Hobbs attorneys / Birmingham Furniture Dealers Association (1941), luggage store (1970)
      • 1825-1827: former location of Quan You Laundry (1941)
      • 1829: former location of Mayer's Wall Paper & Frame Shop (1926), Excelsior Cafe (1928), Post Office Cafe (1941-1970)

Central City neighborhood

Jane Speed's Book Store at 1907 5th Avenue North, 1937-1940

.

• 19th Street North intersection
  • former site of Pollock-Stephens Institute and Southern Safe & Fence Company
  • North side (Block 47):
    • 1900-1930:Regions Center (built 1972 as First National-Southern Natural Building
      • 1916-1918: former location of Jenkins Cab & Auto Co./Red Top Cab Co. (1920-1926)
        • 1916: former location of Dixie Drive-It-Yourself System (1948)
        • 1918: former location of George Farris restaurant (1928)
      • 1920: former location of Apollo Club (1902), R. F. Manly & Co. (1926)
      • 1930: former location of the Southern Club (1926)
  • South side (Block 60):
    • 1901-1907: parking lot
      • 1901: former location of Industrial Loan Corp. Inc. (1926), cigars/cafe/soda (1931, 1970), Theo's Grill (1956-1982)
      • 1903-1905: former location of DeSoto Hotel (1926-1970)
        • 1905: former location of Hotel DeSoto Barber Shop/book shop (1926-1931), books (1970), AristoCuts (1982)
      • 1907: former location of P & A Sales Co./Service Electric Co. (1926-1931), Jane Speed's Book Store (1937-1940), H. & R. Block tax preparers (1970), Papa Nick's (1982)
    • 1909: Subway Restaurant (2010-), former location of hat cleaners (1931), E. L. Baldwin & Associates (1970), Cliff's Cleaners (1982), Fifth Avenue Coffee House (1996-2010)
      • 1909½ : former location of Wilson Studio (1926)
    • 1911: former location of Alabama Typewriter Co. (1926), Dixie Sporting Goods (1948), Rollo's Bar B-Q (1982)
    • 1913: Chick Fil-A, former location of Bell Radio Corp. (1926), building equipment company (1931)
    • 1915-1917: Wells Fargo Tower parking deck (1986-)
      • 1915: former location of parking lot (1931) DeMoes' Lunch Counter, the Alhambra Restaurant, and the Gold Torch restaurant and lounge (1972), law office storage (1982)
      • 1917: former location of Saunders System Birmingham (1926), Dixie Drive-It-Yourself System (1934), Feeny Jewelry Sales (1970), Bar B-Q King (1982)
    • 1919-1931: Wells Fargo Tower (built 1986 as SouthTrust Tower), former location of Williams-Henley building
      • 1919: former location of L. M. Smith & Corona Typewriters (1931), Ben Chapman's Bowling Lanes and Lo-Mac Bowl (opened 1950)
      • 1921: former location of Southern Bell (1926), Alabama Typewriter Co. (1931), Nuncie's Music (1945- 1983)
      • 1927: former location of People's Finance & Thrift Co. (1926). Faulkner's Novelty Store (1931), Carr Floral Co. (1970)
      • 1931: former location of shooting gallery, Krystal hamburgers, cafe (1970), Jefferson Federal Savings & Loan branch (1982)

• 20th Street North intersection
  • North side (Block 48):
    • 2000-2010: Financial Center (built 1982)
      • 2000-2002: former location of Molton Hotel (built 1914, demolished 1979)
        • 2000: former location of Eastern Air Lines ticket office (1970)
        • 2002: former location of Badham & Co. clothiers (1925), Claudine Lawley Beauty Salon (1930s), Delta Air Lines ticket office (1970)
    • 2004: former location of barber shop (1970)
    • 2006: former location of Montgomery's Inc. (1926). Industrial Loan Co. (1970)
    • 2008: former location of Gus Mayer (1926), Cliff's 1-Hour Valet formal wear and cleaners, antique shop (1970)
    • 2010: former location of cleaners/real estate office (1970)
    • 2012-2024: Birmingham Parking Authority Deck 5 (built 1983)
      • 2016: former location of the Oregon Hotel (1920), The Weatherly (1926)
      • 2018-2020: former location of Motor Livery Co. (1926), Hertz Rent-a-Car (1934-1970)
      • 2022: former location of Oyster Bar restaurant (1964-1970)
      • 2024: former location of Fifth Avenue Shoe Shop (1923), Humphrey Co. (1926)
    • 2028-2030: parking lot
      • 2028: former location of Birmingham Violin Shop/Wales Adding Machine Co. (1926), laundry (1970)
      • 2030: former location of Sanders Cafe (1926), The Tut-Mont steakhouse & restaurant (1964-1970)
  • South side (Block 59):
    • 2001-2011: Viva Health building (built 1976 as First Alabama Bank Building) former location of Tutwiler Hotel (built 1913, demolished 1974)
      • 2009: former location of Mrs. L. M. Peacock Boarding House (1887)
    • 2013: former location of Hammel Furniture Co. (1926), La Paree restaurant (1940-2003)
    • 2015: Miami Fusion Café (2017-), former location of Birmingham Chamber of Commerce (1926), Bender's Antique Shop (1930s), Mary Ball Candies (1949-1970), Cameo Cafe (1990s-2000s)
    • 2017: former location of Manhattan Rubber Manufacturing Co. (1926), Fred Sington Sporting Goods (1948-1970)
    • 2019: former location of the Domestic Electric Company (1926), ABC Liquor Store (1970)
    • 2021-2023: former location of Southern Store Fixture Co. (1926), Avis Auto Rental (1970)
    • 2027-2035: Birmingham Parking Authority Deck 3 extension (built 2009), former location of Birmingham Parking Authority Lot B
      • 2027: former location of Southern Barbers' Supply Co./Beauty Parlor Supply Co. (1926)
      • 2029-2031: former location of Dixie Incandescent Lamp Co./Releef Products Co. (1926)
        • 2029: former location of Christian Science Reading Room
      • 2033: former location of All-American Cafe (1923)
      • 2035: former location of Greenwood Bros. (1926)

• 21st Street North intersection
  • North side (Block 49):
    • 2100-2104: parking lot (1970-)
      • 2104: former location of Frank Chambers Engraving Co. (1949)
    • 2106-2108: former location of E. T. Shaw & Son undertakers and embalmers (1909-)
      • 2108: former location of Sullivan Machinery Co. (1926) Mehr's Music Store & Novelty Shop
    • 2110: former location of the Try-Me Bottling Company (1925-1926)
    • 2112-2114: former location of Alabama Auction Room (1970-2004)
    • 2116: former location of Oliver Motor Co. (1926), Hotel Garage parking & auto service (1930s), American Rent-A-Car (1970)
    • 2122-2124: former location of Wansley Battery Service (1923-1926),
    • 2126-2128: former location of Whitman's 5th Avenue Garage (1926)
    • 2130: former location of Mercier's Cafe (1926), Studebaker Birmingham and Superior Engraving Company, Top Value Stamps redemption store (1970), McCain Uniforms
  • South side (Block 58):
    • 2101-2105: Redmont Hotel (built 1925), former location of First Christian Church (built 1890s, rebuilt 1903, demolished 1924)
    • 2107-2109: Age-Herald Building (built 1910), Fraternal Order of Police Birmingham Lodge No. 1 (1970), The Book Nook (1977)
    • 2117-2119: former location of residence (built 1890s), Ridout's Funeral Home (1923-1926), Brother Bryan Mission (1977), demolished
      • 2119: Cash Connection payday advance loans (2011-)
    • 2125½: former location of Savoy Hotel (1926)
    • 2127-2133: Birmingham Parking Authority Deck 4 (built 1984)
      • 2129: former location of Hale & Davis electric fans (1923), Birmingham Shoe Manufacturing & Repair Co. (1926)
      • 2131: former location of Savoy Cafe (1926), Allen's Cafe (1928), Beverly Restaurant (1945)
      • 2133: former location of Jack's Drug Co.

• 22nd Street North intersection
  • North side (Block 50):
  • former location of Bryan's Restaurant & Lounge (1964)
    • 2200-2206: former location of First Baptist Church parking lot (1970)
      • 2204: former location of W. F. G. Young physician (1887)
    • 2218: former location of J. E. Hanger Inc. (1926)
    • 2220: former location of Southern Development Co. (1926)
    • 2222: former location of Abernathy Electric Shop (1926), Tarrant Drug Co. (1930s), Blue Note Lounge (1960s)
    • 2224: former site of Owen-Richards Co. (1926), Downtowner Motor Inn/National 9 Inn
    • 2226: former location of Birmingham Safe & Lock Co. (1926)
    • 2230: former location of James Going residence (1880s), Don's Old Fashioned Barbecue (1923)
  • South side (Block 57):
    • 2201: former location of Tarrant Drug Co. (1926)
    • 2209: former location of Southern Plumbing & Heating Co. (1926)
    • 2213: former location of the Seagrave Corp. (1926)
    • 2217: former location of Mrs. Martha Harrison dress maker (1887)
    • 2225-2227: former location of Whitfield Hotel (1926)
    • 2229: former location of Whitfield Delicatessen (1926)
    • 2231: former location of Nelson Drug Co. (1926)

• 23rd Street North intersection
  • Park Place Apartments
  • North side
    • 2300-2322: Bankhead Towers (built 1926 as the Bankhead Hotel)
    • 2324: Dannon Project
    • 2320: former location of W. C. Vice Undertaking Co. (1926)
  • South side
    • 2301: former location of China Clipper Restaurant (1945)
    • 2305: Jessie's Place
    • 2311: former site of Gulas Restaurant and Lounge
    • 2317-2325: former location of Happy John Bollas drive-in restaurant (1928-1969)
      • 2325: former location of Hill Grocery Co. (1926)

• 24th Street North intersection
  • North side:
    • 2400: former location of Birmingham General Hospital (1926)
    • 2412: former location of Birmingham General Hospital nurses' home (1926)
  • South side:
    • 2431-2433: Former location of Subway Lunch Room (1926), New Subway Cafe (1937)

• 25th Street North intersection
  • North side
    • 2500: former location of Cash Register Exchange (1926)
    • 2502: former location of St Clair Hotel (1920-1926)
    • 2526: former location of Yellow Cab Co. (1926)
    • 2528: former location of Terminal Hotel (1909-1926)
  • South side
    • 2501: former location of Arlington Hotel (1926)
    • 2423½: former location of Tremont Hotel (1926)
    • 2525: former location of Cosma Bros. restaurant (1926-1928)
    • 2531: former location of Reliance Hotel (1910)

• 26th Street North intersection
  • street continues through tunnel below
  • 2600: former site of Gus Jebeles' shop, Magic City sign and Birmingham Terminal Station (built 1909, demolished 1969)

• 27th Street North intersection
• 28th Street North intersection
• 28th Street North intersection
  • 2828: S. & S. Tire
• 29th Street North intersection (south only)
  • 2901: Floors Inc.
  • 2924: Johnny Spradlin Auto Parts
• 30th Street North intersection (north only)
  • 3000: Saab Tire & Automotive, former location of Acme Oil Co. (1926)
• 31st Street North intersection
  • street continues as Messer Airport Highway

Woodlawn neighborhood

• • 6227: GBHS Animal Care & Control, former location of BJC Animal Control

North East Lake neighborhood

• 75th Street North intersects
  • 7502: Airport Inn
• 76th Street North intersects
  • 7631: H & B Automotive
  • 7632: Magic City Stop'N'Go (2013-), former location of Modern Market Jr (-2013), Birmingham Dining Southern Cuisine (2013-2015)
• Oporto Madrid Boulevard intersects
  • 7700: East Lake Superette (2012-), former location of Texaco Super Deli (1990-2012)
  • 7701: OK Tire Center

References

• "Fun facts, historical tidbits and tips to find your way around Birmingham from traffic engineer John Garrett." (January 2, 2007) Birmingham News
• "Fifth Avenue Becomes Through-Street" (October __, 1958) Birmingham News