5th & 20th
The Strip (sometimes Restaurant Row) was a grouping of restaurants and nightclubs on the east side of 20th Street South between 4th and 5th Avenue South.
The two-story, 22,580-square-foot building was constructed in 1920 and housed auto service and parts companies through the 1940s. It was renovated in 1959 and gradually evolved into an entertainment row, especially after the Parliament House hotel opened across the street.
Tenants during the Strip's heyday in the 1970s included Michael's, Rossi's, Pat James' Lounge, and Emil's Cantina. Nearby clubs included Joe Namath's Restaurant and the Coalyard.
Later establishments in the strip have included Connie Kanakis', Ona's Music Room, Foxxy's Jazz Club and Pizza Hut. The property is owned by Anne Lamkin and Ellen Skipper, daughters of Oscar Dahlene Jr.
In 2017 LAH Real Estate announced plans to demolish the building and construct a 5-story, 60-unit apartment complex with a ground floor restaurant and parking above. Those plans did not move forward. In November 2019 LAH president Maurice Humphries and RGS Properties president Dick Schmalz announced a joint project to restore and preserve the 1920 building with retail on the ground floor and apartments above.
Tenants
- 20th Street South:
- 421: United Auto Supply Co. (1922), Bill's Auto Accessories (1924), Romeo's Grill (1941-1970), Classic 13 Tattoo (-2018)
- 423: National Tire (1922), Central Sign Co. (1941), Orthopedic Appliance Co. (1964), Pat James Lounge (1977), Ona's Music Room (1997-2010), Crescendo Bar & Lounge
- 425-427: Rees Auto Service (1922-1941)
- 425: Michael's offices (1964-1970), Emil's Cantina (1977), Quality Shoe Repair (-2018)
- 425½: former location of McCormick Realty office (1964)
- 427: Rossi's (1977), Xindigo Blue
- 429: Gates Valve Bag Co. (1926)
- 425: Michael's offices (1964-1970), Emil's Cantina (1977), Quality Shoe Repair (-2018)
- 431: Welden-Jenkins Ice Cream Co. (1914), Frutticher Electric Co. (1922), Maxwell Brothers Furniture Co. (1941), Halwood's Restaurant (1962-), Michael's Sirloin Room (1964-1977), Pizza Hut (-January 2018)
- 433: Foreign Exchange Experience (2012-2014), Syndicate Lounge (2015-
References
- Poe, Kelly (August 9, 2017) "Restaurant, 60 apartments coming to Southside in $15 million mixed-use project." The Birmingham News
- Van der Bijl, Hanno (November 21, 2019) "Southside building to be redeveloped for residential, retail space." Birmingham Business Journal