2019

Sunset view of the activity building and plaza at One Pratt Park

2019 is the 148th year after the founding of the City of Birmingham.

Events

• January 21-March 2020: The I-20/59 downtown viaduct was closed for replacement of the bridge spans.
• February 16: The Birmingham Committee for Truth and Reconciliation hosted the 2019 Conversation with Dr Angela Davis‎ at Boutwell Auditorium.
• February 19-March 8: Donald Watkins and Donald Watkins Jr were tried and convicted on federal fraud and conspiracy charges in Judge Karon Bowdre's court.
• February 27: The Birmingham Water Works' Shades Mountain Filter Plant experienced a major chlorine gas leak, causing U.S. Highway 280 to shut down.
• March 3: At least 23 people were killed by the 2019 Lee County tornado outbreak.
• March 12: The former Hospitality Inn on 7th Avenue South was burned by arson, damaging the adjacent Yum Yai restaurant, Chai Market, and the former 22nd Street Jazz Cafe.
• May 7-9: The 2019 Aerospace Innovative Technology Summit Alabama was held at the BJCC.
• May 8-9: The 2019 Automotive Advanced Technology Summit Alabama was held at the BJCC.
• May 17: The special exhibit, "Terminal Station: Birmingham's Great Temple of Travel" opened at Vulcan Park & Museum.
• June: A two mile segment of the Five Mile Creek Greenway opened in Gardendale.
• June 6: A wastewater spill at Tyson's River Valley Ingredients chicken rendering plant in Hanceville caused a massive fish kill on the Mulberry Fork.
• June 8: The Central Alabama Pride Parade rolled through the Lakeview district.
• June 11-12: The 2019 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting was held at the BJCC.
• June 17-21: The 2019 Cooperative Baptist Fellowship General Assembly was held at the BJCC.
• June 28-29: Eucharistic Congress of the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama
• July 16: Donald Watkins and Donald Watkins Jr were sentenced by Judge Karon Bowdre to 60 months and 27 months respectively in federal prison.
• July 27: The first Birmingham Freedom Fest was held at Kelly Ingram Park.
• August 6: A major fire damaged the Hawthorne at Wisteria apartment complex in Hoover.
• August 19-25: 2019 Sidewalk Film Festival
• December 3: The Birmingham Direct microtransit service was launched.
• September 6-7: ArtWalk
• December 6-8: The 2019 Young Democrats of America National Committee Meeting was held at the Sheraton Birmingham.

Business

• January 1: Barfield, Murphy, Shank & Smith accountants merged with Albright Garrison & Barnes of Huntsville to form BMSS LLC.
• January: Burr & Forman acquired 7 McNair Law Firm offices in North and South Carolina.
• January: Bradley Arant Boult Cummings opened an office in Dallas, Texas.
• January: The Chelsea General Store relocated to Columbiana as "Masters General Store".
• January: Hargray Communications of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina acquired the Alabama assets of USA Communications.
• January: EBSCO Health acquired HealthDecision of Madison, Wisconsin.
• February: Southern Research relocated its Sustainable Chemistry and Catalysis Laboratory from Durham, North Carolina to Birmingham.
• February: Medical Properties Trust acquired 11 hospitals from Healthscope Ltd. of Melbourne, Australia.
• February: EBSCO's S. S. Nesbitt & Co. risk consulting division rebranded as the Valent Group.
• February: U.S. Steel announced it was resuming construction of an Electric Arc Furnace at its Fairfield Works plant.
• February: Matthew Allen acquired Birmingham Fun and Family magazine from Jay Carr.
• February: EBSCO Information Services acquired Stacks Inc. of Edmonton, Alberta.
• March: NXTSoft acquired Integrated Legacy Solutions of Birmingham and the Digitel Corp. of Atlanta, Georgia.
• March: Process Barron was acquired by Carousel Capital of Charlotte, North Carolina.
• March 11: Kelly Caruso succeeded Bill Smith as CEO of Shipt.
• March: Daxko acquired GroupEx PRO of Boulder, Colorado.
• March: The Onin Group acquired Labor Temps and LTI Services of Chicago, Illinois.
• March: Prepaid Technologies acquired the dash portfolio from Karmic Labs of San Francisco, California.
• April: Workplace Advisors acquired Everett Advisory Partners of Dallas, Texas.
• April: The YMCA of Greater Birmingham sold its 179-acre Hargis Retreat in Chelsea to Eddleman Properties.
• May: Daxko acquired SugarWOD of Boulder, Colorado.
• May: Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co., a division of the A. Stucki Co. of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, acquired Austintown Rail Supply of Austinville, Ohio.
• 2nd Quarter: Encompass Health acquired Alacare Home Health & Hospice.
• June: BBVA Compass rebranded as BBVA.
• June: Massey Stotser & Nichols acquired the Kee Law Firm.
• July 1: The Walter Schoel Engineering Company acquired 4Site of Huntsville.
• July: InCare Technologies acquired Memphis IT Solutions of Collierville, Tennessee.
• July: Rock Apartment Advisors rebranded as Harbert Multifamily Advisors.
• August 1: Bluestone Resources Inc. acquired the former ERP Compliant Coke Plant at 3500 35th Avenue North.
• August: Trattoria Centrale expanded and re-opened as Trattoria ZaZa.
• August: Hatton Smith II launched his Campesino Rum brand.
• September: B Group Architecture merged with Barrón Collaborative.
• September: O'Neal Industries acquired Mill G & L Manufacturing of Cookville, Tennessee.
• September: Turner Supply Co. acquired Mitchell Tools of Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
• September: After closing on August 31 Nino's Italian Restaurant reopened with new owners.
• An employee trust took a 51% stake in Teksouth.
• Daxko acquired TennisSource of Fort Collins, Colorado.

Establishments

• January 7: Filter Coffee Parlor opened in the Munger Building at Five Points South.
• January 9: Bullet Coffee Co. opened at 5299 U.S. Highway 280
• January: Mile End Deli opened in LIV Parkside across from Railroad Park.
• January: Luna Latin Cuisine opened in the former Birmingham Fire Station No. 10 in Avondale.
• January 17: The law firm of Clark May Price Lawley Duncan Paul LLC opened.
• January 19: Full Moon Bar-B-Que opened in the Trussville Shopping Center on Chalkville Mountain Road.
• February: A second location of The Three Earred Rabbit opened in Leeds.
• February: Rodney Scott’s BBQ opened on 3rd Avenue South.
• February 18: Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken opened at The Battery.
• March: Adam Evans and Suzanne Humphries Evans opened Automatic Seafood and Oysters at 2824 5th Avenue South in Lakeview.
• 1st Quarter: Altitude Trampoline Park in Pelham.
• The Simpson Door Company of McCleary, Washington opened a distribution center on 13th Street Ensley.
• April: Tostadas opened at SoHo Square in Homewood.
• April: Katherine Mattrella opened Branch Boutique at the Village at Lee Branch.
• April: Rosati's Authentic Chicago Pizza opened at the Village at Lee Branch.
• Spring: Bendy's Cookies & Cream opened at 3029 Pumphouse Road in Cahaba Heights.
• May: Mikey's at Fox Valley opened at 6754 Shelby County Highway 17 in Maylene.
• May: The Armory opened on Pelham Parkway in Pelham.
• May: La Conchita Bakery opened at 609 Main Street in Montevallo.
• May: Station 31 Kitchen opened at 104 Chesser Drive in Chelsea.
• July: The Mississippi Lime Co. of St Louis, Missouri acquired Southern Lime in Calera from the Covia Holdings Corporation of Independence, Ohio.
• Summer: Dread River Distilling Company opened on 7th Avenue South.
• August: Yummefy opened at The Waites.
• October: Bobby Carl's Table opened on Cahaba Road in English Village.
• October 5: Matthew and Lauren Zauchin opened Village Drug Co. at the Dunnavant Square Shopping Center in Mt Laurel.
• October 11: Billy Reid opened a retail boutique at Pepper Place.
• October 24: Altitude Trampoline Park opened on Helena Road in Pelham
• October 25: Premiere Lux Ciné opened on Lakeshore Parkway.
• November 1: The Magic City ePLEX esports arena opened at the Crestwood Festival Center.
• November 1: Bandit Patisserie opened at 2821 Central Avenue in Homewood.
• November 11: The TC Transformational Center opened at 2008 21st Street Ensley.
• November 25: Farrelly's Southern Bar & Kitchen opened in Hoover.
• December 6: Mayawell opened at 2900 4th Avenue South.
• December 16: UAB Medicine Hoover Primary and Specialty Care opened at Stadium Trace Village.
• December: Cook Out opened its first Birmingham area location at the Wildwood Centre South shopping center.
• Elliott Potter, Jared Mattsson and Patrick D. Sullivan founded Linq.

Disestablishments

• January 2: Emergency & Specialty Animal Medical Center closed.
• January 4: Western Supermarkets announced its closure.
• January: Swamp Monster BBQ in Hoover closed.
• January: Influence Health (formerly Medseek) was acquired by Healthgrades of Denver, Colorado.
• January: Dominion Partners sold its Somerby Senior Living Co. to the Bridge Investment Group of Salt Lake City, Utah.
• January: Smartlink of Annapolis, Maryland acquired the Brogdon Group.
• January: The 29 Seven and 11th Avenue South locations of Jimmy John's closed.
• January: Which Wich at The Waites closed.
• January: Kinnucan's Specialty Outfitters at Lane Parke closed.
• January 31: Jefferson Title Corp. closed.
• February: The 20th Street North location of Jimmy John's closed.
• March: The Academy Sports & Outdoors at the Lee Branch Shopping Center closed.
• March: The Burke Harvey law firm was acquired by Crumley Roberts of Greensboro, North Carolina.
• March: Metro Diner at the Shoppes at City Hall in Vestavia Hills closed.
• March: Jackson's Bar & Bistro at SoHo Square in Homewood closed.
• March 22: Niki's Restaurant on 2nd Avenue North closed.
• March 29: O'Carr's downtown location closed.
• April 1: CenterState Bank of Davenport, Florida completed its acquisition of the National Bank of Commerce.
• April: Business Electronics was acquired by RJ Young of Nashville, Tennessee.
• May 1: Naked Art closed.
• May 10: Rogue Tavern closed.
• May: Birmingham Tank Wash was acquired by Quala of Tampa, Florida.
• 2nd Quarter: American Lumber Distributors and Brokers Inc. was acquired by the Boise Cascade Co.
• June: Highland Associates was acquired as a subsidiary of Regions Bank.
• July 2: Jubilee Seafood was acquired by Fortune International LLC of Chicago, Illinois and began operating as a subsidiary of Fortune Fish & Gourmet.
• July: The Salvatore's Pizza & Pasta in Trussville closed.
• August: The Sears Auto Center at the Riverchase Galleria closed.
• August: Warren Manufacturing was acquired by Kentucky Trailer of Louisville, Kentucky.
• August: Hospice Partners of America was acquired by Addus HomeCare Corp. of Frisco, Texas.
• September 8: 1st & 23rd in downtown Birmingham closed.
• September 10: MAFIAoZA's in Crestline Village closed.
• September 19: Lucky Cat in Homewood closed.
• September: The Preservery at Five Points South closed.
• October: Water Science Technologies was acquired by Italmatch Chemicals of Genova, Italy.
• October: The Sears at the Riverchase Galleria closed.
• October: Medicare Advantage Specialists was acquired by Integrity Marketing Group of Coppell, Texas.
• November: Birmingham Internal Medicine Associates was acquired by Complete Health of Medley, Florida.
• December: McMillan’s Big & Tall closed its last store
• December: Pho Pho restaurant at Five Points South closed.
• December: Rosati's Authentic Chicago Pizza at the Village at Lee Branch closed.
• December: Charlemagne Records closed.
• December: Wintzell's Oyster House in Fultondale closed.

Education

• UAB celebrated their 50th anniversary as an independent university.
• July 1: Andrew Butler became dean of the UAB School of Health Professions.
• August 8: Classes began at the Riverchase Career Connection Center.
• Steven Leath was dismissed as president of Auburn University.

Government

• January 14: Mayor of Birmingham Randall Woodfin delivered his "2019 State of the Community Address" at Boutwell Auditorium.
• February 5: Attorney General Steve Marshall released his department's "Report Regarding the Officer-Involved Shooting Death of Emantic ('E.J.') Bradford, Jr. At the Riverchase Galleria on November 22, 2018."
• March: Vestavia Hills annexed the Magnolia Cove subdivision.
• March 8: 6-year-old cancer patient Khy White was honored as "Mayor for a Day" at Birmingham City Hall.
• April 18: The Jefferson County Commission approved the takeover of Cooper Green Mercy Health Services by the UAB University Healthcare Authority.
• May 15: The Alabama Human Life Protection Act was signed into law by Governor Kay Ivey.
• July 23: The Birmingham City Council passed the $451 million 2020 Birmingham budget.
• August 8: The Jefferson County Commission passed the $700 million 2020 Jefferson County budget.
• September 24: Mountain Brook voters approved a 10-mill property tax increase for schools by 1,824 to 968.
• October 8: The 2019 Birmingham special election was held to fill vacancies in three Birmingham City Council seats and to conduct a referendum on renewing the city's ad valorum tax for Birmingham City Schools.
• December 3: Governor Kay Ivey announced the launch of "Born Ready", a statewide campaign to promote early childhood development.
• December 3: Mayor of Birmingham Randall Woodfin delivered a "Big Picture" policy update at Haven.

Religion

• June 11-12: The 2019 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting was held at the BJCC in Birmingham for the first time since 1941. The Southern Baptist Pastors' Conference preceded the convention and was held on June 9-10 at the BJCC.
• July 1: Doug Sweeney succeeded Timothy George as Dean of the Beeson Divinity School at Samford University.
• December 16: The permanent building for the Church of the Highlands Fultondale campus opened.

Sports

The Birmingham Iron played their sole season in 2019.

• January 7: The Clemson Tigers defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide 44-16 to claim the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship.
• February 10: The Birmingham Iron shut out the Memphis Express 26-0 in their debut game at Legion Field.
• March: The Birmingham Legion FC played their first game at BBVA Compass Field.
• April 2: The Alliance of American Football suspended operations, ending the Birmingham Iron's tenure.
• May 18: Deontay Wilder knocked out Dominic Breazeale to retain his WBC heavyweight title.
• May 29: The 2019 Rickwood Classic was played at Rickwood Field.
• August 24: The first BCS Kick-Off Classic was held at Legion Field.
• November 23: Deontay Wilder knocked out luis Ortiz to retain his WBC heavyweight title.
• December 17: The inaugural Chick-fil-A Birmingham High School Showcase was held at Legacy Arena.
• December 18: The inaugural Chick-fil-A Birmingham Classic was played at Legacy Arena.
• December 21: The 2019 UAB Blazers football team faced the Appalachian State Mountaineers of the Sun Belt Conference in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.

Individuals

• January: Javier Soler succeeded Onur Genç as CEO of BBVA Compass.
• April: David Luker resigned as head of the Jefferson County Public Defender's Office.
• April: Michael Birrer resigned as head of the O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center and was succeeded by Ravi Bhatia.
• July 1: Michael Göbel succeeded Jason Hoff as CEO of Mercedes-Benz US International
• September 1: LaRhonda Magras began her term as CEO of YWCA Central Alabama.
• December 1: Phil Hutcheson succeeded Roy Clem as interim CEO of Alabama Public Television.

Awards

• Fred L. Shuttlesworth Human Rights Award: Angela Davis

Retirements

• January 11: Randy Christian, chief deputy for the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office
• March: Hibbett Sports CEO Jeff Rosenthal announced his retirement.
• June: Wenonah High School head football coach Ronald Cheatham retired.

Deaths

Larry Langford

Art Clarkson

Gip Gipson

• January 8: Larry Langford , former Mayor of Birmingham and Jefferson County Commission president
• January 13: Wytasha Carter, a Birmingham Police sergeant killed in the line of duty.
• January 21: Gary Ivey, former Mayor of Hoover.
• January 22: Jim Mitchell, architect
• January 31: Emanuel Bell, Wenonah High School basketball coach
• January 31: Caroline P. Ireland, philanthropist
• February 8: Walter Caron, restaurateur
• February 14: Mark Lindsey, musician, instrument maker, and "Onewheel Jesus"
• February 16: Anthony Bruno, grocer and CEO
• February 21: Bettie Hurd, real estate agent
• February 25: Thomas Christian, attorney
• March 16: Stephen Rolfe Powell, glass artist and educator
• March 17: Andre Williams, R&B musician
• March 24: Tony Tarver, owner of Emmanuel's Barbering Salon.
• March 31: Dick Pigford, architect
• March 31: Lois Coleman, founder of Grace House Ministries
• April: Davey Williams, improvisational musician
• April 6: Jim Houston Day, optometrist
• April 14: Bob Eskew, contractor and Master Rosarian
• April 18: Dytricia King
• April: Jessie Nelson, owner of Nelson Brothers Café
• April 23: Ken Robinson, founder of Command Alkon
• May 3: Andy Kimbrel, Vestavia Hills Police Department
• May 4: Rachel Held Evans, author
• May 5: Khy White, former "Mayor for a Day"
• May: Jessie Mack, former Homewood Police officer
• May 8: Chris McNair, photographer, state legislator and Jefferson County Commissioner
• May 25: Rod Bramblett, Auburn Tigers sports announcer
• May 26: Bart Starr, former Alabama and NFL Hall of Fame quarterback
• May 31: Francis Hare Jr, attorney
• June 4: Frank Bromberg Jr, chairman of Bromberg & Co.
• June 21: Bob Friend, former Tuskegee Airman
• July 9: Lisa Mason, radio host
• July 24: Glenn Bishop, engineer
• September 4: Van Davis, attorney
• September 6: Ross Neely Jr, trucking company owner
• September 11: Anne Rivers Siddons, novelist
• September 12: Gary Morris, former judge and Gardendale City Councilman.
• September 27: Jack Edwards, former U.S. Representative
• September 30: Pete Turnham, former Alabama State Representative
• September 30: Hal Guthrie, founder of Guthrie's
• October 7: Art Clarkson, sports promoter
• October 8: Gip Gipson, blues musician and juke joint owner
• October 24: Libertee Belle, drag performer and activist
• October 24: William Daniels, US Navy Rear Admiral
• November 5: Dorothy Levy, co-founder of United Ability
• November 7: Robert Luckie III, advertising executive
• November 7: Kim Walker, bartender
• November 16: Jimmy Koikos, restaurateur
• November 17: Tracy Ford, Fairfield City Schools administrator
• November 26: Howard Cruse, cartoonist and author
• November 28: Sherry Traywick, Homewood City Councilor
• December 1: Pat Sullivan, Heisman winning quarterback and football coach
• December 7: Gerald Barrax, poet and educator
• December 23: Elmer Harris, Alabama Power Company CEO
• December 26: Ed Jones, Birmingham News photographer
• December 31: Reggie Kellum, veterinary technician
• List of homicides in 2019

Works

• "Frank's Table" sculpture on the east end of the Rotary Trail
• "Iron Grit" documentary film
• "Sword of Trust" feature film
• Live Free, gospel album by Pastor Mike Jr

Books

• Kelly, Mark (2019) Back to Nature: A History of Birmingham's Ruffner Mountain. Birmingham: Ruffner Mountain Nature Coalition

Buildings

• January 13: UAB Gardendale Clinic
• January 17: Pell City Premiere Lux Cine, Bowl & Pizza Pub
• January 19: Full Moon Bar-B-Que in the Trussville Shopping Center on Chalkville Mountain Road
• January: Innovative Combustion Technologies' catalyst testing facility in Pelham
• April: UAB ROTC training facility
• April 8: Church of the Highlands opened their 20th campus in Sylacauga
• July 26: Fairfield Inn & Suites at 1918 1st Avenue North
• July 29: James C. Lee Building at Children's Hospital
• August 1: Riverchase Career Connection Center
• September 9: Jack's No. 001 in Homewood
• December 16: UAB Medicine Hoover Primary and Specialty Care at Stadium Trace Village
• Bell Center for Early Intervention Programs in Homewood
• Christ Health Behavioral Health Center in Woodlawn
• Dunkin' Donuts on Montgomery Highway (Vestavia Hills)
• Enterprise South-Central Regional Headquarters
• Firehouse Shelter
• Hollywood Boulevard pedestrian bridge
• Iron Age Project on 20th Street North
• Lakeshore Foundation addition
• Lakeshore Pavilion shopping center in Oxmoor
• One Pratt Park
• Sidewalk Film Center and Cinema‎‎ in the Pizitz building
• UAB Proton Therapy Center on 20th Street South
• Villas at Titusville apartments
• Veterinary Surgery of Birmingham at 146 Resource Center Parkway

Demolitions

• January 12: The Emmanuel Fellowship Church and Longview Institute in Riverside were destroyed by arson.
• February: The Break, for 1001 20th Street South
• February: The Paul S. Worrell Building at UAB
• March: Jefferson County Department of Human Resources building on 5th Avenue South
• March 12: The former Hospitality Inn, Yum Yai restaurant, Chai's grocery, and the former 22nd Street Jazz Cafe were destroyed by fire.
• May 25: The former Shelby Hotel (originally the Dennemora Hotel) near Shelby was destroyed by fire.
• June: The UAB Town House building was demolished.
• August: The Stacy Williams Co. building on 14th Street South was demolished for Baker’s Row Student Housing.
• August: The Dowdy Building, formerly housing UAB Blazers football operations, was demolished.

Context

In 2019, the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris was grievously damaged by fire. Massive wildfires raged across arctic areas. President Trump was impeached in the U.S. House of Representatives. White supremacist mass shooters killed dozens of people at a Wal-Mart in El Paso, Texas and at a mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand. A Global Climate Strike was held on September 20. On December 31 the United States Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq was stormed by militants.

Notable deaths in 2019 included those of actors Danny Aiello, René Auberjonois, Diahann Carroll, Carol Channing, Tim Conway, Doris Day, Albert Finney, Peter Fonda, Rutger Hauer, Peter Mayhew, Luke Perry, Rip Torn and John Witherspoon; architects Phil Freelon, Florence Knoll, I. M. Pei and Stanley Tigerman; baseball manager Frank Robinson; cartoonist Gahan Wilson; composers Michel Legrand and André Previn; director John Singleton; former Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi; former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe; fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld; federal reserve chair Paul Volcker; industrialists David Koch and T. Boone Pickens; journalist Cokie Roberts; musicians Ginger Baker, Dick Dale, Marie Fredriksson, João Gilberto, Mark Hollis, Daniel Johnston, Keith Flint, Eddie Money, Art Neville, Jessye Norman, Ric Ocasek, Mac "Dr John" Rebennack, and Leon Redbone; novelists Toni Morrison and Herman Wouk; poet Mary Oliver; politicians John Conyers, Elijah Cummings, John Dingell, Kay Hagan, and H. Ross Perot; puppeteer Carroll Spinney; restaurateur Leah Chase; and scientists Wally Broecker and Murray Gell-Mann.

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