Gary Avenue

1959 view of Gary Avenue

Gary Avenue is a major thoroughfare through downtown Fairfield, part of the street pattern planned by the Tennessee Coal, Iron & Railroad Company in 1909, and named in honor of Elbert Gary, the first president of TCI's parent company, U.S. Steel.

Gary Avenue runs southwest as a continuation of Avenue E Ensley, which also becomes Lloyd Noland Parkway as it passes below I-20/59. Gary Avenue and Lloyd Noland Parkway split between 40th Street Ensley and 41st Street Ensley, with Gary bending westward and crossing Opossum Creek (in a culvert) before entering Fairfield's business district. The street proceeds southwest, then turns to the south at 47th Street Ensley, terminating at Valley Road / Donald Parkway. Formerly the section of Valley Road continuing to E. J. Oliver Boulevard was also addressed as Gary Avenue.

The Birmingham Railway, Light & Power Company's No. 5 Ensley-Fairfield streetcar line ran down Gary Avenue, and that service continues as MAX Transit Route 5.

Notable addresses

• avenue begins
• 41st Street Ensley intersects
  • 4109: 3D Foodmart / Mobil gas station, formerly M & N Foodmart
• 42nd Street Ensley intersects
  • 4200: former location of L. M. Whaley grocery (1925), George Holdcroft grocery (1946)
  • 4202: Diary African Braid Boutique
  • 4219: Big Moe Spring & Alignment, former location of Smith Coke Co. (1946)
• 43rd Street Ensley intersects
  • 4301: Sparkle Learning Center
  • 4311: former location of James H. Davis clothes cleaner (1946)
  • 4317: former location of E. T. Ross furniture (1925)
  • 4318: Extreme Auto Detail, former location of Frank Burton gas station (1946)
  • 4319: former location of Owens Furnishing Co. (1925)
• 44th Street Ensley intersects
  • 4400: former location of Fairfield Dry Cleaning Co. (1935–1946)
  • 4401–4403: former location of Fairfield Service Station (1935–1946)
  • 4407: Tasty Jamaica
  • 4412: Kay Bags Plus
  • 4416: Greekwood Monogram, former location of The Birmingham News branch (1935), Evans Flower Shop (1946)
  • 4418: former location of Palace Barber Shop (1935), Birmingham Post carriers' station (1946)
  • 4419: former location of Alexander's Service Station (1946)
  • 4420: Nedra's Unlimited HairCare, former location of Graham's Grill (1935), Fairfield Beauty Salon (1946)
  • 4431: former location of Cities Sales Corp. gas station (1935)
• 45th Street Ensley intersects
  • 4501: Goudy Entertainment Center (2020–), former location of Barnett's Cafe (1946)
  • 4502: African International Market, former location of Hill Grocery Co. (1935–1946)
    • 4502½: former location of Madam Vivyen palm reader
  • 4503: former location of Martha's Beauty Shop / William Oliver real estate (1935), Polly's Beauty Shop (1946)
  • 4505: Trucks & Trucks Law, former location of Bernard Brown plumbing (1946)
  • 4506: Birmingham Islamic Center's West Side Masjid (2010–)
  • 4510: former location of Fairfield Bakery (1935–1946)
  • 4511: former location of Fairfield Post Office (1935), Smith Appliance Co. / Smith Coke Co. / Steel City Cabs (1946)
  • 4512: former location of Anest Sarinopoulas restaurant (1925), Fairfield Billiard Parlor (1946)
  • 4513–4515: former location of Smith Appliance Co. (1935)
    • 4515½: former location of St Charles Apartments (1925–1935)
  • 4514: former location of Fairfield Post Office (1925), Fred Demeritt soft drinks (1935), Frank Torre shoe repair (1946)
  • 4515: former location of Keith Furniture Co. (1925)
  • 4516: former location of Hall's Pharmacy (1925–1946)
• North Plaza intersects (southeast only)
  • Fairfield Memorial Park (built 1910)
• Crawford Street intersects (northwest only)
• South Plaza intersects (southeast only)
  • 4600–4604: Carmichael Building
    • 4600: former location of Donald Drug Co. (1925), Herlong Drug Co. (1935–1946)
    • 4602: former location of Homestead Savings & Mortgage Co. (1925–1935), Donald Real Estate & Insurance Co. / Homestead Building & Loan Association (1935), Ray's Home Supply Store (1946)
    • 4604: former location of Curg Journey shoe repair / Gregory Kamps restaurant (1925), Julius Routman dry goods (1935–1946)
      • 4604½, former location of Fairfield City Hall / J. T. Endsley dentist / E. L. Hargrove & M. W. Pratt attorneys (1925), Josiah Carmichael & William Carmichael physicians / Fairfield Lodge No. 749 (1925–1935), Robert Shirley dentist / Arthur Esslinger attorney (1935), U.S. Selective Service System Local Board No. 3 (1946)
  • 4601: Church of The Reconciler, former location of First Bank of Corey / Hotel Plaza (built 1910)
  • 4606: former location of G. P. Bell undertaker (1925), Marie's Beauty Shoppe (1935), Forbes Inc. Five & Ten Cent Store (1946)
  • 4607: former location of First National Bank of Fairfield (1925), Fairfield First National Bank Branch (1935–1946), AmSouth Bank
  • 4608–4610: Magic City Grill, former location of V. J. Elmore Five & Ten Cent Store (1946)
  • 4611A: former location of Braswell Barber Shop (1946)
  • 4612: former location of Great A & P Tea Co. (1935), A & P Food Store (1946)
  • 4614: former location of Donald Real Estate & Insurance Co. (1925)
  • 4615: Walter J. Hanna Public Library
  • 4616: former location of West End Dry Goods Co. (1925), Jollitt Mitchell dry goods (1946)
  • 4618: Realty Building, former location of Piggly-Wiggly (1925), Piper Ice Cream Co. (1946)
    • 4618½: Fairfield Library / Hawkins & Denman Realty & Insurance Co. / W. M. Thompson real estate / C. W. Shackelford physician (1925), E. Wood Tucker physician / Malta Naramore dentist (1925–1935), Gabor Club / George Benton attorney / Milton Dulaney / D'Accord Club (1935), Mutual Savings Credit Union / Allen F. Smith / George Benton / Victor Harwood attorneys / Tennessee Coal, Iron & Railroad Co. electrical engineering department & drafting room (1946)
• 47th Street Ensley intersects
  • 4700: former location of Eugene Parvin garage (1925), Braswell Radio & Refrigeration Co. (1946)
    • 4700½: former location of apartments (1925–1946)
  • 4701: Fairfield City Council, former location of Fairfield City Hall / Fairfield Public Library / Fairfield Exchange Club Fairfield Kiwanis Club (1946)
  • 4702: Beauty Land
  • 4705: Escapes N Travel
  • 4708: former location of Donald Real Estate & Investment Co. / Homestead Savings & Mortgage Co. / Progressive Realty & Mortgage Co. (1946)
  • 4711: former location of Stewart Cleaners (1946)
  • 4712: former location of William Wren hardware (1935), Wren Hardware Co. (1946)
  • 4714: Glorious Touch Alterations
• 48th Street Ensley intersects
  • 4800: former location of William Wren hardware warehouse (1935), Willoughby Furniture Co. (1946)
  • 4801: Restoration Academy high school
  • 4806: Gildra's House of Style
  • 4809: former location of J. Fred Venable gas station (1946)
  • 4818: former location of William Townsend gas station (1946)
• 49th Street Ensley intersects
  • 4900: former location of Gary Avenue Motor Co. (1935), Thomas Puckett general merchandise (1946)
  • 4901: Payless Drugs, former location of Elze Townsend service station (1935), G & O Service Station (1946), A & P (1950–)
  • 4902: former location of Fairfield Bowling Club (1935)
  • 4904: former location of Mary Ann Tea Room (1925), Robert Phillips feed store (1935)
  • 4908: former location of Home Products Co. electrical appliances (1946), AAA Key & Lock Co. (1977)
  • 4914: former location of Steel City Beer Distributors (1946)
  • 4917: former location of Rainbow Market (1925), Richard Wood used cars (1946), Bagley's Florist (1977)
  • 4918: former location of Mack's Garage auto repair (1935), Bush Mumpower gas station (1946)
• 50th Street Ensley intersects
  • 5001: former location of Loo Coon Laundry (1925–1935), Walter Fullenwilder shoe repair (1935), Barney Cohen clothes cleaners & shoe repair (1946)
    • 5001A: Larry Williams Income Tax (2011–)
    • 5001B: former location of Tony's Beauty Salon (2011)
  • 5002: former location of J. W. McNutt drugs (1925), Charles Crane auto accessories (1946)
  • 5003: New Era Heating & Cooling (2016–), former location of Ford Rental Co. (1925), Capstone Counseling Center / Neo Jazz School of Music
  • 5004: Lacy & Sons Car Wash, former location of Gary Theatre (1924–1925)
  • 5006: InterUrban Accounting & Tax Service, former location of S. M. Miller general merchandise (1925)
  • 5005–5009: Ann's Flooring
    • 5005–5007: former location of Fairfield Theatre (1950s)
  • 5008: Now Faith Church, former location of A & P Tea Co. (1925), D. Hugh Hamilton electrical / Marvin Waldrop watch repair (1946), Erwin Appliance Co. (1977)
  • 5010: former location of Fairfield Radio & Electric Co. (1925), James Embry grocery (1935–1946)
  • 5011: The Eye Care Place
  • 5013–5019: Ann's Flooring
  • 5012: Beautiful Endings Hair Studio
  • 5014–5018: former location of Green-Mount Furniture Co. (1946)
    • 5014: former location of Fairfield Real Estate & Insurance Co. / People's Building & Loan Association (1925), Bowen Electric Co. (1935)
    • 5016: former location of Saul's Five Cents to Five Dollars Store (1935)
    • 5018: Shillo's Hair Design, former location of Gordon's dry goods (1935)
  • 5015: former location of Eubrie Hamrick used cars (1946)
  • 5021: American Legion Post 347, former location of C. M. Ferlise confectionery (1946)
• 51st Street Ensley intersects (Gary Avenue also addressed as Valley Road)
  • 5100: former location of Hill Grocery Co. (1925–1946)
  • 5104: Stephen Smith Fine Art (2016–), former location of Fairfield Theatre (1920–1946), T-Shirt Shop (2011)
  • 5106: Aicha's African Hair Braiding, former location of Angelo Angelakis hat cleaner (1935), William Guilian grocery (1946)
  • 5110: former location of John Comnearis restaurant / Thomas Borum jeweler / Syx-Moxley Realty Co. (1925), Charles Tombrello shoe repair (1946)
    • 5110A: former location of William Hereford refrigerator repair (1946)
  • 5112: Kids Inc. Christian Academy (2011–), former location of C. W. Brand grocery (1925), Fairfield Sanitary Market (1935), Stephen Cruce drugs (1946)
  • 5114: former location of B. B. Montgomery dry goods (1925), Nu Way Cleaners (1935), Roth Credit Clothes Co. (1946)
  • 5116: Fairfield Main Street (2011–), former location of James H. Long barber (1935–1946)
  • 5117: former location of Fairfield Motor Co. / Fairfield Battery Service Co. (1925)
  • 5118:
    • 5118A: MD African Hair Braiding, former location of KNOW Business Power Solutions (2011), Greekwood Monogram
    • 5118B: Elegance African Hair Braiding (2009–2011)
  • 5120: Levert, Levert & Associates (2009–)
  • 5122: former location of Stewart Plumbing & Heating (1925)
  • 5124: former location of M. A. Taylor grocery (1925)
• 52nd Street Ensley intersects, avenue continues as Valley Road
  • 5200: former location of T. P. Hornberger dairy products (1925)
  • 5205: former location of Emmett Eubanks transfer (1925)
  • 5212: former location of M. Ernest Cockrell dry goods (1925)
  • 5213: former location of Model City Garage (1925)
  • 5214: former location of Hosey Mercantile Co. (1925)
  • 5216: former location of J. A. Wicker general merchandise (1925)
  • 5218: former location of Smith Stove & Hardware Co. (1925)
  • 5220: former location of Drummond & Williams clothiers (1925)
  • 5222: former location of John Varavaris restaurant / Fairfield Barber Shop (1925)
  • 5226: former location of Daniel Bros. barbers / Elton Journey shoe repair (1925)
  • 5227: former location of Fairfield Trust & Savings Bank (1925)
  • 5228: former location of Put and Take Store dry goods (1925)
    • 5228½: former location of M. H. Naff physician (1925)

References

• Polk's Birmingham City Directory (1925) Birmingham, Alabama: R. L. Polk & Co.
• Polk's Birmingham (Jefferson County, Ala.) City Directory (1935) Richmond, Virginia: R. L. Polk & Co.
• Polk's Birmingham (Jefferson County, Ala.) City Directory (1946) Richmond, Virginia: R. L. Polk & Co.