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'''Romeo's''', originally '''Romeo's Grill''', was an Italian restaurant operated by the Romeo family from the mid 1920s to the late 1990s.
'''Romeo's''', originally '''Romeo's Grill''', was an Italian restaurant operated by the Romeo family from the mid 1920s to the late 1990s.
<!--The original Romeo's was operated by [[A. H. Weinberg]] at 2131 [[1st Avenue North (Downtown)|1st Avenue North]] in [[downtown Birmingham]]. Fire broke out in the kitchen there on the evening of [[August 17]], [[1943]], causing damage to the rear of the restaurant and to the [[Dixie Store Fixtures]] above.-->
<!--The original Romeo's was operated by [[A. H. Weinberg]] at 2131 [[1st Avenue North (Downtown)|1st Avenue North]] in [[downtown Birmingham]]. Fire broke out in the kitchen there on the evening of [[August 17]], [[1943]], causing damage to the rear of the restaurant and to the [[Dixie Store Fixtures]] above.-->
[[Michael Romeo]] opened the restaurant in the 1920s. He died in [[1949]] and his widow, [[Virginia Romeo|Virginia]] continued the business with their son [[Alfred Romeo|Alfred]]. From at least [[1941]] it was located in the building known as [[5th & 20th|Restaurant Row]] or [[5th & 20th|The Strip]] at 421 [[20th Street South]], opposite the [[Parliament Hotel]].
[[Mitchell Romeo]] opened the restaurant with his wife, [[Theresa Romeo|Theresa]] around [[1934]] in the building known as [[5th & 20th|Restaurant Row]] or [[5th & 20th|The Strip]] at 421 [[20th Street South]]. Their son [[Alfred Romeo|Alfred]] joined the venture as a partner in the 1940s. Alfred died in [[1968]] and his widow [[Evelyn Romeo|Evelyn]] took over with their sons, [[Herbert Romeo|Herbert]] and [[Ernie Romeo|Ernie]].


Alfred died in [[1968]] and his widow [[Evelyn Romeo|Evelyn]] took over with their sons, [[Herbert Romeo|Herbert]] and [[Ernie Romeo|Ernie]].
At some point the business relocated to 2110 [[7th Avenue South]] where it was later joined by [[Antwan Garnem]]'s [[Antoine's Restaurant]]. Romeo's was known for its snug, warm ambiance with red-painted walls, red-and-white tablecloths, tabletop candles in chianti bottles, and cheery wood booths hand-built by Mitchell Romeo. In [[1986]] the dining room was used as a filming location for a scene in the feature film ''[[Verne Miller]]''.
 
The restaurant operated at 2110 [[7th Avenue South]] for many years, alongside [[Antwan Garnem]]'s [[Antoine's Restaurant]]. It was known for its snug, warm ambiance with red-painted walls, red-and-white tablecloths, tabletop candles in chianti bottles, and wooden booths. In [[1986]] the dining room was used as a filming location for a scene in the feature film ''[[Verne Miller]]''.


The block, known as [[Block 189]], was proposed for condemnation on behalf of the [[University of Alabama Health Services Foundation]] as part of the proposed site of the [[Kirklin Clinic]]. The Foundation ultimately dropped that block from their plans, but in [[1988]] [[Brigham-Williams & Associates]] and [[Landmark Co.]] both discussed proposals for large-scale mixed-use developments on the same block.
The block, known as [[Block 189]], was proposed for condemnation on behalf of the [[University of Alabama Health Services Foundation]] as part of the proposed site of the [[Kirklin Clinic]]. The Foundation ultimately dropped that block from their plans, but in [[1988]] [[Brigham-Williams & Associates]] and [[Landmark Co.]] both discussed proposals for large-scale mixed-use developments on the same block.
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[[Category:Former Italian restaurants]]
[[Category:Former Italian restaurants]]
[[Category:1920s establishments]]
[[Category:1930s establishments]]
[[Category:1990s disestablishments]]
[[Category:1990s disestablishments]]
[[Category:5th & 20th]]
[[Category:5th & 20th]]
[[Category:7th Avenue South]]
[[Category:7th Avenue South]]
[[Category:Clairmont Plaza South]]
[[Category:Clairmont Plaza South]]

Revision as of 16:11, 7 January 2024

This article is about the former Southside Italian restaurant. For the Bessemer restaurant, see Romeo's Restaurant (Bessemer). For the sporting goods store, see Romeo's Sporting Goods.

Romeo's, originally Romeo's Grill, was an Italian restaurant operated by the Romeo family from the mid 1920s to the late 1990s. Mitchell Romeo opened the restaurant with his wife, Theresa around 1934 in the building known as Restaurant Row or The Strip at 421 20th Street South. Their son Alfred joined the venture as a partner in the 1940s. Alfred died in 1968 and his widow Evelyn took over with their sons, Herbert and Ernie.

At some point the business relocated to 2110 7th Avenue South where it was later joined by Antwan Garnem's Antoine's Restaurant. Romeo's was known for its snug, warm ambiance with red-painted walls, red-and-white tablecloths, tabletop candles in chianti bottles, and cheery wood booths hand-built by Mitchell Romeo. In 1986 the dining room was used as a filming location for a scene in the feature film Verne Miller.

The block, known as Block 189, was proposed for condemnation on behalf of the University of Alabama Health Services Foundation as part of the proposed site of the Kirklin Clinic. The Foundation ultimately dropped that block from their plans, but in 1988 Brigham-Williams & Associates and Landmark Co. both discussed proposals for large-scale mixed-use developments on the same block.

They were forced to move out of their Southside location in 1992 when the building's owners Terry Henley and Owen Vickers sold the property to the owner of a new Arby's restaurant on the corner for use as a parking lot. Henley and Vickers began tearing up the parking lot used by his tenants before they agreed to leave, blocking access to customers and delivery trucks.

Antoine's relocated to Cahaba Heights. Romeo's closed when its lease ran out December 27 of that year and reopened on April 9, 1993 in the Clairmont Plaza South shopping center on the 3300 block of Clairmont Avenue South in Forest Park. The former restaurant's tables, chairs and booths were moved to the new space.

Romeo's was closed before 1997. It's former space was taken over by Viva! Italian restaurant.

References

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