Spanish Stores

Spanish Stores with Saloon and Chez Fonfon in December 2009.

The Spanish Stores is a row of commercial spaces constructed on the southeast corner of Five Points South in 1926 by the heirs of R. S. Munger, founder of the Continental Gin Company and one-time owner of the Mirabeau Swanson residence, which he had moved from 5 Points Circle to a site near St Mary's-on-the-Highlands Episcopal Church.

Before his death in 1923, Munger amassed several properties surrounding the 5 Points Circle with the aim of redeveloping them for commercial use. His children realized the plan and commissioned a fashionable "Spanish Colonial" design for their first project, known as the Spanish Stores. The architect was Miller & Martin of Birmingham. The design was praised for its "unusually attractive plan for the development of a corner lot," in the pages of Southern Architect and Building News.

The development was marked by innovations such as electric streetlights and automobile parking set-backs in the curb. The Exchange Security Bank of Birmingham was the prime tenant, occupying the front space at 1102 20th Street South. Other tenants were carefully selected by the Mungers to preserve a mix of desirable commercial amenities. They stipulated that no tenant could serve liquor. In 1930 the building's tenants included Lifskitz Delicatessen, the Peerless Laundry, Martin's Flowers, Waggoner's Sandwich Shop and Nunnaly's. Later that year the building was extended eastward to accommodate the Mary Aust Tea Room.

Since 1980, the building has been owned by Bob Moody, whose interior design office was already located there.

Tenants

• 11th Avenue South:
  • 2001: former location of Allison Imler physician (1959), Mannequins Inc. modeling agency (1970)
  • 2003: former location of Pigford & Carraway architects
  • 2005–2007: Chez Fonfon (Frank & Pardis Stitt 2000-)
    • 2005: former location of Martin's Flowers, Tom Myers Hair Fashions (1959–1970), [LaRee's Beauty Salon]] (1970s), Side Show Gallery (1980s), Simonton's, COM Design Sources / Moody & Associates interiors (2000), Sideshow Gallery
    • 2007: former location of Jane Meade Dresses (1955–1959), Moody & Associates (Bob Moody 1976-1982), Simonton's (1982-1990), Moody & Associates (Bob Moody 1990-2005)
      • 2007A: former location of Eria Plevine podiatrist (1970)
  • 2009–2011: Highlands Bar and Grill (Frank Stitt 1982-), former location of Elizabeth Aust Tea Room, Louise Bryan antiques / Hamilton & Shackleford Inc. insurance (1959), Jane Meade Dresses (1970), Colonial Dining Club (1970s)
• 20th Street South:
  • 1101-1103: Iron City Pizza Co. (2021–), former location of The Grape (2005-2007), La Mesa (2007-2009), Fuego Cantina (2009-2016), The Preservery (2018-2019)
    • 1101 (tower): vacant, formerly Exchange Security Bank of Birmingham, Mannequins modeling agency (1970s), Simonton's jewelry department, Gorin's restaurant (1980s-2000), Joe Mugg's Newsstand (2000-),
    • 1103: former location of Pigford & Carraway architects (1970s), Simonton's home decor (1980s)
  • 1105: former location of AIA Birmingham (1970s), The Workout (1980s), Worldwinds boutique, Soca Clothing, Schaeffer Eye Center, Fuego Saloon (2010-2016)

References

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• Holcombe, Ray (April 1929) "The Architecture of Small Shop Buildings." Southern Architect and Building News, p. 67
• Burkhardt, Ann McQuorquodale and Alice Meriwether Bowsher (November 1982) "Town Within a City: The Five Points South Neighborhood 1880-1930." Journal of the Birmingham Historical Society. Vol. 7, Nos. 3-4