Tip Top Grill
Tip Top Grill is a breakfast and lunch eatery at 588 Shades Crest Road in Hoover with a seating area overlooking Shades Valley on top of Shades Mountain.
The small restaurant is located inside a former gas station at the intersection of Shades Crest Road and Park Avenue in the Bluff Park neighborhood. It opened in September 2003, and is owned by Mike Wammack. The former Citgo station, which features 12 stools inside, is owned by developer Ronnie Whitworth, who invested $40,000 to convert the station into an eatery. Tip Top Grill is managed by Wammack's partner Bob Hoeferlin.
The owners were inspired to open the tiny restaurant by Gus Koutroulakis' Pete's Famous hotdog stand downtown, which has been in business over 85 years and has no seats, and hoped the views would bring customers back.
Tip Top Grill was named one of 10 best places to eat outside by the Birmingham News in May 2008.
References
- Nicholson, Gilbert (August 8, 2003) "New Bluff Park eatery has Tip Top view." Birmingham Business Journal.
- Harvey, Alec (May 23, 2008) "10 great places to eat outside in Birmingham." Birmingham News.