Vestavia Hills City Center
The Vestavia Hills City Center is a 450,000 square-foot shopping center on the west side of U. S. Highway 31 at its intersection with Kentucky Avenue in Vestavia Hills. It was created by redeveloping the existing Vestavia Mall and Vestavia Shopping Center and constructing a new strip shopping center to the south and a Vestavia 10 cinema multiplex to the west.
The $45 million project was developed by AIG Baker Shopping Center Properties. It opened in phases, beginning with a redevelopment of the existing shopping center, anchored by Stein Mart. The project won a "Deal of the Year" award in 2002 from [[Birmingham Business Journal. The remainder of the center opened in 2003 with the central portion anchored by the Rave Motion Pictures cinema and the southern section anchored by Publix Supermarket.
The city of Vestavia Hills contributed $5 million toward infrastructure improvements for the redevelopment. The pedestrian-friendly nature of the central "leisure center" was seen as complementing the city's Regional Walkways Master Plan.
The design of the central part of the development is unusual in that it incorporates part of the original mall structure, including its covered parking areas, which are connected to a landscaped open-air pedestrian mall above by stairs, elevators and escalators. The southern end of the multi-level building has balconies overlooking Canyon Road while the northern row of shops has above-grade parking which is accessed from Kentucky Avenue]]. The primary entrance drive continues the main axis of the pedestrian mall toward the highway, while the opposite end connects to the cinema multiplex via open-air escalators.
The potential for the center to become a destination for shopping and dining promised increased sales tax revenues for the city. And in fact, tax collections from the center have increased every year from $137,481 in 2001 to $1,919,387 in 2007.1.
The success of the Vestavia Hills City Center has been tempered by high turnover and vacancy rates, especially in the pedestrian-focussed central section. AIG Baker's vision included white-tablecloth restaurants which would help the center attract after-hours users. Arman DeLorenz, a local restauranteur was recruited to the project and owned Nonna Rose and Brazil before both closed in 2006. Though AIG Baker agreed not to collect rent until the restaurants were profitable, DeLorenz charged that the owners had been slow to address maintenance problems and had done a poor job of marketing the shopping center, hastening their demise.
Tenants
former Vestavia Shopping Center
- 600: Physical Therapy South, H&R Block
- 608: Pet Supermarket
- 610: Schoolhouse Educational Supply
- 612: Mariachi Grill, ERA Oxford Realty
- 614: Hair Impressions
- 616: T-Mobile/Sprint
- 618: Ritz/Wolf Camera
- 620: Karen's Hallmark
- 624: Cambridge Shop
- 628: formerly Moonlight Music Café (2003-2006)
- 632: Cokesbury Book Store
- 634: Suntime Tanning
- 636: Kid's Gym
- 640: Lucy's on Thirty-one
- 644: Rugged Wearhouse
- 652: Stein Mart
- 668: Nail Fever
- 670: Beautiful Brides
- 672: Merle Norman
- 674: Hairspray Salon
- 676: Kidz Closet
- 678: Subway
- 680: Moxie Hair Design, Houliang Massage, Edward D. Jones, CLP Resources, Inc., Boutwell Associates, Accept Plus of Alabama
Former Vestavia Mall
- 700 Montgomery Highway
- 1st floor
- Suite 100: Andrew's Sport & Fitness
- Suite 106: Milestone Books
- Suite 112: Panera Bread
- Suite 120: former Coldstone Creamery
- Suite 124: Flower Buds, Inc., former Christmas & Co.
- Suite 138: The Fitting Touch
- Suite 140: Buffaloe's American Grille, formerly Calypso Joe's, Local Restaurant and Bar
- Suite 148: May Furniture
- Suite 149: Constructores Para Cristo
- Suite 156: Dale's Southern Grill, formerly Yanni's (2003-2004)
- Suite 160: Mia Moda
- Suite 164: former location of Painted By U
- Suite 170: European Kitchen
- Suite 174: Rick & Bubba Broadcast Plaza and Teleport
- Suite 178: Sekisui
- Suite 188: Nonna's
- Suite 190: Janie Mac's
- Suite 194: 'N Vogue Cosmetics
- 2nd floor
- Suite 210: Alabama Vascular & Vein Center
- Suite 230: A Medi Day Spa
- Magic City Railroad Club
- former location of Parkside Home & Garden
- 716 Montgomery Highway
- Suite 100: Starbucks
- Suite 108: Moe's Southwest Grill
- Canyon Road
- 1944: DL Salon, MGT Imports, Super Suppers
- Kentucky Avenue
- 1911: Rave Motion Pictures Vestavia Hills 10
- 1919: Sneaky Pete's Café, New Orleans Food and Spirits
Publix strip
- 784 Montgomery Highway
- Publix Supermarket
- 790 Montgomery Highway
- Suite 100: Style America
- Suite 102: China Ben
- Suite 104: Future Wireless
- Suite 106: Gamestop
- Suite 108: Therapy South
- Suite 110: Charles A. Brock, M. D.
- Suite 112: B. A. Framer
- Suite 114: Tricia's Baby Station
- Suite 116: Mr Clay's Barber Shop
- Suite 118: Jewel Source
- Suite 120: Sips N' Strokes
- Suite 124: Curves for Women
- Suite 128: Royal Nail
- Suite 132: Wine Cellar
- Suite 134: formerly Firehouse Subs
Notes
- Singleton - October 15, 2008
References
- Nicholson, Gilbert (March 7, 2003) "Vestavia shopping center gets $45 million makeover." Birmingham Business Journal
- Wilkinson, Kaija (October 14, 2005) "Vestavia Hills City Center accentuates the positive." Birmingham Business Journal
- Wilkinson, Kaija (June 23, 2006) "New tenants boost Vestavia Hills City Center." Birmingham Business Journal
- Singleton, William C. III (October 15, 2008) "Tax revenues up, but vacancies persist." Birmingham News
External links
- Vestavia Hills City Center website