Birmingham Area Restaurants And Bars: What Opened, Closed In 2021
BIRMINGHAM, AL — The past year was just an unorthodox as 2020 with the coronavirus pandemic lingering in the U.S., and its effect on businesses in the county, including Alabama. Several communities saw longtime businesses close in 2021, but the year also included multiple new businesses open.
No industry has been affected more by the pandemic as the restaurant business, as the metro area saw several old staples close their doors this year, for a variety of reasons.
Some of the businesses that closed did so for reasons other than the pandemic, although it likely played at least some factor in the owners' decisions to close or relocate. For instance, Sam's Super Samwiches in Homewood closed temporarily after the death of its founder, Sam Graphos, but announced this month it would re-open in another location in downtown Homewood.
Here are some of the bars and restaurants that closed in 2021 around the Birmingham metro area:
Atomic Lounge: The Atomic was a favorite spot in downtown Birmingham and garnered national attention when it was nominated for a James Beard Award for Best Bar. Unfortunately, the pandemic forced its closure.
Chick-fil-A, Brookwood Village: The very first Chick-fil-A restaurant in Alabama was at Brookwood Village. This spot finally closed this year, and moved to Cahaba Heights.
Daniel Day Gallery: This music/art venue in south Birmingham hosted some great live music over the years, but closed in October.
Eli's Jerusalem Grill: The Pizitz Food Hall lost a handful of tenants during the pandemic, including Eli's. While the Israeli restaurant closed its downtown location, the Eli's on Highway 280 remains open.
Kemp's Kitchen: The Trussville staple experienced a fire in November, which forced the popular eatery's closure, but they plan to re-open in Gardendale.
Magnolia Cafe: The meat and three restaurant operated in the Colonnade for more than 25 years before announcing in December it would close permanently.
Pho Que Huong: The Vietnamese restaurant on Green Springs Highway was one of the metro area's first eateries to offer Vietnamese cuisine in Birmingham. After 25 years, the restaurant closed in April due to staffing shortages caused by COVID-19.
Pieology: This pizza chain at The Summit closed in January. The chain still has locations in Huntsville and Montgomery.
Tip Top Grill: Open for nearly three decades in Bluff Park, the hot dog and hamburger joint's owners were unable to negotiate a lease at their scenic spot, and closed in November.
New restaurants that opened in the metro area in 2021 included:
ChopNFresh Salads: The salad restaurant based in Hunstville opened this ear in Mountain Brook Village's Lane Parke development.
North Italia: The Italian restaurant opened at The Summit in March, its first Alabama location. The chain has restaurants in eight states.
Slim's: This new pizza restaurant in Crestline Village in Mountain Brook opened in October in the former Vogue Cleaners location.
Taproot Cafe: Former Auburn football star Reggie Torbor and his wife Michelle opened Taproot Cafe in Hoover back in June.
This article originally appeared on the Birmingham Patch
