Source List for South of Birmingham

A few of my favorite local spots to shop in the just-south-of-Birmingham area.  [Please keep in mind, there are loads great places to shop around Birmingham, these are just the places I like.  I try to keep it simple because I am easily overwhelmed by too many choices.  :)  Also, I don't like spending too much time on a hunt... these are places that generally are pretty reliable, as far as things I am shopping for. ]



Furniture  ::

• Stacks in Pelham... sadly is going out of business, but the sales right now are crazy good.
• TJ Maxx in Alabaster... they have a few rugs, side chairs, side tables, and of course loads of home accessories.
• Seibels, At Home, Nadeau, and other furniture shops on 18th Avenue South in Homewood.  There is an amazing vintage store with garage doors that they open on nice days and I can't remember the name of it .  Its basically kitty-corner to Nadeau.
• Alabama Furniture Market in Calera.... personally, I think it's B-ham's best kept (furniture) secret.  The showroom is gorgeous, prices are very, very good and the selection is almost limitless because they have the manufacturer catalogs that you can order from.  Whoever their buyer and stylists are, I want to sit at their feet and learn about how to decorate.  I love it sooohhhhoooo much (crying out in my best Holly Hunter voice).

Other Home-Related Stores  ::

• Old Time Pottery in Pelham... lots of accessories, vases, pillows, candles, florals, etc.
• Target in Alabaster.
• World Market in Hoover.... a favorite source of mine for curtains because not only are the prints/styles great, but they also have 96 inch panels, which are sort of hard to find.  Also, they are affordable.
• Mohawk Flooring in Pelham... they do carpet installation, but if you need an area rug, you can pick out any one of the huge rolls of carpeting, give them dimensions, and have them cut and bind your rug to the exact size you need.  
• The Loading Dock in Helena... they have all sorts of building supplies and overstock items, like siding, doors, bathroom vanities, etc.  A favorite product I have purchased there... large commercial carpet tiles for the tool area in our garage.  They were super inexpensive and very rugged.

Thrift Stores  ::

• Encore Resales in Pelham.  
• America's Thrift Store in Alabaster.

Women's Clothing  ::

• TJ Maxx Alabaster.
• Target in Alabaster.
• The Limited, Loft, Banana Republic, Gap, all at the Riverchase Galleria.

Kids' Stuff  ::

• Kids' Wear Plus Consignment Sale (spring and fall), Hoover.  
• Old Navy Alabaster.
• Children's Place at the Riverchase Galleria.

Restaurants  ::  (Boy, I sure wish this list was longer.  For me, the food is slim pickings south of Birmingham.)

• Panera in Alabaster (near Target).
• Starbucks (does that count as a restaurant?).
• City Cafe and Grill.... this place is awesome.  The decor is questionable, but the food is all local, fresh and there are Southern as well as some Asian choices.  The married owners pretty much tell everyone who enters that they never use canned or pre-prepared food... I love it when the husband-half of the ownership tells me what all they bought at the big farm market in Birmingham that week.

 Groceries  ::

• Publix.
• Aldi in Pelham... okay, I haven't actually been there yet.  But it just opened this week!   As a Trader Joe's fan, I am sure I'll love it.
• Target in Alabaster, in a pinch.  It's not a Super Target, so they just carry the staples.  Nice when I am there already and just need some butter or something.

 Hair Salon  ::

• Hair Dimensions on 119 in Alabaster.... can't say enough about Brittany, my stylist.  She is very talented with hair, and I just plain enjoy talking to her.  I also take my boys to her, as it costs about $15 for both of them.  Also, it's an Aveda salon.
• Great Clips near Panera in Alabaster... if the kids need an emergency cut.  Regina there does a very competant and quick boys' hair cut.  

Car Repair and Service  ::

• Melton Automotive in Alabaster... they specialize in Toyota and Lexus.   They will service any car, but the guys there particularly have a lot of Toyota experience.  Louis, the service desk guy, always answers my questions and will go get parts to show me how something works and so on. Also, he's from New Orleans, so I enjoy talking with a fellow-Louisianaian.  

There is nothing in it for me to post these businesses...  I just really like them.  No one paid me or gave me free stuff to post their name and actually, I doubt that any one mentioned here reads my blog.  :)  I have a heart for people who move around a lot and if this post can give a newbie some ideas on how to track down things they need in this area... I would be thrilled!  This post was inspired by a couple of conversations I've had with a new friend.... she just moved with her family to the states from Australia and they need so much for their new home.  We talked a lot about where to track down lamps (TJ Maxx), a dining room table (Stacks), curtains (World Market), and area rugs (Mohawk Flooring).... which led me to do more thinking about sharing sources.  If I think of more, I will update this post as needed!

Stay safe, friends, the weather is rough enough that schools are dismissing early all over the Birmingham area today!