For Immediate Release
Contact: Atticus Rominger
atticusrominger@romingermedia.com
p 205.572.1370
Main Street Birmingham: Store Opening Signals New Life for North Birmingham Business Area
Points of Interest
- Maxway store Grand Opening Thursday, November 13 at 8:45am
- Mayor’s office, Council, Main Street Birmingham devised economic incentive plan
- Store will serve as catalyst for revitalization in the underused commercial district
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (November 7, 2008) - Main Street Birmingham, Mayor Larry Langford and Councilor Maxine Parker will join executives from North Carolina-based Variety Stores, Inc. for a ribbon cutting in front of the company’s new Maxway store in North Birmingham on Thursday, November 13 at 8:45am.
This summer, council approved an agreement with Variety Stores which leased anchor space in the city-owned North Birmingham Shopping Center for five years. In addition, the company will share three percent of sales over $2.33 million with the city.
The deal was negotiated with the help of Councilor Maxine Parker’s office and Main Street Birmingham, Inc.
Variety Stores is upgrading from a smaller Super 10 store they have operated in the neighborhood since 1992. “Especially in economic times like these, people want to shop close to home,” said Variety Stores, Inc. President and COO Wilson Sawyer. “This presents an opportunity for people in the neighborhood to walk to shop.”
Main Street Birmingham Executive Director David Fleming said the store will draw traffic back to the area. “Long-term, it demonstrates business viability and allows us to show businesses can be successful in North Birmingham and other older urban neighborhoods.”
“Given its prominence in the district, we strongly believe this store will serve as a catalyst for additional retail development, leading ultimately to more jobs for our citizens in North Birmingham," said Tracey Morant Adams, Economic Development
Main Street Birmingham, Inc. is a nonprofit agency under contract with the City of Birmingham to implement the BEACON program for neighborhood commercial district revitalization. The program targets nine urban commercial districts to strengthen economic development by utilizing the National Main Street Center’s Four Point Approach™ of design, organization, economic restructuring and promotion.
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