Birmingham added 11 new businesses in last 6 months, 5 more opening

If there seems to be more business variety in Birmingham lately, that's because there is and will be.

In the last six months, at least 11 new businesses, two of them national chains, J. McLaughlin and Paper Source (see metromode story), have opened in downtown Birmingham and at least five others will welcome customers in coming weeks.

"It’s a positive sign that another, perhaps stronger, year of growth lies ahead for the City’s retail and service sector," says John Heiney, executive director of the Birmingham Principal Shopping District.

Coming soon to Birmingham, according to Heiney, is:

* Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse fills in the the prominent and once top dining spot, Forte, at 201 South Old Woodward. The Ohio-based restaurant chain with steakhouses in Florida, New York and Pennsylvania opens this spring.

* Churchill’s, a long-established tobacco shop, will open a cigar bistro this spring at 116 South Old Woodward, just a few doors down from its familiar storefront.

* Revive will soon open a second Birmingham location at 157 West Maple, across the street from their current location at 154 West Maple. The new store will feature men’s apparel and hard-to-find urban streetwear.

* Mobili Now will bring contemporary home furnishings from lines around the world and pair them with the work of local artists and designers. Mobili Now will be located at 746 East Maple.

HappyDino Playcare will soon open their doors at 375 Hamilton Row and offer more flexible scheduling options.

Recent openings, according to Heiney:

* What Crepe, a bar and 50-item crepe menu, serves breakfast, lunch,dinner and brunch from 172 North Old Woodward.

* The Spice and Tea Exchange, 175 West Maple, is a purveyor of gourmet spices,blends, rubs and teas.

* Lexi Drew, seller of home furnishings, accessories and clothing, has drawn its loyal followers, and ideally new customers, to a relocated shop at 152 North Old Woodward.

* Jeweler Barbara Boz is selling her creations, some worn by Oprah Winfrey and Courtney Cox and sold to local and national customers, from her new boutique at 205 East Maple.

* Level Multisport, (see metromode story) run by triathlete, swimming, cycling owners, will set customers up with running, cycling, yoga and running gear from their weeks-old business at 528 North Old Woodward.

* Axis Music Academy has expanded to a third location in Birmingham at 283 Hamilton Row. Like its academies in Canton and Southfield, the Birmingham location offers private and group rock band classes and lessons in bass, drums, guitar, voice, piano and music technology.

* Elements Therapeutic Massage opened in February at 755 East Maple, offering a new option to the tense and tight with its deep tissue, hot stone, sports, prenatal, Swedish and trigger point massages.

* Dental Radiance at 800 South Adams is a national family and cosmetic dentistry practice operated locally by Dr. Ami P. Doshi.

Source: John Heiney, executive director, Birmingham Principal Shopping District
Writer: Kim North Shine
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