BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – The Fourth Street neighborhood was once one of the only places Black people could shop, eat, and do business. But decades later, it has expanded to become one of the city's most popular destinations.
Black-owned businesses are booming in Uptown. Business owner Rod Conwell keeps the dreams of his predecessors in mind.
“They'll say they're proud. They'll say they're proud of you,” says Conwell. “They'll tell you to keep doing what you started when things were tougher. Not that it's been an easy road for us, but with the Fourth Avenue era and the Blue Light District coming up, it was better than it was back then. It was also much more difficult.”
It all started with the vision of legendary 4th Avenue barber Byron Watts. He went on to open his Nuke's Barbershop and brought along someone special in the process.
“Well, my son decided to take me out of the house. I started working from home. He decided he wanted to have his own business and wanted me to come,” says Loretta's.・Loretta Jordan, owner of Alterations, says:
Watts says the realization of this dream is something civil rights leaders are also celebrating.
“This is one thing that Martin Luther King Jr. wouldn't have turned over in his grave. Especially if he saw how black businesses were coming from Fourth Avenue uptown, he really I think they’ll be marching, hooping and hollering,” Watts said.
Zebby Carney, owner of Eugene's Hot Chicken, also joined the mother-son duo to bring a unique taste of Nashville to the Magic City.
“Just seeing the smiles on people's faces when they eat our products or go to Uptown Jazz or K&'s is so special. We're doing something right.” Mr Carney says.
That success is paving the way for business owners like Crystal Bryant, owner of K&J's Elegant Pastries.
“We've done a lot of celebrity cakes, which means people contact me from other states as well,” says Bryant. “If they hadn't done that, we wouldn't have been able to do what we wanted to do. Because of their sacrifices, we were able to achieve our dreams. That moves me.”
Cornel Wesley, director of the city's Office of Innovation and Economic Opportunity, said companies like this are what makes Birmingham famous.
“We’re not stuck in 1963,” Wesley says. “We're in 2024. It's great that they're paying attention, but we can't stop there. We need the rest of the country to take note of what Birmingham is doing.” There is.”
Get news alerts in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, or subscribe to our email newsletter here.
Copyright 2024 WBRC. All rights reserved.