Five Points South approved as Birmingham’s newest entertainment district

Following a public hearing, the Birmingham City Council unanimously voted to designate Five Points South as an entertainment district. The new ordinance is slated to go into effect March 1, 2020.

The designation is the third of its kind in Birmingham with Uptown being approved in 2015, and Pepper Place being approved last year. The boundaries of the entertainment district allow for open containers of alcohol to be carried outside of establishments, and in turn increase foot traffic in areas that are developed for music, restaurants and bars.

“When you look and see the crowd and atmosphere around Five Points South, especially on the weekends, having that as a designated entertainment district just makes common sense,” said Councilor Hunter Williams, chair of the Public Safety Committee. “It’s about improving the experience of not only those who live here, but those visiting from other cities. You can walk around with a drink, listen to music and just have a great time experiencing all that the area has to offer. We believe it will add to increased sales revenues at the businesses within the footprint of this district.”

According to the ordinance, the hours of operation will be Thursday 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., Friday 5:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m., Saturday and Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. every week.

Below is a copy of the ordinance:

Established in 1880, Five Points South is one of Birmingham’s “original streetcar suburbs.” There are over 30 businesses that are included within the Five Points South entertainment district boundary, including the James Beard Award-winning Highland Bar and Grill. There are two multi-use condo projects that are nearing construction in Five Points South as well that will increase foot traffic in the area.

Here is a map of the entertainment district boundary:

Those who spoke during the public hearing were all in favor of the new entertainment district designation. Members of the Five Points Alliance believe this new entertainment district will open the door for more events and increase the walkability in the area.

“This is a formalization of the entertainment district that people already believe exists Five Points South and treat it as already,” said John Boone, vice president of the Five Points Alliance. “This is going to allow people to not only enjoy the businesses and restaurants, but it’s going to improve our streetscape. The most important thing is the flexibility it allows us to plan and host events without having to get different liquor licenses for each event.”

State law allows Class 1 municipalities in Alabama to have as many as five entertainment districts, leaving Birmingham with two additional districts available for the designation. The Council has made it part of their legislative agenda in 2020 to increase the number of entertainment districts allowed in the city as a way to maximize the economic impact in more areas.

Councilor Valerie Abbott, who represents the district, believes this will be an economic boost for the area.

“I think it’s going to be a real shot in the arm for the Five Points South business district,” Abbott said. “You know, Five Points was the original entertainment district in Birmingham. It’s important that we have the extra incentive here for people to visit Five Points and spend money. We certainly have a lot of fabulous restaurants and bars, and I’m sure they’re going to be very excited about this.”