8 New Businesses, 1 Closure in Birmingham This Week

From a new African and Jamaican restaurant to a new pet spa, here are the latest openings and closures in The Magic City.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Birmingham is welcoming several new businesses this week, including a pet grooming shop, an African and Jamaican restaurant, a wings spot, and more. However, one long-time downtown furniture store is closing its doors after over a century in the city.

Why it matters

The new business openings highlight the continued economic growth and vibrancy of Birmingham, with a diverse array of dining, retail, and service options emerging across the city. The closure of the longtime downtown furniture store, however, reflects the evolving nature of the city's retail landscape and the challenges facing some traditional brick-and-mortar businesses.

The details

The new businesses opening in Birmingham this week include Splash & Dash, a pet grooming and boutique shop in Vestavia Hills; The Village Bar & Grill, an African and Jamaican restaurant in West Birmingham; 205 Wings, a new wings spot in Avondale; Vocelli Pizza, opening a new location in Valleydale; Foo Hai, a Chinese restaurant coming to Homewood; LillieKat Rugs, expanding its rug boutique with a storefront in Pepper Place; ForgeFlex, a new 'flex venture' space opening in Chelsea; and Vuori, an athleisure brand opening its first Alabama store at The Summit. Meanwhile, the long-running Birmingham-based Standard Furniture is closing its downtown showroom after over a century in the city, though the company will maintain 12 other locations in Alabama and Tennessee.

  • Splash & Dash Groomerie & Boutique opened in Vestavia Hills in the fall of 2025.
  • The Village Bar & Grill opened in March 2026.
  • 205 Wings opened in Avondale in March 2026.
  • Vocelli Pizza is set to open its new Valleydale location in the spring of 2026.
  • Foo Hai is scheduled to open in Homewood in March or April 2026.
  • LillieKat Rugs is transforming its Pepper Place showroom into a storefront in 2026.
  • ForgeFlex is a new $3-4 million development set to open in Chelsea in 2026.
  • Vuori is opening its first Alabama store at The Summit on March 13, 2026.
  • Standard Furniture is closing its downtown Birmingham showroom in 2026 after over a century in the city.

The players

Splash & Dash Groomerie & Boutique

A new pet grooming and boutique shop that opened in Vestavia Hills, owned by longtime Cahaba Heights residents Martin and Kayla Briggs.

The Village Bar & Grill

A new restaurant in West Birmingham serving authentic African and Jamaican cuisine.

205 Wings

A new wings spot that opened in Avondale, taking over a former Rally's location.

Vocelli Pizza

A pizza franchise that is opening a new location in the Valleydale Village Shopping Center, after previously having a Greystone location.

Foo Hai

A new Chinese restaurant set to open in Homewood, part of the Atlanta-based Urban Hai restaurant group.

LillieKat Rugs

An heirloom-quality rug boutique that is expanding its Pepper Place showroom into a full storefront.

ForgeFlex

A new $3-4 million 'flex venture' development coming to Chelsea, offering warehouse, office, and storefront space for growing businesses.

Vuori

A popular athleisure brand opening its first Alabama store at The Summit in Birmingham.

Standard Furniture

A Birmingham-based furniture retailer that is closing its downtown showroom after over a century in the city, though it will maintain 12 other locations in Alabama and Tennessee.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

The new business openings in Birmingham highlight the city's continued economic growth and diversification, with a range of dining, retail, and service options emerging across different neighborhoods. However, the closure of the longtime downtown furniture store also reflects the evolving nature of the city's retail landscape and the challenges facing some traditional brick-and-mortar businesses.