FOOD
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Families Own
Thursday, January 14, 2021 • 27
OvenBird is one of the many restaurants participating in BRW.
Neighborhood-Owned Ice Cream Shop Coming to West Homewood
For the Community
The shop will be the first community-owned business in Homewood. “We’re looking forward to it,” John McElheny said. “We think the ice cream shop will be a benefit to the community. We’re not concerned about any financial award. We think it will be a great place to gather, socialize and foster relationships.” Simmons is overjoyed Neighbors will be an ice cream shop. “I worked for Baskin-Robbins at one time,” Simmons said, “so this a passion for me. It’s in my blood. Besides, who doesn’t love ice cream?” Derek Waltchack, owner of the Westwood
See NEIGHBORS, page 28
HEATING UP the DINING SCENE Birmingham Restaurant Week’s Winter Edition Is Set for Jan. 14-31
By Donna Cornelius While COVID-19 has taken a heavy toll on the food and beverage industry, one of Birmingham’s tastiest events isn’t just surviving but thriving. Birmingham Restaurant Week set records in the fall and provided much-needed support not only for the city’s restaurants, bars and food trucks but also for the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama. BRW organizers are working hard to make the winter version of the event, set for Jan. 14-31 with Spire as its title sponsor, equally strong. Birmingham Restaurant Week is an opportunity for food and drink lovers who want to experience new taste adventures or revisit favorite spots to choose special two- and three-course breakfast, lunch and dinner prixfixe menus ranging from $5 to $50 per person. BRW has adapted to COVID-19 concerns and restrictions by adding to-go and curbside pickup options to traditional dine-in experiences, which will be limited with health precautions in mind. Many participating restaurants are preparing to expand their outdoor and patio seating with high-powered heating, cabana tents and other innovations designed to keep guests safe – and warm. BRW’s slogan, “For the Love of Local,” is
Journal file photo
School activities at Hall-Kent Elementary in Homewood had become get-to-know-yourneighbors events, and as some of those families got to know each other better, they decided to open a business to benefit the community. Sometime in March or April, Neighbors West Homewood, a new neighborhood-owned ice cream shop concept, will open. Neighbors recently signed a lease in the newly renovated Westwood Shopping Center. Thirteen West Homewood families came together to start the business, making it the first neighborhood-owned business in the area. The shop will serve a variety of flavors of ice cream, candy and other sweets. “The families who are a part of this are all connected,” said Paul Simmons, who, along with his wife, Apryl, are part of the ownership group. “A lot of our kids go to Hall-Kent, and when we attended an event, we got to know each other, and as our relationships grew, we decided since we love our neighbors and our neighborhood, why not invest in it.” The families hope Neighbors will bring more value to the neighborhood. “We’re excited to bring a local ice cream shop back to the West Homewood neighborhood,” said Michael Eady, spokesman for the ownership group. “However, we’re most excited to have an ownership group that properly represents the true diversity of our neighborhood. Each of the families investing in this business desires to serve our neighbors well and recruit others to eat, shop and live in West Homewood.” The following families own Neighbors: the Simmons, John and Leslie McElheny, Will and Jana Flinkow, Payton and Heather Junkin, Jonathan and Maria Fleisher, Carlos and Mercedes Alemán, Bernard and Stephanie Mays, Michael and Sarah Beth Eady, Christopher and Jenna Bailey, David and Rebekah Ytterberg, Andrew and Trista Wolverton, Erik and Lauren Gibson, Johnny and Courtney Grimes, Brittany and Robert Sturdivant, Matt and Amanda Leach, J.W. and Becky Carpenter.
Photo Courtesy Birmingham Restaurant Week
By Rubin E. Grant
‘Restaurants need help more than ever right now, and Restaurant Week provides that.’ AL RABIEE, OWNER OF VINO IN ENGLISH VILLAGE
particularly apt during these times. “Spire is once again excited to partner with Birmingham Restaurant Week in supporting our local restaurants,” said Joe Hampton, president of Spire Alabama, Gulf
Coast and Mississippi. “As we enter into the winter months, these local restaurants need our support more than ever. With plenty of curbside and to-go options available, this winter’s event will be a great example of how we can continue to move forward and get through this – together.” Alabama’s $9 billion leisure and hospitality industry has been hit hard during the pandemic, accounting for more than 40% of all jobs lost since March, according to the state Department of Labor. About 75% of Alabama’s 8,620 eating and drinking establishments are independently owned, and those restaurants are far more vulnerable to potential closure because of lost business during the pandemic, analysts reported in a study published in National Restaurant Week. Because of the negative effects that COVID-19 had on the restaurant industry, BRW 2020, held Aug. 14-31, stepped up its efforts so that participants saw meaningful results. Post-event surveys showed a 54% average increase in sales for participants compared to recent non-BRW weeks. With almost 60 participants, BRW 2020 came up with a whole new recipe for to-go and curbside pickup options. Only locally owned businesses were allowed to participate, as nearly 65% of the revenue from local inde-
See BRW, page 28
