BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – The new owners of Crestwood Center are planning to invest up to $2.5 million to buy and transform the retail center into the Shoppes of Crestwood, with hopes of luring a restaurant into the vacant gas station site.
Attorney Payne Baker is one of the partners who purchased the property with hopes of sprucing it up in the neighborhood where he lives.
“We really want to update the space and make it more attractive for the neighborhood,” he said. “We would really like to have a nice restaurant – something that is neighborhood-friendly, a good family restaurant.”
A restaurant is being eyed for the vacant gas station. (contributed)
The 35,820-square-foot center includes two outparcel sites. The vacant gas station is one of two vacancies in the center and the spot Baker feels could be renovated for a restaurant.
The Shoppes at Crestwood are at the intersection of 56th Street and Crestwood Blvd. Current tenants include Crestwood Tavern, Crestwood Coffee, Urban Suburban, Urban Cottage, Subway, Romeo's Sporting Goods, State Farm and an upholstery shop.
Baker said he has lived in Crestwood for nine years and he and his wife have often eyed the center as having more potential with some improvements.
“I always thought it had a lot of character,” he said.
Built between 1953 and 1957, the property had been owned by the same family until Baker purchased it. It was last renovated in 1998.
Baker has done other real estate development, but this is his first retail center.
Cahaba Realty Management will manage the center.