While downtown Birmingham may be best known for its top-notch restaurants and hip bars, there are some new noteworthy boutiques in the area, too. Whether you’re trying to revamp your wardrobe, shop for the perfect gift or just treat yourself, these new Birmingham boutiques have you covered, and they’re all within walking distance of your favorite downtown eateries and watering holes.
3 New Birmingham Boutiques Now Open
Square One Goods Co.
2015 1st Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35203
Hours: Closed Monday; Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Before your next brunch at The Essential, be sure to stop by Square One Goods Co. Owner Kate Hardy opened Square One in Founders Station with two goals: to offer goods unique to their downtown Birmingham shop, and to support local makers.
At Square One, you’ll find a few accessories to complete your wardrobe, but the main event here is the collection of unique gifts for any occasion. Browse Square One’s snarky greeting cards or snag a decorative pillow that declares you’re “B’HAM AF.”
One section of the store (deemed the Co.Shop) is reserved for locally made goods produced by graduates of Co.Starters, a 10-week program by Create Birmingham designed to help aspiring entrepreneurs build sustainable and thriving small businesses. The Co.Shop gives emerging entrepreneurs the chance to test out the marketability of their products and gives shoppers like you the chance to support local makers.
basic. + Honeycreeper Chocolate
2026 Morris Ave, Birmingham, AL 35203 • (205) 290-5778
basic. hours: Closed Monday; Tuesday and Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Honeycreeper hours: Closed Monday; Tuesday and Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Lacey Woodroof started basic. as an online clothing store in 2016 before opening a storefront on Morris Avenue in August 2018. Take a stroll along charming the cobblestone avenue from Carrigan’s Public House to The Essential, and just before you get to the famed Peanut Depot, you come across this boutique next door to Heidi Elnora Atelier. The shop is unique in that it houses two businesses: basic. and Honeycreeper Chocolate. That’s right, while you’re shopping for new additions to your wardrobe, you can pick up bean-to-bar chocolate and small batch truffles from craft chocolatiers around the world.
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Lacey believes the atmosphere of her shop is just as important as the clothes and accessories she sells.
“The high ceilings make it feel open and airy, and the windows along the front let in ample natural light,” she says. “Our vision was always a welcoming environment where people feel happy and safe, and we felt like that was possible here. It’s clean, bright, energetic, and it just feels good.”
Lacey describes the basic. aesthetic as “a funky juxtaposition of minimalism and spunk” and believes that’s what sets her boutique apart from others.
Lacey also hopes her customers learn something at her shop, and not just a lesson in fashion. “Our shop — both stores included — is first and foremost a place of education. Ethical manufacturing and production practices in many industries have historically been devastating on both an environmental and humanitarian level,” Lacey explains.
“The brands we work with are dedicated to the transparency of each step in the supply chain, ensuring every hand that touches a product is paid a living wage,” Lacey adds. “We hope to empower others to think past just a product on a shelf, and ultimately to practice conscious consumption in all aspects of their lives.”
And, of course, she says, it doesn’t hurt that the garments and the bonbons are exceptional, too.
Charm on 2nd
2329 2nd Ave N, Birmingham, Alabama 35203 • (205) 703-8721
Hours: Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Closed Sunday
Charm on 2nd opened in 2009, but it is now under new ownership with Rachel Bayerle and Nicole Putnam at the helm. Rachel says Charm is the place to go if you’re looking for one-of-a-kind pieces for yourself or someone else. “We’re here for someone looking for that statement piece or gift … something special,” she says.
Just across the street from Urban Standard and Yo Mama’s in the heart of the Loft District, Charm features jewelry, accessories and locally made goods. Currently, the centerpiece of the store is a gorgeous vintage couch that Rachel says folks love to lounge on when they visit the shop.
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Charm is a great place to buy an eye-catching clutch, tote or necklace, but it’s also a fun place to hang out. Rachel and Nicole host themed events like a recent Galentine’s Day party. Rachel says they have plans to open an online shop soon, too.
Next time you’re taking in the new sights of the Loft District, make a point to visit these fabulous retailers!
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