11th Avenue South

Eleventh Avenue South (originally Avenue K) is an east-west avenue‎ in Birmingham's Southside, with its main section stretching through the Five Points South neighborhood (including the UAB Campus) from 11th Street South to 22nd Street South. The 5-way intersection of 11th, 20th Street South, and Magnolia Avenue, give Five Points South its name. Additional sections of 11th Avenue South can be found in the residential sections of Highland Park, Forest Park, and Crestwood South.

One of the residential sections of 11th forms the eastern half of the northern border of the Highland Park Golf Course, from 38th Street South to almost Glen View Road.

MAX Transit Routes 14, 39, and 42 have stops on 11th Avenue.

History

What is now 11th Court South from 21st Street South to the road's terminus at Highland Avenue was originally 11th Avenue. The current section of 11th Avenue between 21st and 22nd Streets was originally named Rose Avenue. The two roads appear to have been renamed in the 1900s or early 1910s.

The section of 11th between a short segment of 24th and 26th Streets was originally Bay Avenue. It originally extended west of 24th, connecting to Highland, but that part is now an alley with stairs at the end leading up to Highland. The next section, between 26th and 28th Streets, was originally Madison Avenue. Both appear to have been renamed as 11th Avenue in the 1910s.

Notable locations

For an alphabetical list of locations, see the 11th Avenue South category.

Five Points South neighborhood

• avenue begins at 10th Avenue South
  • 1101: University Flats
  • 1115: Glen Iris Elementary School
  • 1137: former location of Snoozy's College Bookstore (2000)

• 11th Place South intersects (south only)
  • 1142: BB's Above & Beyond Barber Shop, former location of Bill Smith's Tailors & Dry Cleaning (1983), Law Tax Service (2000)
  • 1146: former location of Jenkins Brothers barber shop (2000), 205 Flava store
  • 1148: former location of Chris' Famous Hot Dogs / Chris' Delicatessen & Grill (1983-1987), Fat Sam's hot dogs & hamburgers (2000), My Town My Team (2018-2019)
  • 1150: 11th Avenue Package Store
  • 1154: Saw's Southside (2018-), former location of Sub Station (1985-), Bob's, Fat Sam's Sub Station (March 1990-October 2016)
  • 1157: former location of Alpha Lambda Chi (2000)
  • 1158: former location of Attitudes hair salon / Susan Porterfield beauty & barber equipment (2000)
  • 1161: Serig

• Cullom Street intersects (south only)
  • 1160: St Joseph's House (built c. 1901), Episcopal Counseling Center (2000)
  • 1169: University Laundromat (2000–)
  • 1180: St Andrew's Episcopal Church (built 1915)

• 12th Street South intersects
  • 1200-1280: parking lot, former site of 11th Avenue United Methodist Church (built 1904, demolished 2009)
    • 1200: former location of Brooks Drugs, W. C. Wood's Drug Store, Giles Drugs, Modern Drugs
    • 1202: former location of Hill's Food Store, Pounds
  • 1201–1231: UAB Hospital-Highlands (2006–), former location of South Highlands Infirmary (1910–1971), South Highlands Hospital (1971–1989), HealthSouth Medical Center (1989–2006)

• 13th Street South intersects
  • 1324: Highland Manor Apartments
  • former site of Tower Court Apartments

• 14th Street South intersects
  • 1413: Grant's
  • 1429: Papa John's Pizza (2000–)
  • 1431: CVS Pharmacy (2000–), former location of Big B Drugs

• 15th Street South intersects (south only)
  • 1501: Hungry Howie's, former location of Fabric Care Center (2000)
  • 1503: former location of Shop-A-Snax food mart (2000)
  • 1505: former location of J. W. McClain architect (1904)
  • 1509: Legacy Community Federal Credit Union branch, former location of University Federal Credit Union (2000)
  • 1521: former location of Southeastern Comprehensive Head Injury Center (2000)
  • 1530: Rast Hall

• 16th Street South intersects
  • UAB tennis courts
  • 1605: former location of Bridge International / Muscular Therapy (2000)
  • 1613: acquired by UAB in 2019, former location of Fredrick Smith dentist (2000), Pediatric Dental Associates (-2019)
  • 1617: former location of George Hatzigeorgis physician (2000)
  • 1629: former location of Alabama Medical Disability Examinations (2000)
  • 1633: former location of Christopher Kahn dentist (2000)

Medical Towers building in 2018

• 17th Street South intersects
  • north side:
    • 1700–1730: UAB Parking Lot 15W
      • 1704: former location of office building
      • 1714: formerly Jack Weiss dentist (2000), Robert Turner Optical
  • south side:
    • 1701: 1701 Building, UAB Undergraduate Admissions, former location of National Bank of Commerce (2000)
    • 1715: 1715 Building
    • 1717–1731: Medical Towers Building, Podiatry Associates, former location of Pier Eleven seafood restaurant

• 18th Street South intersects
  • north side:
    • 1800: UAB Center for Biophysical Sciences and Engineering
    • 1814–1830: Southside Branch Library (built 1996), former site of Thomas Parke residence (-1955), Parke Memorial Branch Library (1955-1996)
  • south side:
    • 1801–1805: Five Points South Pawn building
      • 1801: Sneaker Laundry / The Shoe Clinic (2016–2019), former location of Skelton Optical Co. (2000–2015)
      • 1803: former location of Good Times Video (1989), The Vault (2000), Five Points South Pawn (2000–2015), Muscular Solutions massage therapy (2017)
      • 1805: Fresh Avenue grooming & style (2016–2019), former location of Trinity Gospel Ministries (2000), Silver Linings (2015)
    • 1815: Penn Properties
    • 1821–1829: South Highland Station post office

• 10th Court South (northwest only)/19th Street South intersect
  • north side:
    • Southside Baptist Church
    • 1900–1906: strip shopping center
      • 1900A: former location of Modern Hearing Center (1971-2016)
      • 1900B: MetroPCS (2016–), former location of H. & R. Block (2008), James Bond Inc. bail bonds (2011–2015)
      • 1900C: former location of Metro Cellular Center (2000)
      • 1900D: former location of Cameo Corner jewelry (2000)
      • 1904: Raymond's Five Points Market / Five Points Hot Dogs (1971-)
      • 1906: former location of H. & R. Block (2000), Louis Josof Realty (2011)
      • 1906B (marked 1910): former location of Magic Needle alterations (2000–2011), watch repair (2016)
    • 1908-1912: Boothby Realty Building (built c. 1925)
      • 1908: Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q (2003-), former location of Breckinridge Brewery (-1999), 11th Avenue Grill (1999-2003)
    • 1910-1918: Surin West restaurant
      • 1912: former location of B & W Laundry (1960), Melons Restaurant
      • 1914-1918: Five Points Theatre (built c. 1922, remodeled 1936), former location of U.S. Post Office (1983), AJ's (1994), Taco Mac (2000)
        • 1914: Clyde Houston's (1992)
        • 1918: Hopper's (1992), Surin West restaurant (1995-)
    • 1920-1922: 1922 Shropshire & Daniel building, former location of Shropshire & Daniel grocery (1922-1939)
      • 1920: former location of Five Points Record Bar (1946)
      • 1922: former location of Toner's Tournament Club restaurant (1982-1983)
    • 1924: Five Points Grocery building (built c. 1913), Little Italy's Pies & Pints, former location of Five Points Grocery, Scott's Apothecary (1983)
      • 1924½: former location of Esquire Club (Izez Mezrano 1958-1959), Charlemagne Record Exchange (1977–2020)
    • 1926-1934: Studio Arts Building (1910-1987, rebuilt 1994)
      • 1926: former location of Five Points Paint & Hardware (1949), Five Points South Speedwash (1971), Arthur's Fine Jewelry (1985)
      • 1928: former location of Studio night club (1995-), Eleven20 night club (2006), Bacchus night club (2011-2015), and SKKY night club (2015-2017)
        • 1928B: former location of Firehouse Subs
      • 1930-1932: Waffle House, former location of 5-Points Bootery, Bon Ton Sandwich Shop, Little Bombers Lounge, Joe (bar), Poor Willie's, Five Points Steak House (1971), Johnny Rockets, Schaeffer Eye Center
        • 1930: former location of Five Points Jewelers & News (1941)
        • 1932: former location of Grand Shoe Repairing (1949)
  • south side:
    • 1901-1905: Fred Jones building (built 1928), Fred S. Jones & Co. caterers (1928-1968), Golden Temple natural grocery (1975-)
      • • 1901½: Birmingham Festival Theatre
      • 1903: former location of a frame shop (-1993)
      • 1905: former location of Five Points Bowling Center (1941)
      • 1909: Ikko restaurant (August 2017-), former location of coin laundry / Flamingo Dry Cleaners (2000), Spring Aire Cleaners
    • 1915-1933: Munger Building (built 1928)
      • 1915: formerly Five Points Beauty Salon (1941), Apple Books (1980-1984), Lion & Unicorn (1985–1990)
      • 1917: former location of Joe (bookstore) (1974-1977), The Darkroom (1980s), Snap & Back photo processing (2000)
      • 1919: former location of Jimmy John's (closed January 2019)
        • 1919B: Insomnia Cookies
      • 1921: former location of Little Forest (2013)
      • 1923: Alchemy, former location of Five Points Paint & Hardware (1941-), McNolia's cards & gifts (2000–2016)
      • 1925: former location of J. B. Christopher Collection eyewear (2000), iii's eyewear
      • 1927: Filter Coffee Parlor (2018-), former location of Harmon's Beauty Salon (1928-), Madame Husted boutique (1950s), Lawrence Hi-Fi Center (1950s-1960s), L. A. Ventures hair stylists (2000), Starbucks Coffee (2001-2017)
      • 1931: Original Pancake House (2000–), former location of Martin Flowers (1936-1980s), SouthPoint restaurant (1984-1987), Edgar's Grill (1989)

• 20th Street South/Magnolia Avenue (northeast only) intersect (Five Points South)
  • north side:
    • Storyteller fountain
    • Highlands United Methodist Church (formerly Five Points Methodist Episcopal Church; former site of Phillip Alosi’s Palace Market)
    • 2018: Village Bridal (November 2018-), former location of Kempis Press, Gerard's mens & boys clothing / Mia's family clothing (2000), Alexander Eton clothier (2014-2017)
    • 2020: LaSalle Apartments
      • 2020B: Renaissance Records, former location of Lodestar Books (1985)
    • 2030: Dulion Apartments
      • 2030A: former location of Agnes art gallery, Bad Seed videos (2000), Studio 2030
      • 2030B: former location of Cartoon Gallery (-1997), Jinx gifts (1997–1998), Princess gifts (2000)
      • 2030C: former location of The Town Piper (2000)
  • south side:
    • 2001-2011: Spanish Stores (built 1926)
      • 2003: former location of Pigford & Carraway architects
      • 2005: Chez Fonfon (2000-), former location of Simonton's, COM Design Sources / Moody & Associates interiors (2000), Sideshow Gallery,
      • 2007: former location of Jane Meade Dresses (1955)
      • 2011: Highlands Bar and Grill (1982-)
    • 2015: former location of Stansel Law Firm (2000)
    • 2025: former location of the Arnold Residence (c. 1903)
    • 2031: 1st Church of Christ, Scientist (built 1911), Presley Burton & Collier, former location of Five Points Chapel, Giattina Fisher Aycock, Slaughter Hanson & Associates

• Richard Arrington Jr Boulevard South (21st Street South)/11th Court South (east only) intersect
  • 2112: Plaza Building, former location of Volkert & Associates

• 21st Place South intersection (north only)
  • 2140: Park Building
  • Ridge Park (formerly Rust Engineering)

• avenue ends at 22nd Street South
• avenue continues northeast at 10th Court South

Highland Park

• 24th Street South intersects (northwest only; road terminus)
• 26th Street South intersects (road does not align)
  • 2601–2603: Southside Townhouses
  • Claridge Manor Apartments
• 27th Street South intersects
  • 2721: Robert Ingalls residence
• 28th Street South intersects (road does not align)
• 28th Place South intersects
• avenue ends at Rhodes Circle

Forest Park-South Avondale

• avenue resumes at 38th Street South
  • 3824: John Schnorrenberg residence
• avenue ends at Cliff Road

Crestwood North

• avenue resumes at 53rd Street South
• avenue resumes at 58th Street South

References

• Schoel, H. (1892). Map of the City of Birmingham, Alabama and Suburbs. Accessed via Historical Maps of Jefferson County on June 6, 2014.
• Cram, George F. (1898). "Birmingham" from Cram's Universal Atlas, Geographical, Astronomical and Historical. Accessed via Historical Maps of Jefferson County on April 8, 2010.
• Kelley's Map of Birmingham, Alabama. (1911). Kelley Company. Accessed via Historical Maps of Jefferson County on June 6, 2014.
• Grefenkamp's Map of Birmingham, Alabama. (1914). A.J. Grefenkamp & Co. Accessed via Historical Maps of Jefferson County on June 6, 2014.