A new Birmingham Barons (Class AA; Southern League) ballpark is apparently having the effect civic leaders wanted: attracting new business downtown. Here’s an account from a restaurant owner opening a new place near the ballpark.
Though the plans aren’t final, local investor John Lauriello is putting together a group of investors to open a new restaurant near the ballpark. He spoke about downtown development with the Birmingham Business Journal:
There are young companies, entrepreneur-type folks, that are giving Birmingham a new look. I can’t tell you how refreshing that is. That’s so neat. Us old hats have been waiting for this kind of activity.
I think downtown has a brighter future now than in the past 42 years I’ve been here.
The new Barons ballpark is scheduled to open next season.
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