For the Love of Birmingham

Starting in 1988, we set out to restore, sustainably refurbish, and redefine a few blocks of crumbling warehouses centered around Birmingham’s old Dr. Pepper bottling facility. Today, Pepper Place includes over 350,000 square feet of retail, office, and creative workshop space peppered with high-end local businesses, chef-led restaurants, art galleries, historic exhibits, and conversation spaces for gathering or tucking away.

Pepper Place is a place to shop and eat, yes, but more importantly, it’s a place full of opportunity. Here, we open up to chance encounters, moments of connection, inspiration, and quirk in a walkable historic district that’s uniquely Birmingham.

Our History
 

Good Green Sense

 
 

Adaptive reuse is inherently greener than new construction, but sustainability is also a core value of Pepper Place. Since breaking ground, we’ve worked to implement sustainable solutions throughout our spaces, including selecting energy-efficient fixtures and finishes, installing and maintaining lush outdoor gathering spots, and aligning with local businesses that share our goals.

KEY SUSTAINABILITY FEATURES

  • Automatic lights and CFL/LED lighting

  • Low-flow toilets and locally sourced quartz countertops

  • Low-VOC, High LRV paint

  • Skylights and reflective roofs

  • Permeable paving and bioswales

  • Extensive outdoor spaces and gathering spots with green landscaping

Causing a Stir…

We’ve received nods and good notes from press friends far and wide thanks to our hardworking small businesses, curated national brands, and award-winning Farmers Market.

 

Our History

Persistence is Sweet

The story of Pepper Place is the story of Birmingham’s resilience. The opening of the Dr. Pepper plant marked a positive shift in fortune for our city during the Great Depression, just as our reopening in 1988 represented a renewed focus on our city's core. Today, and looking forward, Pepper Place continues to preserve, revitalize, and celebrate our city’s vibrancy.

 
  • Black and white photograph of a group of men and women standing in front of a building labeled Dr. Pepper Bottling Company. The building has signs indicating bottle filling times and a large clock. The people appear to be workers and managers, dressed in period clothing, including some in uniform and others in formal attire with hats.

    1885

    Dr. Pepper is invented in Waco, Texas, by pharmacist Charles Alderton. It is the oldest major brand of American soft drinks.

  • A vintage map of the southeastern United States highlighting major cities and regions, with illustrations of commercial buildings over Dallas and Birmingham.

    1920s

    Dr. Pepper’s growing popularity leads to plans to build two new plants, one in Dallas and the other in Birmingham.

  • A black and white photo of an industrial power plant with multiple smokestacks, cooling towers, and utility structures. The foreground shows a dirt area with scattered debris and a set of railroad tracks.

    Early 1930s

    Extremely low demand for pig iron caused by the Great Depression forces Sloss Furnaces to greatly reduce production, creating a labor crisis in Birmingham.

  • Black and white photo of an industrial machine in a factory with workers, pipes, and machinery setup on a tiled platform.

    1931

    The Dr. Pepper Plant officially opens in Birmingham, providing the city with renewed purpose and hope.

  • A painted advertisement on a brick wall for Dr. Pepper. It features the slogan 'Drink a Bite to Eat' and mentions the drink is good for life. The ad indicates the establishment is open from 10 AM to 2 AM and 4 PM. There is a circular logo with a cartoon man wearing a tall hat and monocle, with the text 'Join the Club' beside it.

    1932

    “Drink a Bite to Eat at 10, 2, and 4 o’clock” launches as Dr. Pepper’s first major advertising campaign, and three-handed clocks become a major symbol for the brand.

  • Empty industrial space with large windows, brick walls, and wooden beams, illuminated by sunlight.

    1982

    Buffalo Rock buys the rights to bottle and distribute Dr. Pepper products in the Birmingham area, forcing the plant’s closure.

  • An older woman and man are embracing and smiling together outdoors in front of brick buildings.

    1986

    Cathy Sloss Jones begins talks of purchasing the facility to activate Birmingham’s Lakeview neighborhood and bring people back to the city core.

  • A woman in a yellow dress walking on an outdoor patio of a store called FarmStand by Stone Hollow Farmstead, with black chairs and tables, potted plants, and a large storefront window with a striped awning.

    1988

    Pepper Place reopens as a “Design District,” a creative mixed-use campus under the wing of Sloss Real Estate.

  • People shopping at an outdoor market with white tents, trees, and a building in the background on a sunny day.

    2000

    The Farmers Market at Pepper Place, now a Saturday staple, enjoys its first season.

  • Outdoor patio area with umbrellas and tables in front of a brick building with large windows. The building has signage that reads 'Martin Biscuit Co.' and smaller signs for 'Epic' and 'Cantina.' There is a large green tree on the left side and various plants in the foreground.

    2015

    Pepper Place expands to over 350,000 square feet with the acquisition of the Martin Biscuit Building and surrounding warehouses.

  • Exterior view of Ovenbird restaurant at dusk with patio seating, potted plants, and a sign with the restaurant's name.

    Fall of 2015

    OvenBird, headed by James Beard award-winning chef Chris Hastings, opens in Pepper Place, adding to the city’s reputation as a food destination.

  • A small outdoor eating area with a modern roof structure, surrounded by parked cars and trees, in a commercial district during early evening.

    2020

    Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams opens at Pepper Place. It is the brand’s first location in Alabama, located at 219 29th Street South with a small “jewel-box” scoop shop and patio seating designed by local architect Amanda Loper.

  • Two people sitting on a brick ledge outdoors, smiling at the camera, with a white building background and a large promotional banner behind them. One woman is wearing a headscarf, red long-sleeve shirt, and blue pants, with sandals on the grass nearby. The man wears sunglasses, a baseball cap, a long-sleeve navy shirt, and light green pants, with a large bag resting on his lap.

    2022

    The Jones Valley Trail is extended to connect directly to Pepper Place, greatly improving the walkability and vibrancy of the area.

    Pepper Place hosts the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP), uplifting Birmingham’s growing food scene to the national stage.

  • Nighttime street view of a brick building with illuminated porch lights, potted plants, and a sign that reads 'Schumacher Patterson Flynn'.

    2025

    Pepper Place welcomes national design brands Kravet and Schumacher.

    Michelin recognizes Pepper Place restaurants Ovenbird (Bib Gourmand) and Hot & Hot Fish Club (Michelin Recommended Restaurant).

    Pepper Place Farmers Market celebrates 25 years.