“We took a risk by putting in a café here. This is our community, it’s a family-owned business.”
East 59 Vintage and Cafe moved into Eastlake, a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, in May. Five months later, owner Anna Brown, says the risk was worth taking.
“It’s a community near and dear to our heart, but to see other businesses along the block get involved in revitalization efforts is awesome.”
Brown and others are transforming this community, from creating a mural to now creating a courtyard.
Donnell Cole-Price with REV Birmingham says, “Some of the revitalization that has taken place, it’s not just a commercial district, it’s also the neighborhood and community members as well.”
REV Birmingham has been involved in a number of physical changes here from landscaping to painting and adding art to empty store fronts.
Donnell says, “Number one it’s important to have a vibrant, livable, viable community in your own community, your own back yard.”