Two restaurant chains are coming to downtown Birmingham near the UAB campus – one bringing its first location to Alabama.

Tropical Smoothie Café and Qdoba Mexican Eats are coming to the new 5th & 20th building at 2001 5th Avenue South in the city’s Central Business District.

Martin Smith with SRS Real Estate Partners represented the landlord, RGS Properties, in the leasing. Alex McCauley with Retail Specialists represented both Tropical Smoothie Café and Qdoba Mexican Eats in the transactions.

Qdoba Mexican Eats will occupy a 2,355-square-foot end cap space at the building.

It’s the first Alabama location, and the 750th in the U.S., for the fast-casual restaurant offering Mexican-inspired cuisine.

Founded in 1995, Qdoba Mexican Eats was voted USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards “Best Fast Casual Restaurant” for the third year in a row.

The franchise announced an expansion into Alabama back in 2019. Qdoba formerly had a restaurant in Huntsville.

Tropical Smoothie Café, which offers made-to-order smoothies, wraps, sandwiches and flatbreads, will be occupying a 1,774-square-foot in-line space.

It will be Tropical Smoothie Café’s first location in the downtown area and their eighth in Alabama.

No word yet on when the restaurants will open.