A project almost 10 years in the making is almost ready in Birmingham’s Parkside District.

Urban Supply is the latest project of downtown developer Orchestra Partners and combines the company’s signature concerns – restoration of historic properties, innovative use of outdoor spaces and the creation of walkable experiences.

Some shops are already open, with more planned for the coming weeks.

It’s the company’s biggest project to date, and in some ways, the culmination of everything Principals Hunter Renfroe and John Boone have learned through various projects.

“We want people to be able to see this site, and see people there, and say, ‘Something’s happened over there; I want to check it out,” Renfroe said.

The centerpiece of Urban Supply is The Aisle, what was formerly an overgrown alley stretching from 14th Street to 12th Street in Parkside.

The project began from a conversation Renfroe and Boone had at Good People Brewing as far back as 2016. Looking at the alley, they envisioned a group of bars, restaurants, and other shops opening up into the space, drawing people downtown.

“If you look at Railroad Park as kind of a backyard,” Renfroe said, “we wanted something that would bring everyone in Parkside around a ‘living room’ space.”

The original concept for Urban Supply originally combined dining with fitness, showing a consciousness of outdoor and health concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic. But timing and demand shifted away from fitness, Renfroe said. The developers still hope to secure a full-service restaurant tenant.

Apart from the Aisle, another landmark of Urban Supply will be the Up-Down Arcade Bar – a national chain in eight major cities.

Up-Down is Birmingham’s first and only two-story container bar, constructed from four 20-foot shipping containers and one 40-foot container. The 40-foot container is inverted vertically as a tower. Cutouts spelling “Urban Supply” and “Parkside” will be internally lit, making the structure visible on the Birmingham skyline.

The centerpiece of the district’s social scene, the bar will also have a selection of vintage arcade games, pinball machines, skeeball, and console gaming, offering craft beer and pizza by the slice.

Renfroe said Urban Supply will have more signage than previous developments. But the emphasis on other aspects, such as scale, unique tenants, having mini-anchor tenants – should add to an air of constant activity.

“What you’ll notice as we get further along – we’ll do things to activate the site continuously,“ he said. ”We’re not just doing one event. We’re going to employ someone who will work to constantly activate that site.”

Other shops include:

· Dogtopia – A dog daycare, boarding, and spa with a modern, open-play environment where dogs can engage in supervised play, exercise and socialization.

· THRIVE Coworking – A workplace environment for freelancers, entrepreneurs and employees of both large and small businesses.

· Leafly Boba Bar – A Huntsville company that serves Asian-inspired tea beverages in the traditions of the boba experience.

· Fairway Social – Virtual games, including golf and non-golf games, with food and beverage. There will also be a hidden speakeasy inside, The Lodge at Fairway Social, with live music, craft cocktails and duckpin bowling.

Senior Development Manager Drew Watson said space for other tenants remains in the 113 Building and J.P. Wier Building. There are two available units that can remain separate or be combined with a total square footage of around 7,300 in the 113 Building, and 3 available units that can remain separate or be combined with a total square footage of around 9,700 in the Wier Building.