The City of Birmingham will invest $1.3 million to renovate space on the ground floor of a parking deck, turning it into a restaurant, and plans to lease the space to Yo’Mama’s.

Yo’Mama’s, a busy restaurant on Second Avenue North famous for its chicken and waffles, will move to 2098 Fourth Avenue North under the plan. That’s the parking deck directly across from the Harbert Center.

It’s a match like chicken and waffles, since Yo’Mama’s needs more space and the city needs a tenant willing to spend some of their own money. The expected cost of renovation into a restaurant is $1.7 million; Yo’Mama’s would pay about $400,000 towards that.

“They’ve been a staple in Birmingham for many years; they’ll be celebrating nine years of existence in November,” said Cornell Wesley, the city’s director of Innovation and Economic Opportunity.

The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday approved the plan to spend $1.3 million from Birmingham Parking Authority proceeds to improve the space.

Built in 1974 and expanded in 2009, the deck was planned with a retail entrance, but no tenant was ever found to develop the space.

“Deck 3 was designed with this intent in mind,” said City Council member Darrell O’Quinn.

Yo’Mama’s will lease the space from the Birmingham Parking Authority, and if the restaurant ever leaves that location, the city would find a new tenant, Wesley said.

“It’s really an investment in ourselves,” Wesley said.

“What Birmingham is known for is our night life and our food offerings in our downtown hub,” Wesley said. Helping Yo’Mama’s expand is a way to “double down on the things that we’re known for,” he said.

“We are fortunate that Yo’Mama’s is in our community,” Wesley said. “They’re a great fit.”