Years ago, Brookwood Village mall, located on the border between Mountain Brook and Homewood, was the bustling epicenter of the metro teen scene. Like many others, Birmingham’s Nonie Kirk has fond memories of working there as a high schooler in the late 80s.

“We used to form trains from Lakeshore,” she said. “I’d hold on to a power chair, someone hold on to me and so on and we would wheel down 31 to El Chico’s. [we would] Eat drink and get real merry and go back to Lakeshore!”

The once lively shopping center now stands virtually empty, with one Five Guys burger restaurant left standing as the sole remaining business after the closure of Hickory Tavern in Sept. 2023. Redevelopment plans for the property have been in limbo since 2020, as the Lede previously reported. But Mountain Brook City Manager Sam Gaston said recently that there could be an update coming soon.

Across the metro, several people have their own ideas about what should be done with the property.

“I wish they would make Brookwood mall a retirement village for our elderly, with apartments, assisted living, doctors, pet care, shopping, restaurants, etc. it would be perfect and progressive,” said Sue Sims Johnson.

Ginny Thomas also has retirement on the brain but has a slightly different vision.

“GenX retirement community complete with arcade, movie theater showing John Hughes films, Orange Julius, Farrell’s, and other favorites,” she said. “[the] Tinder Box space could be a dispensary.”

Jessica Arzen cares more about how the mall is redeveloped than what goes in it.

“My hope for the development is that they don’t mess with the creatures living happily there,” she said. “Cleaning it up a little (like removing the golf balls in the water or replanting flowers along the bridge) would be nice, but otherwise, I hope that they leave that lovely little area to thrive as it is.”

What would you like to see happen at Brookwood Village? Tell the Lede below and your thoughts could be featured in an upcoming article.