Green Springs shopping center poised for new life

Two new businesses and infrastructure improvements are expected to keep the Green Springs Shopping Center at the corner of Oxmoor Road and Green Springs Highway looking attractive.

The closing of Food World and Blockbuster Video last year threatened to keep the shopping center from full occupancy. Park Grimmer, president of Grimmer Realty, said the situation has been remedied with the addition of Mi Pueblo and Lux Beauty Supply.

Grimmer said the new businesses are only a small part of efforts to assure the shopping center remains nice-looking.

“We’re going to spruce up the whole shopping center,” he said.

Lux Beauty Supply opened this month in the old Blockbuster Video building. Grimmer said Mi Pueblo is scheduled to open sometime in May or June, depending on renovations to the space previously occupied by Food World.

Mi Pueblo currently operates a smaller Homewood store at 813 Green Springs Highway. Owner Joel Rivera describes Mi Pueblo as a “multicultural supermarket.”

“It’s not only Mexican products, we also have products from here, the United States, Mexico, Central America, South America, Puerto Rico, Asia, Africa, Jamaica and India,” he said.

Rivera said relocating to a larger space would allow the store to more adequately meet customers’ needs.

“We have been in this area since 2009, and we have grown so much that we feel like moving our store to a bigger location will help us be able to cover the needs that the customers have,” he said.

The store will encompass 38,500 square feet, and another 2,500 square feet will be used for a restaurant serving authentic Mexican food to eat there or take out. The restaurant will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner and will include a buffet as well as a menu.

Grimmer said improvements to the shopping center are expected to be completed about the same time Mi Pueblo opens and include repainting facades, upgrading lighting, resealing and restriping the parking lot, and landscaping.

“It will definitely improve the looks of the shopping center and that area,” he said.

The new businesses will also bring a different look to the shopping center with the signs advertising each establishment and a distinctive appearance for each building.

The Homewood City Council approved sign variances for Mi Pueblo and Lux Beauty Supply at its Feb. 24 meeting. City Engineer Greg Cobb said changes include a larger sign for Mi Pueblo than one used by Food World and the addition of a sign in the rear of the building that can be seen from Interstate 65.

Lux received variances for signs that can be seen from Green Springs Highway, in addition to a sign in the back that faces the shopping center because it is separate from other businesses in the strip mall.

“If it (a sign) doesn’t meet the ordinance, it has to go before the City Council for a variance,” Cobb said.

Grimmer said the building where Lux Beauty Supply is located will also have a different look, with the blue canopies used by Blockbuster replaced by metal awnings.

Apart from the look the new businesses will bring, Grimmer anticipates shoppers will enjoy the same experience they’re accustomed to — with a fresher appearance.

“It’s pretty much going to stay the same, it’s just going to be cleaned up and brightened up,” he said.

Other businesses in the shopping center include Kmart, Fred’s, A 1 Nails, Stellar Staffing, Compass Bank and offices for Grimmer Realty Co. Inc.

Homewood Mayor Scott McBrayer said he’s excited about the addition of Mi Pueblo and Lux Beauty Supply to the shopping center.

“We’ve been blessed in Homewood to be able to bring in good businesses,” he said.

McBrayer said having the shopping center fully occupied again would help all businesses located there.

“The more traffic you have in the area where there are businesses, the better off you are,” he said. “All the stores will benefit by them being there. It brings customers into a specific area.”