By Mikala McCurry

Michael Reilly, a native of Montgomery, is with the The FiveStone Group – a Birmingham-based commercial real estate firm. They are bringing new life to the Old Cloverdale Entertainment District in Montgomery.

The FiveStone Group announced the official groundbreaking of Old Cloverdale Village, an 11,000 square foot redevelopment project located in the heart of Montgomery’s historic Old Cloverdale District. The development, which is located along East Fairview Avenue, will serve as a prime neighborhood retail hub, adding to the existing character and charm and ensuring long-term growth for current and future residents. The partnership includes Fresh Hospitality and Charles Morgan. Big Bad Breakfast, a popular Southern restaurant by award-winning restaurant owner John Currence, is one of the first confirmed tenants for the new development project.

For Michael Reilly, this development has a special meaning. He was born and raised in Montgomery, and he and his wife had their first date at the old Tomatino’s and Café Louisa building in the Old Cloverdale area that closed in 2023. This location is now part of the new development project.

“This is my home. There’s character and charm here that you can’t buy. We’re using as much of the historical features and nature of the area as we can because you cannot replace that type of history and character. It’s impossible to replicate with new construction, so we’re trying to bring back to life what was once great,” Reilly said.

The revitalization of the 109-year-old structure will breathe new life into the surrounding area and re-establish the space as a community focal point. It will also increase the overall economic and cultural integrity of the neighborhood. The development team and the City of Montgomery have also been working together on an improvement plan for the existing infrastructure surrounding the property, including updating exterior lighting and landscaping as well as adding sidewalks, walking paths, and park benches.

“A lot of the infrastructure in Old Cloverdale is more than 50 years old. We went to the City of Montgomery and told them that we wanted to come here but we needed help with the cost. The city ended up stepping forward and providing us with funds to help with infrastructure improvements. That’s the first time the city has done a deal like this,” Reilly said.

Reilly and his team hope to activate this space in the future as a true entertainment district with live music on the weekends and the opportunity for patrons to enjoy drinks outside. They also have plans to make the Old Cloverdale area more enjoyable for the community with bike trails and walking paths. They will be announcing more businesses who have committed to spaces in the development project toward the end of the year.

The FiveStone Group is a family owned and operated commercial real estate firm based in Birmingham, Alabama, with real estate development projects around the state. Their partnerships and developments span several major projects, such as Whole Foods, Brasfield & Gorrie, the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex, and The Summit Birmingham. For more information on The FiveStone Group, visit www.fivestonegroup.com.

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