By Emily WilliamsIf the first year of marriage is the hardest and starting your own business is like riding a roller coaster, combining the two milestones could seem as bad an idea as chewing tobacco on a tilt-a-whirl á la the opening scene of “The Sandlot.”The opposite has been the case for Will and Hayley DeShazo of Cahaba Heights, who have spent a large portion of … [Read more...]
The Bagel Tradition: Homewood Couple Turn Hobby Into a Growing Business
By Ingrid HowardOn top of having three kids and one more on the way, Joe and Ginny Leavens are lawyers by day, bagel bakers at night.“We divide and conquer,” Ginny said. “It’s a two-person process to prepare the bagels, shape them and get them ready, but the baking and the seeding in the mornings can usually be done by one of us. And the other one will get the kids off … [Read more...]
Feast of 48: Mountain Brook Announces Amason as Winner of 2018 Restaurant Trail Challenge
By Emily Williams In 2018, Mountain Brook Mayor Stewart Welch came up with the idea to host a Restaurant Trail challenge, inviting community members to visit 48 of the city’s restaurants in one year for the chance to win a grand prize of gift cards and packages from participating establishments. “When I first heard about it, I thought it would be really hard to eat at 48 … [Read more...]
Creating a Culture: Chef Abhi Sainju to Bring Asian-Fusion Concept to Another Over the Mountain Location
By Ingrid Howard After two years of operation at the Summit, an Asian-fusion restaurant called Abhi has experienced enough success that the owner is opening a second location, this time in Mountain Brook. Chef Abhi Sainju, the brains behind the restaurant, grew up in Nepal and has traveled around the world, trying new foods and restaurants everywhere he went. He said that he … [Read more...]
The Pig’s Projects: River Run Remodel Highlights Recent Moves to Ramp Up Offerings, Shopping Experience at OTM Area Piggly Wiggly Stores
By Emily WilliamsThe Greater Birmingham-area grocery game is changing, and Piggly Wiggly Food Stores of Jefferson County co-owner Andy Virciglio, his father Stanley Virciglio and his partners Basim and Naseem Ajlouny are working to capitalize on those changes with renovations of the River Run store in Mountain Brook.“We’ve been here [River Run] for 12 … [Read more...]