December 2012 13
280Living.com
Business Happenings Nordstrom to open first Alabama store in River Ridge Colonnade
Asian Rim offers ocean of flavors
Asian Rim Sushi Company, a full-service restaurant featuring a diverse menu, opened Nov. 4 in the Colonnade. Owner Roy Hockman, a former franchisee of 14 Outback Steakhouse restaurants, said high quality, exciting food is the epicenter of Asian Rim. “I consulted dozen culinary teams across country and selected a team of ‘cuisine wizards’ from Seattle,” he said. “The team came to Birmingham three weeks ago and knocked it out of park.” Hockman said Asian Rim was also able to capture and perfect other dimensions of the dining experience. He said the location is a “cut above in hospitality” and includes an upscale theme developed to give off a “wow factor” for new guests. Since its opening, Hockman said items from the sushi menu have been the best sellers, with guests gravitating toward the Lotus Roll, which includes crab, spicy tuna and crispy Lotus Root, and the Toomer’s Corner and Roll Tide rolls. Each roll comes with a signature dipping sauce designed to complement specific flavors, he said, but guests shouldn’t overlook other flavorful dishes like Certified Angus steaks and Singapore Pork Ribs. Catering is available at Asian Rim, as well as a “Grab and Go” cooler for self serve and self pay sushi, salads and sandwiches. The restaurant is located at 3419 Colonnade Parkway. For more, or to place an order, call 490-1444 or visit AsianRim.com. Greystone
Crossfit 280 now catering to all levels of conditioning
Crossfit 280, the latest Birmingham branch to offer the Crossfit workout program, is now open in Greystone Park. The site holds regular classes on weekdays that can be personalized to fit any level of physical conditioning, said owner Kevin Williams. Williams said workouts at Crossfit 280 are comprised of various functional movements at varying intensity meant to achieve fast results for those dedicated to the program. Workouts are set in a sport atmosphere with a coach. Williams said he was a testament to the effectiveness of the Crossfit program. Before he began, he was a cyclist who could ride 100 miles at a time, he said. Then, in 2008, he stumbled into a Crossfit gym. “I thought I was in shape, but that first workout exposed a lot of weaknesses in my physical capacity,” he said. “Since then, I’ve trained in the Crossfit modality and last year I was certified to be an instructor.” Williams said classes include about eight to 10 people and one coach, and are held MondayFriday at 5:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., noon and 6:30 p.m. The gym is also open Saturday from 8 a.m.9 a.m. Crossfit 280 is located at 5511 Highway 280, Suite 122. To sign up for free session or learn more, visit crossfit280.com, or call 202-1FIT (202-1348). River Ridge
Nordstrom Rack coming in 2013
Upscale retailer Nordstrom will open its first store in Alabama on Highway 280. The location will be a Nordstrom Rack store and feature the company’s variety of high-end merchandise at discount prices. According to the company’s website, Nordstrom. com, the store is scheduled to open in spring 2013. It will be located in the River Ridge Shopping Center, which is anchored by a SuperTarget, in the former site of Linens ‘n Things. Inverness Corners
The Urban Barn offering boutique brands
The Urban Barn is now open in Inverness Corners and is designed to cater to boutique shoppers in the Highway 280 area. The store features country style
clothing with an urban appeal, as well as jewelry, handbags, boots and other gifts. Owner Colleen Burback said The Urban Barn carries sizes for teens through 3x, and will soon be expanding its selection of clothing for ‘tweens. The store is located at 830 Inverness Corners, and is open Monday-Thursday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sunday from noon-5 p.m. For more, call 451-8888 or find the store on Facebook. Chelsea/ Westover
The Cuckoo’s Nest now open
Brook Highland resident Angela Tenbarge has opened The Cuckoo’s Nest, a gift and home store, in Westover. The store held its grand opening on Nov. 10. The Cuckoo’s Nest sells gifts, baby gifts and home accessories. For the holidays, it has nutcrackers, ornaments, holiday dishes, table clothes, wine bottle covers, nativity scenes and other seasonal items stocked. Year round it sells lamps, coffee tables, candles potpourri, cards, clocks, jewelry, journals, frames, afghans, pillows, dog beds and more. The Cuckoo’s Nest is located at 4222 Old Highway 280 and can be reached at 678-7220. Store hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The Summit
Seasons 52 to open next year Seasons 52, a fresh grill and wine bar, announced plans last month to open its first Alabama store on the former site of Sweet Bones in The Summit in Spring 2013. The restaurant, according to a release, will bring approximately 100 jobs to the area. “We are excited to bring Seasons 52 to Birmingham. This is an ideal setting for our guests – people who celebrate living well while enjoying upscale dining, shopping and entertainment,” said Stephen Judge, president of Seasons 52, in a prepared statement. Menus at Seasons 52 change four times a year to capture the flavors of each season. Nothing on the menu is more than 475 calories, and the wine list features more than 100 wines. Seasons 52 offers notable menu selections such as Steak and Cremini Mushroom Flatbread, Cedar Plank Salmon, Caramelized Sea Scallops and Maui Tuna Crunch Salad. The Summit location will feature a warm ambiance, a custom-built wine cellar, a large outdoor patio and piano bar featuring live music nightly. Additionally, the restaurant will offer three private dining rooms and an exclusive chef’s table. “The addition of Seasons 52 will provide shoppers with a unique, new dining experience that fits in perfectly with the exciting retail environment here at The Summit,” said Jeffrey Bayer, CEO of Bayer Properties. “Birmingham is a great place to live and work and I believe that Seasons 52 promotes the same positive lifestyle benefits that are valued in the region.” To learn more, visit seasons52.com.
Upscale kitchenware retailer comes to The Summit
Seattle-based Kitchenware retail chain Sur La Table opened its 6,200-square-foot store in The Summit in November. The store, designed to be attractive to cooks of all experience levels, features a multitude of both upscale and affordable kitchen items and includes in-store demonstrations and cooking classes as part of its model. Upcoming classes at The Summit location include “Date Night: Surf & Turf” and “Holiday Macarons” among many others. To register for classes, call 298-6382 or email cooking119@ surlatable.com. Holiday store hours are Monday-Saturday from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m.9p.m. To learn more, call 968-7664 or email slt119@surlatable.com.