OTMJ OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL u OTMJ.COM
SPORTS
THURSDAY, JULY 15, 2021
SOCIAL
PUBLIC PEOPLE S PRIVATE PLACES
Subterranean
Journal photo by Jordan Wald
LIVING
Underground Home in Vestavia Hills Goes on the Market for the First Time In Over Two Decades Davenport’s Pizza co-owners Yates Norris and Amanda Thames, above, announced last week they would be opening a new location in Vestavia Hills in 2022.
Davenport’s Pizza Palace to Open Second Location, at Vestavia City Center
Journal photos by Lee Walls
By Emily Williams-Robertshaw
French Forbes Jr., above, with photos showing the construction of his underground home. Right, skylights of opaque glass built into the roof bring in natural light to the back rooms.
By Emily Williams-Robertshaw
I
f you were to catch French Forbes Jr. mowing his lawn, you may be surprised to see his John Deere on the roof. According to Forbes, the property at 2624 Acton Road looks like a normal house from the street. But, in fact, the three-bedroom, two-bath house is subterranean. “When people would ask where I live, I used to say I live in a hole in the ground over on Acton
See FORBES, page 16
Jim Davenport’s Pizza Palace officials on July 8 announced via social media that the company will be opening a second location, at the Vestavia City Center. In less than 24 hours, the announcement had gathered hundreds of likes on Instagram and Facebook. It should be no surprise, as the original restaurant has been a fixture in Mountain Brook Village since 1964 and owned by the same family for three generations. “It’s been great to see,” said co-owner Amanda Thames. “We knew there would be some excitement, but this has blown us away.” Thames co-owns Davenport’s with her cousin Yates Norris, both grandchildren of Davenport’s founders, Rex and Ardyce Hollis. After surviving a rough pandemic year, Davenport’s is looking forward to a bright future. “We’re glad to have 2020 behind us,” she said. “Our customers were so supportive throughout that year, but we know people are excited to get back out into the community and get back to normal.”
See DAVENPORT’S, page 6
