Story by Carol Pappas
Staff photos
It’s hard to miss the excitement building all around Leeds these days. From a flurry of business activity around the Interstate 20 interchanges to the commercial district on Ashville Road to the resurrection of downtown as a thriving center, the enthusiasm surrounding the growth is evident.
One of the best examples is found in historic downtown, where specialty shops, popular eateries, old favorites and professional services have found a home.
Leeds is a quaint, little city nestled just minutes from Birmingham and Anniston. Its historic downtown lends much charm with local shops, boutiques and architecture reminiscent of days gone by.
Visit the iconic Pants Store for clothing and shoe brands you know and love, a store that has been in business since 1950. For the past seven decades, shoppers from miles around have made it their destination point because of the selection, customer service and pricing.
This family-owned endeavor – still in the same family today – has expanded to Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Huntsville and Trussville, crediting its longevity to founder Taylor Gee’s philosophy – “always put the customer first and make sure of their satisfaction.”
Then stroll over to Merch Boutique for boutique women’s clothing in sizes XS-3X along with baby up to tween sizes for the kiddos as well as accessories, home décor and more.
Head next door to Mum & Me Boutique for a shopping experience you won’t soon forget. Celebrating four years in business as a boutique specializing in local, Southern and American gifts and crafts, Mum & Me has a little something for anyone special in your life.
Gifts range from baby and infant wear, baby shower gifts and registry, to bath products made in Texas and Virginia, Sorrelli dazzling jewels and a wide selection of jewelry made by American hands. An expanded boutique features beautiful, “wearable” ladies clothing. “We have jeans that fit a lady’s body like she was still 18,” said owner Neva Reardon.
Mum’s Unique Consignment Boutique is the latest sister store to mum & me mercantile. A quaint shop specializing in finer consignments of jewelry, purses, shoes, children’s clothing birth to tween, adult women and menswear – all sporting finer boutique brands. Are you going to a formal or getting married? Mum’s Unique is a first-stop must. And their collectibles are quite a draw.
Hungry or need to satisfy a sweet tooth craving? Stop in at the Three Earred Rabbit for a delicious meal with choices of homemade soups and sandwiches made from scratch, salads and fresh baked goodies that will make your taste buds go wild.
One-of-a-kind cakes and other tasty desserts are made fresh every day.
Mills Pharmacies is your next stop with that hometown pharmacy feel, where everyone knows your name. But the features don’t end there. Mills carries a diverse collection of gift items and greeting cards in addition to filling all your pharmacy needs. Altogether, it’s just what the doctor ordered.
Overstock Mattress is growing in popularity, boasting the best prices around on quality bedding.
Your visit is not complete without a trip to Livery Square and the shop at LA Salon, Flowers & Boutique. This little shop has beautiful women’s clothing, accessories, home décor and gift items as well as offering tanning to keep you looking like you just returned from a well-earned vacation. You can also order floral arrangements for any occasion.
As you stroll these sidewalks throughout the downtown area, you will also find service organizations, a theater and art center, a dental center and all types of services needed in day-to-day life.
Nightlife is growing, too. Rails and Ales is fairly new to the roster, offering food and spirits at this craft beer and wine bar, featuring live music and games as part of its allure. Its entertainment line-up includes a number of local entertainers, and it hosts food trucks in its backyard on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Besides being voted one of the top suburbs for young professionals, Leeds has countless amenities to attract from near and far.
“We have things happening on all sides of Leeds, and we want to keep people coming downtown,” said Dona Bonnett, past president of the Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce and a business owner herself. That’s why all sorts of activities are centered downtown, making Leeds more than a destination point at the interstate where Outlet Shops of Grand River, Buc-ee’s, Bass Pro Shops and Barber Motorsports naturally draw crowds.
“We want to introduce them to all Leeds has to offer,” said Sandra McGuire, executive director of the chamber. “We do that by offering all kinds of activities to generate the foot traffic needed to support our downtown businesses.”
She noted that every Monday is Food Truck Monday, attracting food trucks at the gazebo park that offer menus fit for any taste and rivaling traditional restaurant fare.
Every Thursday during harvest season, you’ll find 6th Street block just outside the chamber making way for fresh fruits, vegetables and homemade treats at the Leeds Farmers Market, a venue for local farmers and makers from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
In October, thousands come out for the trick or treat event for Halloween with games and candy for the kids, a movie and food trucks cooking up something special. And there’s a popular carnival in the fall, too.
On Nov. 13, thousands more are expected to turn out for a major car cruise-in by C&C Motor Co., “Cruising for Toys.” Admission is a toy for the cruise-in, which will provide Christmas gifts for kids in Leeds. Two hundred to 400 cars are expected. Food trucks, street vendors as well as a Christmas Open House with downtown retailers and other businesses open to greet visitors and shoppers to kick off the holiday season. A parade of cars is planned with Santa and the city’s tree lighting to round out the festivities.
It’s all aimed at bringing people and businesses together, Bonnett said. The chamber’s Retail Development Committee meets regularly to generate ideas and create projects that can cross promote and help one another.
“We’re all in it together,” she said, noting that they can pool advertising dollars and resources. “If we work together, we can achieve more. It’s about how we can move forward and grow. We have a wonderful little town. There is a lot going on. We invite everyone to visit Leeds and see for yourself what people are talking about.”
