Business owner hopes community continues to support Five Points South despite Hush closure

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – While some small businesses say they are disappointed to see Hush Hookah Lounge close its doors, they say Southside is resilient and that they are still open.

“I think that one business closing in Five Points is a very unfortunate thing, because we never want to have vacancies in buildings,” said Ace Graham, who owns Alchemy, a footwear and apparel store. “We never want to see anyone’s family suffering from their business being closed.”

Graham says he is saddened Hush is leaving Five Points South months after the Birmingham mass shooting.

WBRC has learned the lounge’s last day will be Dec. 1, right before Christmas.

Graham hopes the community will continue to support the shops and restaurants in the area ahead of the holiday season.

“Small businesses are the backbone of America, and it’s the same thing here in Birmingham,” he said.

The business owner is also a board member of the Five Points Alliance, a nonprofit that works to better the neighborhood.

While he said many small businesses have faced challenges in this “tough” economic climate, he hopes a new business finds success along Magnolia Avenue.

“Hopefully someone will come in and be able to do good business and contribute to the community in a good way and we’ll just keep moving on like that,” Graham said.

This news also follows an arrest in the Birmingham mass shooting.

Police have charged 22-year-old Damien McDaniel for multiple crimes. He has a preliminary hearing coming up on Dec. 9.

Get news alerts in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store or subscribe to our email newsletter here.

Copyright 2024 WBRC. All rights reserved.