February 26, 2025
The A.G. Motel in Birmingham was declared a historic web site in 2017 by President Barrack Obama.
The A.G. Motel is celebrating the grand opening of its Black-owned espresso store on Feb. 25. Housed throughout the A.G. Motel, which was designated a Nationwide Historic Web site in 2017, the espresso store is a part of a years-long effort to revive the constructing. The restoration is a collaboration between nationwide organizations and the town.
The Nationwide Park Service, the Metropolis of Birmingham, and the Historic Preservation Authority have been all current for the grand opening.
Commissioner Sheila Tyson, representing the town of Birmingham, spoke in regards to the significance of the espresso store. Tyson acknowledged that whereas its opening might look like a small step to some, its presence represents a lot extra. She believes the espresso store serves as an financial indicator for the longer term.
“This may appear easy to somebody exterior watching, ‘They only opened up a espresso store,’ nevertheless it means a lot extra to our neighborhood. That is generational wealth,” Tyson mentioned.
Naimah Alicia Elmore, co-owner of Alicia’s Espresso, minimize the ribbon on the new institution. Elmore expressed heartfelt because of the neighborhood that made the achievement potential. Her companion, Rashad Harrell, additionally spoke, promising continued dedication to their enterprise.
Mayor Randall Woodfin was current and spoke in regards to the broader function of the espresso store. He assured co-owners Elmore and Harrell that the town would totally help their enterprise.
“We’re joyful to have Alicia’s Espresso right here on this sacred house. This espresso has a mission—it’s not nearly serving espresso however about serving the neighborhood by acts of service. There’s no higher place to stay out these phrases than proper right here, within the house that grew to become the headquarters for equality and justice in our metropolis. To the homeowners, Naimah and Rashad, please know that your metropolis has your again,” Woodfin mentioned.
The A.G. Gaston Motel was as soon as owned by A.G. Gaston, a Black millionaire. The house performed a vital position throughout the Nineteen Sixties Civil Rights Motion. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and different civil rights leaders used the motel’s “Room 30” to plan and strategize the motion.
Darrell O’Quinn, Birmingham Metropolis Council President, mirrored on the historic significance of the house. O’Quinn emphasised that the teachings and legacy of the A.G. Gaston Motel must be remembered and embraced, notably in mild of the continued challenges to civil liberties lately.
“To ensure that Birmingham to achieve its full potential, we should help our native entrepreneurs. We should give attention to financial empowerment, however we should additionally stay dedicated to defending our nationwide monuments, which belong to all of us. This historical past can not—and won’t—be erased on a whim, even amid the every day twister of dangerous information we’ve all needed to witness and endure recently. We are going to resist, and we’ll get by this,” O’Quinn mentioned.
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