Ampersandwich, the made-to-order sandwich shop that built a following in Birmingham's Avondale neighborhood, is pushing into downtown Birmingham with a second location. The expansion brings the shop's hefty subs, salads and sides closer to the city's office workers, with new breakfast and grab-and-go offerings tailored to the downtown crowd.
According to The Business Journals, Ampersandwich announced plans to open a location at One Federal Place in downtown Birmingham, with that outlet reporting the opening was slated for November 2026. The new spot is set to include an outdoor space designed for the downtown setting, along with a back patio for extra room — a nod to the Avondale original, which built its reputation partly on its outdoor seating environment.
That November timeline sits alongside a different account from Bham Now, which reported in September that Ampersandwich's downtown location, at 1819 5th Ave. N., had already officially opened on Wednesday, September 9. The site sits in the former Zoe's space at that address. The two timelines don't line up, and the available reporting doesn't clarify how a September opening and a planned November opening both apply to Ampersandwich's downtown push.
What's on the Menu Downtown
Per the earlier Bham Now report, the downtown shop is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., a schedule built around office hours rather than the evening and weekend crowd the Avondale location also draws. The location features a new breakfast menu with grab-and-go options, the outlet's report notes, aimed at commuters and workers looking for a quick bite before the day gets going.
Ampersandwich also plans to roll out catering options for downtown offices and businesses soon, according to the same report. That would extend the brand's footprint beyond walk-in customers and into the lunch-meeting and office-event market that surrounds the central business district.
From Avondale Parking Lot to Downtown Storefront
Founded in 2021 by Joe Phelps, Ampersandwich first built its name at 4124 Third Ave. South in Avondale, a spot known for its made-to-order classic and specialty sandwiches, salads and sides, according to al.com. Hefty half subs there run between $8.95 and $9.95, the outlet reported, and customers can order takeout, eat indoors or head outside for seating on the patio. The restaurant's own website describes itself as a unique neighborhood sandwich shop with an inviting patio, with outdoor seating located behind the large Avondale parking lot adjacent to Avondale Brewing, according to eatampersandwich.com.
That patio culture has become part of the brand's identity since the Avondale shop opened in 2021, and it appears the downtown expansion is meant to carry some of that same atmosphere into the city center, even as the two available accounts disagree on exactly when downtown diners got their first chance to try it.
