Birmingham 5 Points Jim N Nick's Installs New Art

In 2004, when Jim ‘N Nick’s joined the diverse group of restaurants in the downtown, 5 Points South neighborhood of Birmingham, it made a statement.  The statement that a barbeque restaurant, started by a father and son who are natives of Birmingham, should be there—in the middle of their city—right along with a hot dog joint or a white tablecloth restaurant.

Recently, the interior of the 5 Points restaurant has changed a bit.  The original exposed brick walls remain the same but the main dining room boasts an installation of photos and artifacts that speak to the business of our community—of the bar-b-q culture.  Three large black and white photographs have been installed along with two antique box springs.  The installation tells the story of our history and our friends. 

Landon Nordman, a talented photographer living in New York City, was commissioned by Savuer magazine to take photos to go along with a story that Southern Foodways Alliance director, John T. Edge wrote called, “Barbecue Nation”.  Jim ‘N Nick’s is proud have obtained and display his portraits of our friend Rodney Scott, of Scott’s BBQ in Hemingway, SC, Helen Turner of Helen’s Bar-B-Q in Brownsville, TN and a beautiful shot of the stovetop in Helen’s restaurant where she cooks all of the side dishes that get served with her smoked pork.  The rusty box springs that hang between the photos reminds us of the innovation of the folks who came before us who would fashion bar-b-q tools out of just about anything to get the hog over the coals.  Many people used box springs as the wire grates that the hogs would lay on and the springs also made flipping the hogs easier. The springs represent brilliant ideas that were born out of necessity and available resources.

 The private dining room* in the 5 points store also enjoyed some freshening with a bright coat of paint and the hanging of a collection of photographs taken during some of the journeys of the Fatback Collective—a group of chefs, farmers, pitmasters, and writers including Jim ‘N Nick’s family members, Drew Robinson, Nick Pihakis and Nicholas Pihakis.

Jim ‘N Nick’s stores are a venue for telling stories.  We tell the story of great bar-b-q and good food, made with care everyday.  We share our hospitality by how we treat our guests and we can use our stores to tell the tale of our history and inspiration. 

Come visit our downtown Birmingham, AL restaurant to share a meal and see some really beautiful photography that speaks to our community and culture.
Jim N Nick's Bar-B-Q
1908 11th Avenue, South
Birmingham, AL 35205

*To speak to someone about reserving the private room for an event, call 205/320-1060