Downtown Foley is lined with beautiful old buildings, and one of the oldest buildings is now getting a new life. After more than a year of renovations, Colt Grill BBQ and Spirits will open this fall.
What used to be the Foley Bakery and, most recently, the Cactus Café has been vacant since 2007.
Colt Grill is an Arizona-based restaurant with four locations in Arizona. The Foley location will be the first of other restaurants the owners plan to open in other regions.
“We've opened up restaurants in local Arizona cities and we have chosen Foley to put down roots here because it's just an amazing place,” said owner Brenda Marie Clouston. “We were looking at cities to expand to and we always loved the South.”
At the corner of North Alston Street and West Laurel Avenue, the building was built in 1925. The renovation also includes apartments for employees and an office.
Foley Mayor Ralph Hellmich said the community is excited that new life is being breathed into the building.
“Everyone has wanted to know what is going on in the old bakery building, or if you are a more recent transplant, the Cactus Cafe building,” Hellmich said. “We have been waiting two years for this and for the last year, we have been trying to keep quiet about who is exactly moving in, so it is my pleasure to let the cat out of the bag.”
Colt Grill BBQ was named a Top 100 BBQ spot in the U.S. by Yelp. They offer smoked BBQ, burgers, tacos and specialty drinks.
Other recently renovated downtown buildings are the new homes of Camellia Dermatology, Milam and Milam Law Firm, South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce and Cheeseburger Randy’s. A new renovation on East Laurel Avenue will also be a South Baldwin Social.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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