Downtown Birmingham: Bon Ton Hatters & Shoe Repair

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Downtown Birmingham is pretty quiet on a Sunday. The few restaurants that are open get a rush after church services, and there some fabulous examples of religious architecture still in use (unlike some Arch dominated cities we could think of). But Virginia knows lots of the characters.

Meet Jimmy Callis, proprietor of Bon Ton Hatters & Shoe Repair. He has lived right upstairs for 12 years but was down in the shop getting some work done yesterday. Although the place was closed, Virginia knows him and he invited us in.

Jimmy is a man of strong opinions. He lives above his place of business because gasoline is too expensive and rents in the area are way too high. He told me that the old building down the street has been converted into fancy apartments and they want the better part of a thousand dollars a month for a one-bedroom. Jimmy, I prayed silently, don't you ever go to New York City.

Birmingham has been an unexpected delight. Remember the Color Run I shot in STL a couple of weeks ago? Birmingham's is this morning. Virginia and I will be out breathing the powdered pigment.