Where do you stop to get your morning coffee or cappuccino?  Are you driving right past this Irondale business for another, impersonal vendor farther away?  Time to start some new habits!
In addition to coffee, Chat Over Coffee also serves donuts and cupcakes - fresh daily - as well as a wide variety of cool liquid refreshment, including fruit smoothies, frozen lemonade, bottled cokes, and sports drinks.  They even have frozen yogurt! 
They are conveniently open 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.
So don't take your dollars to some other coffee shop or bakery when you can be served by this family-owned business.  They do have seating inside the air-conditioned red train car, but you can also enjoy a nice day under the umbrella on their deck!

"Expect the unexpected."  That's what The Gingerbread Lady will tell you about her store. What you will see when you walk in is an incredible variety of unique, quality gifts.  She has a wall of beautiful items for the college sports fan, for example.  Not just Alabama & Auburn, but also Gator, Bulldogs, (Geaux) Tigers, Blazers, and more!

The Gingerbread Lady has Christmas items year round, and other holiday treasures seasonally. She's prepared gift baskets for every occasion or can wrap up something new for you.  She has baby and wedding gifts, as well as specialty coffees and full pre-packaged meals you can take to a shut-in or just a friend. Find more about her unique gift shop, including photos, on Facebook, and then stop by to see for yourself.

Roll Tide!  War Eagle!
So when you need some Alabama or Auburn gear, or you're looking for a gift for a fan, do you trudge ten miles down the road to another licensed store at a local mall?
Stop!!
The Sports Station is located right under your nose and has a huge selection to meet your Tide and Tiger needs.
Did we forget to mention:  They carry licensed Nascar merchandise, too!

One of the latest tenants to move in is Dr. Lindsey Petras and Grants Mill Animal Hospital.
The Animal Hospital is a full-service veterinary clinic that offers specialty and generalized pet care.  Dr. Petras and her professional staff will strive to make both you and your pet enjoy your visit!
Their web site contains a lot of useful information, including answers to common questions, links to other helpful veterinary resources, and more.

Snap Fitness is a very special exercise facility.  It offers 24/7 access to members, all the training equipment you need, HDTVs, private bathrooms and showers, personal training, nutrition consultants, and much more.  They even have Fitness-on-Demand, which allows you to train to video instruction - on demand.
Give them a call today to see what they have to offer you - (205) 383-4349. 
And be sure to ask about their summer specials!

The train cars added to the Grants Mill Station were exciting to those of us in the area who watched with interest as they arrived.
Now in the main cars, the owner of Trio's Restaurant in Trussville hopes to bring delicious Italian cuisine to Irondale at Trio's Train Stop.  It has a lighter menu but tasty.  There is a convenient walk-up drink station.  And the employees are friendly.  Stop in for lunch or dinner sometime soon!
If you haven't noticed - or haven't been up there lately - Trio's also provides live music every weekend to enjoy with your meal or beverage outside on the deck!

Southeastern Salvage Home Emporium is not new to Grants Mill Station.  It attracts customers from all over the area, and if you've ever shopped in there, you know why.
The merchandise is always unique.  It's always changing.  And it is an excellent value for the price.
Whether you're looking for unusual knobs for your dresser drawers, a new front door for your house, quality garden stone, an eye-catching planter, or a picture frame, we encourage you to visit Southeastern Salvage and look around!

Gus' Hot Dogs opened in its current location over 22 years ago and was purchased in 2001 by its second owner, John Musso, who still owns it today.   
Still preparing the original recipes of Gus Alexendar by hand, John and his staff pride themselves on their attention to detail - from their special fry salt to brewing their own tea to hand-patting their burgers.  There is something for everyone on the menu, too, including delicious chicken salad and homemade chili (in season).
Stop in to Gus' sometime.  (Don't forget to bring the coupon below.)  Of course, you may have to fight some others in there, especially on Fridays, because Gus' has become quite popular!  Call (205) 956-6622 for hours of operation.

This unique business offers a broad variety of beauty services from make-overs to modeling, from private parties to professional photographs. 
Posh! not only offers spray tanning, manicures, makeup bar, and man-scape bar, they offer modeling & talent services as well as a photography studio.  Posh! also provides unique spa party experiences such as bachelorette parties, mani-pedi parties, girls-night-out parties and more.  MEN: They haven't forgotten you! Contact them for more information about Monday Man-scape specials (refreshments will be served).

BOTOX is coming soon!  Call (205) 821-0663 for more information.  Don't miss the coupon below.

We watched it being built every day for months, and now we see it from below when we drive by.  It's time to take a stab at the Adventure Park yourself!
How many times have you struggled to find things to "do" with family and guests visiting from out of town?  Now Irondale residents have a unique venue right outside their doors.  And it offers something for practically everyone in the family.
Click on the photo to the right to see some amazing and beautiful views from different perspectives.  And check out their Facebook page for videos of people on the course!
For the summer months, the Park is open Sunday-Thursday (10am - 7pm), and Friday-Saturday (10am - 9pm).  If you have questions, call (205) 745-1487.

Whether you're looking for antiques, handmade jewelry, or Alabama and Auburn knick-knacks, I guarantee you could spend quite a while in this store.  Junky 2 Funky is so full of fascinating items, they attract people from across the city, and recently had to knock down a wall to expand!
One of the interesting aspects of J2F is that they sell work by a lot of local artists.  They have a little bit of everything, from some lovely religious pieces to the fun and quirky ones like you can see in this photo!
Check out the photos on their Facebook page, and stop in soon to see all the unique gifts you'll want to buy for yourself.

This family-owned business is currently moving in to its new storefront just a few doors down from its previous location at Grants Mill Station.
The next time you're looking for something to make your feet happy, stop in to Center-Stage and check out their selection of women's and men's shoes.
Call (205) 215-3963 for more information.

Backstage Boutique provides the shopper with a wide selection of some of the most trendy, classy styles in the area!  The owner travels to Los Angeles and handpicks just the right items to bring back for the discerning taste in Birmingham.
Check out some photos on their Facebook page.
The next time you're in the mood for a new outfit or some great accessories, you owe it to yourself to visit Backstage Boutique before hopping in the car to drive across town and brave the large parking lots and malls elsewhere.
For hours of operation and other questions, call (205) 956-3355.

Do you have a dog who deserves a bath but you keep putting it off because you're just not looking forward to getting a bath too?  Freek on a Leesh not only offers professional grooming services, it provides a self-serve option at a very reasonable price.
And unlike other "pet stores," Freek on a Leesh also includes a studio - with sets and props - you can rent to take your own photos with your favorite pet, or just purchase professional photos.  You can even register for puppy training classes!
But also stop in to Freek on a Leesh and check out their very special pet supplies, unique toys, leashes and collars, organic dog foods, and much more!  (You can also find them on Facebook.)

Delores Armstrong has been providing insurance protection to businesses in and around Irondale for years.  Her Farmers Insurance office specializes in commercial insurance, as well as a full range of financial services,  for small- and medium-sized businesses.

This quiet little store offers alterations by Nellie and her helpers that might rival your grandmother's!  Nellie's Alterations handles everything from hemming pants to major alterations of formal wear. 
Additionally, Nellie's can personalize those favorite clothing or other items with stitched monogramming.  Great for gifts!
Grab those favorite clothes you haven't worn for months because they need mending, and take them to Nellie's.  Call (205) 951-0906 for more information.

Got a craving for pizza?  Don't travel 5-10 miles down the road - stop in at Reyes and get your pizza to go or eat in.
But what if I told you this family-owned pizza restaurant sells more than just pizza?
They also offer calzones, subs, salads, ice cream, and more!  Call (205) 956-2806 for hours of operation or other information, and go check them out the next time you have a fungry!

Who doesn't doesn't want to be pampered once in a while with a mani-pedi?  (Men, admit it, you enjoy them too! And if you haven't tried it, maybe you should.)
Sky Nails is a full service nail salon with plenty of seating and everything you need for some special treatment.
Call (205) 224-5500 for more information.

Looking for a stylist but didn't necessarily want to go to one of the chain stores?
Check out Arla's Southern Style Salon.  It is a full-service salon specializing in men's and women's hair.
For an appointment or more information, call (205) 956-9090.

One of the best things about Garden Ridge is that you can find Christmas decorations year round!  But decor for other holidays is seasonally available, plentiful, and value priced.  You can also find really interesting home interior items that decorate your home or make great gifts.

Okay, so they aren't selling Alabama or Auburn gear....  Or serving up some yummy food or refreshing drinks....
But the men and women of Irondale's Water Department and Police Department are conveniently located in Grants Mill Station to better serve Irondale residents.
The Water Department is open Monday through Friday now, and there is an outdoor dropbox for you to leave your monthly payment and save 49 cents postage.