Alabama Adventure amusement park

[kayman]

I think Bass Pro got it right going where they are. They are basically in the middle of the metro area population expansion. The population of metro Bham continues south, southeast, east, northeast and north. The major areas of overall growth are all along the major north-south corridors and east of there. Sure, the McCalla area is growing but not near as fast as other areas. A lot of the chains you mention (not considering the ones that seem to be faltering) would be better suited demographic wise in the I-65/280/I-20 east/I-59 east area suburbs.

[TRoberts]

That's not entirely true or Target and Kohl's wouldn't be opening locations in Bessemer at Colonial Tannerhill. The Bessemer/McCalla area incomes ($53K-$60K which is signifcantly up from a decade ago) are actually on the rise at a rate similar to that in Trussville/Clay/Chalkville area as I've seen a number of subdivision plans in the works with homes that range in the $200K+ in recent weeks. Actuality most of the projection models have shown that most of the growth that will be occuring in this county for the next 3 decades will likely be in the southwestern portion. So I wouldn't sleep on that area as becoming the next retail hotspot in the near future. IKEA may not be in the works for the big box development on Academy Drive & Alabama Adventures Parkway, but I wouldn't rule out the store being built somewhere the Hoover/Bessemer/Area along I-459. If I'm hearing about IKEA considering a location in Nashville, I wouldn't be surprised if a Birmingham store isn't too far off.