At 3027 Central Avenue, the storefront that used to hold Goodies Toy Store has been dark since the end of September. Goodies didn't go far. On October 2 it reopened a short walk away at 2907 Central Avenue, sharing a remodeled space with Homewood Bagel Company. The two businesses closed in turn so they could open together.
Tonight, Thursday, November 5, Homewood Parks & Recreation and the Homewood Chamber of Commerce host the 26th Annual Holiday Open House in Downtown Homewood, 5 to 8 p.m. The city's event page promises shopping, refreshments and hors d'oeuvres, a trolley, and discounts at downtown businesses. That format is the same as last year. The district it runs through has changed. During 2026, the downtown shops that changed got smaller or moved in with someone else, and every new storefront that opened sells something to eat.
The Toy Store Now Shares a Roof With the Bagel Shop
Goodies posted the move on its own website: "Starting 10/2/2026 find us at our new location just down the street at 2907 Central Avenue." The Homewood Star's October business column filled in the rest. Goodies closed its 3027 Central Ave. storefront on September 27. Homewood Bagel closed for two weeks of remodeling before the joint reopening and offered weekend delivery during the move.
There's one practical detail for tonight. The Star lists Homewood Bagel's hours as 6:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. daily, so the bagel counter will have been closed for hours by the time the Open House starts. If you want to pick up stocking stuffers at Goodies tonight, check the store's evening hours at goodiestoystore.com before you build your route around 2907 Central.
The pattern shows up again on 18th Street.
Shoefly Has Been on 18th Street for 23 Years, and It Is Looking for a Buyer
In August, the Homewood Star reported that Shoefly Boutique at 2823 18th St. S. was closing after 23 years and was looking for someone interested in acquiring the business. The shop sells women's shoes, clothing, jewelry and accessories. The owner and her team thanked the customers, employees, vendors, friends and family who supported them for more than two decades.
That's the most recent word on the shop. If Shoefly is usually one of your Open House stops, call 205-870-7131 before you go.
Goodies gave up its own storefront for half of someone else's. Shoefly, the longest-running shop in the Star's 2026 coverage, has its future in the hands of whoever buys it. Neither one is gone, but both stand on less ground than they did a year ago.
Every New Door Downtown Serves Food
Over the same months, the openings near 18th Street and 29th Avenue South were all places to eat.
| Address | Business | What changed in 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 1830 29th Ave. S. | ZOZO's Kitchen | Opened in the former Cava space, reported in July |
| 2856 18th St. S., Suite A | New Shoes Soft Serve | Opened, reported in July |
| 1903 29th Ave. S., Suite 101 | Foo Hai Handmade Noodles and Dumplings | Opened in August |
| 2701 18th St. S. | Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux | Planned for the former Rodney Scott's site |
| 2907 Central Ave. | Homewood Bagel Company and Goodies Toy Store | Merged into one location October 2 |
| 3027 Central Ave. | Former Goodies storefront | Closed September 27 |
Here's what each new food stop brings to a night spent walking between shops.
Foo Hai Handmade Noodles and Dumplings opened in August after two years of preparations. It comes from the founders of Urban Hai in Midtown Atlanta and serves handmade noodles, dumplings and Szechuan dishes, plus a chef's selection that isn't on the Atlanta menu. It's open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., so it's still serving well after the Open House ends at 8.
New Shoes Soft Serve comes from Wil Drake, founder of Full Circle Doughnuts. The lineup rotates, and flavors have included mango, birthday cake, vanilla sweet cream and strawberry shortcake, according to the Homewood Star's July column. It's at 2856 18th St. S., right in the middle of the shopping blocks.
ZOZO's Kitchen took over the former Cava space at 1830 29th Ave. S. It's owned by the Cassimus family, who founded Zoe's Kitchen, and the menu will feel familiar to longtime Zoe's customers: roll-ups, the gruben, Greek salad and kabobs.
The biggest food change is still on the way. Rodney Scott's Whole Hog BBQ at 2701 18th St. S. closed in the spring, and Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux plans to open there. AL.com covered the announcement in August. The local leadership team includes former University of Alabama quarterback John Parker Wilson, franchisee Matt Roth and business leader Adam Baxter. The chain runs about 80 restaurants nationwide, including ones in Hoover and Greystone. In the Star's September column it was still a plan with no opening date, so expect the 2701 corner to look unfinished on tonight's walk.
What the Shopping Side of the Route Still Holds
Shopping still fills most of 18th Street. The Homewood Chamber's shopping directory lists a long run of shops along it:
- Alabama Goods at 2933 18th St. S.
- Avontuur at 2941 18th St. S.
- Penzey's Spices at 2939 18th St. S.
- Wrapsody Gifts at 2840 18th St. S.
- Shaia's at 2818 18th St. S.
- Shea Davis Boutique at 2822 18th St. S.
- The Trak Shak at 2839 18th St. S.
- Bob's Bikes at 2852 18th St. S.
- Three Sheets at 2904 18th St. S.
- Mantooth Interiors at 2813 18th St. S.
Treat that list as a map of the street, not a list of tonight's participants. The Chamber's restaurant directory still shows Rodney Scott's at 2701, so it's behind on at least one address, and neither the Chamber nor the city has published which businesses are joining the Open House. The best guide to which stores are in is still a lit window and an open door.
Shea Davis is at 2822, one number off Shoefly's 2823. New Shoes is at 2856, close to Bob's Bikes at 2852 and Wrapsody at 2840. The new food and the long-running shops sit side by side, block after block. So a coffee at O'Henry's Coffees, 2831 18th St. S., a pastry from Edgar's Bakery, 2713 18th St. S., and a cone at New Shoes are all along the same few blocks you'd walk for gifts anyway.
A Way to Plan the Three Hours
The Open House runs only from 5 to 8 p.m. Here's one way to fit the new stops in around the shopping:
- Start on Central Avenue. Check Goodies' hours first, since the bagel side of 2907 Central closes at 1:30 p.m.
- Walk 18th Street for gifts. The directory shops run roughly from 2813 up to 2941, with New Shoes at 2856 halfway along.
- Call Shoefly beforehand if it's on your list, at 205-870-7131.
- Finish at 29th Avenue South. ZOZO's is at 1830 and Foo Hai is at 1903, and Foo Hai is open until 10 p.m.
The Next Two Downtown Nights Are Already Set
The next big downtown night is four weeks away. The Homewood Christmas Parade is Thursday, December 3, at 6:30 p.m. It starts at Homewood Public Library, includes the lighting of the Homewood Star, and ends with the Christmas tree lighting at City Hall Plaza. Registration for Homewood organizations and businesses opened Monday, November 2, and is capped at 50 entries. Groups from outside Homewood can register starting Monday, November 23, if space remains. Details are on the city's parade page.
Two days later, on December 5, the Chamber hosts Breakfast with Santa, with breakfast, crafts, activities and a free Santa photo. The Chamber's holiday page hasn't posted a time or location yet.
Downtown has also changed between tonight and that parade. Both shops that changed this year now take up less space, and three new places to eat sit where people already walk. If you live a few blocks from 18th Street and wonder how all those new kitchens affect what your home is worth, Hannah Dean can walk you through it with real local sales and an honest read on the downtown blocks. Request a Free Home Valuation and we'll start with your address.
