For nearly a century, the Woodlawn Ice House stood as more than just a building. It was part of the story of Woodlawn.

Founded in 1931, the Woodlawn Ice House was one of the community’s longtime businesses and one of its oldest remaining structures. During the 1950s, before air conditioning was common in every home, the Ice House made and sold its own blocks of ice, helping families throughout the community keep their homes cool.

Located in the heart of the Woodlawn Business District before the interstate reshaped the area, the Ice House grew and evolved alongside the community. Over the years, it expanded beyond ice, operating as a convenience store, moving company and more. Its reach extended across Birmingham through contracts with Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport, Legion Field and surrounding restaurants.

But perhaps its greatest legacy was how it served people. The Woodlawn Ice House was a neighborhood business that knew its community and took care of the people who called Woodlawn home.

As longtime Woodlawn community member Arnold King remembers,“The Ice House was one of those places everybody in Woodlawn knew. It wasn’t just about buying ice—it was a neighborhood business that served people and was part of everyday life here."

After closing in 2008, the building remained vacant for nearly two decades. We know that seeing a structure with this much history come down can be difficult, especially for those who remember what it once meant to the neighborhood. That is why this decision was not made lightly.

After multiple inspections and careful evaluation of what it would take to rehabilitate the building, it became clear that demolition was the best path forward to allow this property to once again become an asset for the community.

As the Woodlawn Ice House comes down, we aren't erasing its history. We are remembering it, celebrating the generations it served and carrying its story forward as we prepare this space for a new chapter.

Buildings may change, but their stories remain.

Thank you, Woodlawn Ice House, for more than 75 years of service, memories and community.