Reviewed by: Grace Howard
Top 10 stories you might have missed in Montgomery this September
Reading time: 7 minutes
September was a busy month in Montgomery.
So before we move on to October, let’s take a quick look back at the 10 highest traffic stories from the last month. Read to the end to see what was No. 1!
#10. Midtown Montgomery Walmart welcomes shoppers with a new look
Shoppers in midtown Montgomery have something new to celebrate. Walmart store leaders and community members gathered Friday, Sept. 18 for the official grand reopening of the Ann Street location. The store serves as a primary retail anchor for the Midtown Plaza shopping center, located at 851 Ann St., and this latest remodel fittingly coincides with its 20th anniversary of serving midtown shoppers.
While the store transformation was originally set for completion in early August, the ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the culmination of a massive overhaul. The celebratory event brought plenty of community fun to the plaza, featuring musical performances by the Johnson Abernathy Graetz and Percy Julian high school bands alongside a live DJ.
#9. Lululemon shutters Montgomery location after 4 years
Popular high-end athletics brand Lululemon has shuttered its Montgomery storefront after a four-year run. The chain closed sometime in August, though an exact date wasn’t immediately available.
Signage has been removed from the former retailer’s space at 7060 Eastchase Pkwy., leaving behind a label scar. Located along a busy stretch of the outdoor lifestyle center, the covered windows mark the vacant space sandwiched between Everbowl and Aerie.
#8. Ready for a new job in Montgomery? Check out roles at Jackson Hospital, Alfa + more
If you’re searching for a fresh career move or ready for a new job in Montgomery, several major regional employers have active listings. From entry-level opportunities to specialized roles in health care, insurance, manufacturing and hospitality, local businesses are eager to add new talent to their teams.
#7. Montgomery’s Perennial makes The New York Times’ 2026 Best Restaurants list
Perennial, a sustainable neighborhood restaurant in Montgomery’s historic Old Cloverdale area, was officially named to The New York Times’ 2026 Best Restaurants list! Montgomery has plenty of incredible dining options, but this local favorite just earned a massive national spotlight.
So, what made the national publication fall in love with Montgomery’s newest culinary star? The New York Times highlighted Perennial for its hyper-local approach to seasonal cooking, conscious eco-friendly operations, and warm community atmosphere.
As The Bama Buzz covered when the restaurant opened in 2024, owner Deanne Allegro—a Registered Dietitian with degrees in food science and human nutrition—created Perennial with a clear mission: let local ingredients lead the menu.
#6. Everything you need to know about Montgomery’s Momentum 2040 plan
With Momentum 2040, the capital city could soon benefit from funds that will allow The City of Montgomery to improve infrastructure, enhance public services, increase public safety and more. Dubbed Momentum 2040, this proposed long-term capital investment plan — the first such effort in more than 20 years — is designed to, as its name suggests, leverage and build on existing progress and continue to push it forward, propelling the city into a brighter future.
The foundation of Momentum 2040 is a municipal bond program, which would authorize up to $375 million in bond financing, with approximately $350 million dedicated to capital projects across Montgomery.
#5. See inside the new Bridge Street Kitchen & Pasta
Bridge Street Kitchen & Pasta in downtown Wetumpka opened its doors on Tuesday, Sept. 8, serving lunch and dinner daily from 11AM–8PM.
The new restaurant is owned by the same four people behind popular Montgomery meat-and-three restaurant Sommer’s Place: Brian Glawson, Brian Stilwell, Bryan McGalliard and Dalan Gassett.
Housed inside the historic former Fain Theatre building located at 101 E. Bridge St., the establishment earned a perfect 100 on its health inspection, giving guests total confidence as downtown Wetumpka’s newest premier dining destination.
#4. Off-price retailer Burlington opening new Prattville location
Off-price discount retailer Burlington is expanding in the River Region with a brand-new location in Prattville.
LDI Line, a commercial planroom website, shows bids closed at the end of August to renovate a store at 1957 Cobbs Ford Rd. That address belongs to the former Big Lots! inside Prattville’s high-traffic Premiere Place shopping center. The major retail hub is already home to popular storefronts like Walmart and Michaels.
Burlington Store 1922 is moving into the vacant storefront directly next door to Bealls, a company spokesperson confirmed. An opening timeline for the new store has not yet been set, the spokesperson added.
#3. New lanes: ALDOT launching I-85 expansion project in Montgomery
Big relief is on the way for east Montgomery commuters. The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) is launching a $71 million capacity-improvement project along Interstate 85, widening the roadway to three lanes in each direction to reduce congestion and improve traffic flow.
The primary goal of the project is to expand I-85 in Montgomery from two lanes to three lanes in each direction. This expansion will stretch from where the existing three-lane section ends near Taylor Road all the way to Jenkins Creek, just north of Exit 11 (Mitylene and Mt. Meigs).
#2. How to see the AL650, the nation’s longest paddle race here in Montgomery: paddlers expected Oct. 5-7, 2026
The Great Alabama 650 (AL650) returns Oct. 3-13, 2026, bringing 32 paddlers from around the world to compete in the country’s longest paddle race.
Lucky for us, Montgomery and the surrounding region have some of the best spots to watch racers on the Coosa and Alabama rivers. This is considered the central portion of the epic endurance race, which covers the core of the 650-mile Alabama Scenic River Trail (ASRT).
#1. 6 reasons why people love living in Midtown Montgomery
Midtown Montgomery is, as its name suggests, somewhat in the center of the capital city, sitting midway between Montgomery’s “out-east” areas and downtown. Containing several distinct neighborhoods as well as business corridors, Midtown is a vibrant section of the city and beloved by those who call it home—from empty nesters and young families to college students and everyone in between.
We rounded up six reasons to love living in Midtown Montgomery and why you should check it out when you’re considering where to live, play and enjoy everything Montgomery has to offer.
