QUICK SUMMARY
Downtown Tuscaloosa is getting one of its biggest additions in years: Mountain Brook favorite Slim’s Pizzeria is opening a 7,800-square-foot restaurant at Greensboro Avenue and 6th Street, directly across from the Bama Theatre, with a target opening of October 2026. The building is being extensively renovated to hold the pizzeria on the first floor and new condos above. The project comes from Charles Morgan of Chuck’s Fish and FIVE, photographer Miller Mobley, and Cris Eddings, and it lands as downtown adds new restaurants, sheds a few others, and pushes major streetscape investments like the $86 million Jack Warner Parkway transformation. For buyers and homeowners, it is one more sign that downtown Tuscaloosa real estate keeps gaining momentum.
If you have driven past the corner of Greensboro Avenue and 6th Street lately, the construction activity is not just another renovation. It is the future home of one of the most anticipated restaurant openings Tuscaloosa has seen in years, and it says a lot about where downtown is headed this fall.
What is Slim’s Pizzeria, and when does it open in Tuscaloosa?
Slim’s Pizzeria opened in Mountain Brook’s Crestline Village in 2020 and quickly became one of the Birmingham area’s most loved pizza spots. Now its founder, acclaimed portrait photographer Miller Mobley, is partnering with restaurateur Charles Morgan, the man behind Chuck’s Fish and FIVE, along with Cris Eddings, to bring a much larger New York-style pizzeria to downtown Tuscaloosa, as first reported by the Tuscaloosa Thread.
The numbers are striking. The downtown Tuscaloosa location will be 7,800 square feet, more than four times the size of the original, which seats just 64 people. The menu will go beyond pizza with salads, appetizers and roughly 10 to 12 Italian entrees. The partners are aiming to open in October 2026, right in the heart of football season.
Why does this project matter for downtown Tuscaloosa real estate?
The restaurant is only half the story. The building at Greensboro Avenue and 6th Street is being extensively renovated to include condos above the pizzeria, adding new residential inventory in one of the most walkable blocks in the city, directly across from the Bama Theatre.
It also fits a bigger pattern. City leaders have discussed making Greensboro Avenue more walkable by reducing lanes of travel, and Tuscaloosa recently broke ground on the final phase of the $86 million Jack Warner Parkway transformation nearby. When private investment and public infrastructure both point at the same few blocks, property values in and around those blocks tend to follow. Downtown condos, riverfront living and close-in neighborhoods like the ones we cover in our Tuscaloosa community guide all stand to benefit.
Curious what downtown momentum means for your home’s value? Get a free home valuation or call The Williams Group at 205-292-2108.
What else is changing in downtown Tuscaloosa right now?
Slim’s is joining a downtown dining scene that is moving fast in 2026:
1. Cajian is now open. The Cajun and Creole concept from the Ajian Sushi team opened August 8 on University Boulevard. Read our full write-up on Cajian here.
2. Raising Cane’s opens on McFarland August 24. Tuscaloosa’s first standalone location brings another national name to one of the city’s busiest corridors.
3. Some turnover, too. SoCal Cantina announced the closure of its University Boulevard restaurant, a reminder that downtown’s growth is competitive, and the bar for concepts keeps rising.
Add it up and downtown Tuscaloosa heads into the fall with more dining, more foot traffic and more reasons for people to want to live close to the action.
What does downtown momentum mean for buyers and homeowners?
For buyers, walkable downtown living in Tuscaloosa is still relatively scarce, and projects that add condos above retail are how that changes. If you have been waiting for more options near the riverfront and the entertainment district, keep an eye on this corner, and on new construction opportunities across the area.
For homeowners, restaurant and streetscape investment on this scale tends to support values in surrounding neighborhoods. Our August 2026 Tuscaloosa County housing market report breaks down exactly where prices and inventory stand right now.
Thinking about buying or selling in Tuscaloosa or Northport? Call or text The Williams Group at 205-292-2108 for straight answers about your neighborhood.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will Slim’s Pizzeria open in downtown Tuscaloosa?
The partners are targeting October 2026 for the opening at Greensboro Avenue and 6th Street, across from the Bama Theatre, though timelines on major renovations can shift. The project was first announced in February 2026.
Who is behind Slim’s Pizzeria in Tuscaloosa?
The project is a partnership between Charles Morgan, the restaurateur behind Chuck’s Fish and FIVE; Miller Mobley, the portrait photographer who founded the original Slim’s in Crestline Village in 2020; and Cris Eddings, with John Rolen serving as executive chef.
Will there be housing in the Slim’s Pizzeria building?
Yes. The building at Greensboro Avenue and 6th Street is being extensively renovated to include the 7,800-square-foot pizzeria on the first floor and condos above, adding rare walkable residential inventory to downtown Tuscaloosa.
Is downtown Tuscaloosa a good place to buy real estate in 2026?
Downtown benefits from steady University of Alabama enrollment, an active restaurant scene and major public investment like the $86 million Jack Warner Parkway transformation. Condos near downtown also draw strong game-day and parent-buyer demand. As with any purchase, the right answer depends on your budget and goals, and a local agent can help you compare downtown options against nearby neighborhoods.
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