The Hill Event Center

About the Event Center

Through generous donations, the Hill Event Center has been created in the newly renovated Goldstein Fur Building in downtown Birmingham, Alabama. Adjacent to the Alabama Theatre, this elegant banquet hall and contemporary loft is designed for wedding receptions, special events, corporate meetings, reunions, parties and pre-and post-show functions.

This historic space has been transformed with rare art and antiques. The five Tutwiler chandeliers were donated to the Alabama Theatre by long-time supporter and former charter member, Freeman Andress. Originally, the chandeliers were to be placed in the Lyric Theatre after restoration. However, the French Louis XV style of the chandeliers did not correspond to the Vaudeville interior of the Lyric Theatre. Other rare pieces include the Hill Event Center building directory, which was relocated to the lobby from the 1914 Lyric Theatre, and various pieces of furniture from the home of Ernie and Ora Lee Hill.

Our History

Make your next event historic!

The Hill Event Center is the newly renovated Goldstein Fur Building adjacent to the Alabama Theatre. The Goldstein Building began as a two-story building on the corner of 3rd Avenue North and 18th Street and a one-story building on 3rd Avenue North. The building housed several retail businesses such as the Goldstein Fur Company, formerly the Hudson Bay Fur Company. The fur company consisted of a complete fur factory and cold storage area on the second floor.

In 1927, as the Alabama Theatre was being built, the owners of the Goldstein Building rebuilt the structure into a two and one-half story office and retail building. The Goldstein Building was supposed to be demolished to make way for the Alabama Theatre. An announcement in the Birmingham News Age Herald in 1926 stated the new theatre would have 3,500 seats and a large lobby. The lobby would contain the box office with areas for 4 ticket sellers on the corner of 18th Street and 3rd Avenue North. During property negotiations, it was discovered that the Goldstein Building could not be purchased at any price; therefore the architects for the theater redesigned their plans. The new plans for the Alabama Theatre contained 2,500 seats and a much smaller lobby. The building of the smaller Alabama Theatre plan began April 1, 1927 with the proposed opening date of December 26, 1927.

The Goldstein building was purchased by Birmingham Landmarks, Inc. in 1991 from the estate of a Birmingham dentist, returning the building to its original association with the Alabama Theatre. In 2005, Ora Lee Hill, a long-time supporter of the arts, passed away. Soon thereafter her husband, Ernie, a good friend of the Alabama Theatre, passed away as well. Both indicated large sums of money from their estate would be donated to the Alabama Theatre for a memorial. With funds in place for the renovation, the demolition of the interior 2nd and 1st floor showroom of the Goldstein building began in February of 2007.

Contact Us

A sophisticated venue with a 2,590-square foot ballroom and an elegant theatre loft, the Hill Event Center features 90-year-old chandeliers from a historic Chattanooga hotel along with other fine antiques and artwork. This one-of-a-kind venue is available to rehearsal dinners, wedding receptions, corporate meetings and private parties. For pricing and more information email Glenny Brock or call (205) 776-1635.