Merchant's Alley

Merchants Alley is a public space off Jefferson Street in historic downtown Athens, AL that has been transformed into a space where people can relax, listen to live performances in warmer months, and enjoy ever-changing art, such as a mural of Limestone County musician Brittany Howard solo recording artist and lead of Alabama Shakes band fame.

At the entrance of the downtown Merchants Alley, there is an archway displaying the name and the first few bars of “Stars Fell on Alabama.” Below the archway, underfoot, are bricks made in 1919, salvaged from underneath the asphalt roads around the square. According to Richardson, the bricks are the only thing in the alley not music-related.