The Abadir’s Corner Shop will be hosting a soft opening at 902 Whelan Street starting Friday, July 26 and continuing through Saturday, July 27. From 9 AM to 2 PM, patrons can select from a variety of pantry staples, as well as fresh baked goods made inhouse by chef Sarah Cole. Small seasonal plates will also be available for dining in or taking to go.
The Egyptian inspired bakery has garnered much attention both locally and throughout the state. Cole, a Black Belt native, has been offering her baked goods at various venues since 2020. In 2022, Abadir’s acquired the future Abadir’s Corner Shop site on Whelan Street, with renovations to both the interior and exterior portions of the cottage. The site also hosts the South Street Farmers Market, held every Tuesday from 4 to 7 PM through September.
Cole shared in an announcement through Abadir’s social media, “I have plans for what the shop will hold this weekend. It’ll be a small selection of all the things I dream of doing with the space, on a very, very simple scale.”
The soft opening comes after the cottage space hosted Cinema Fantastique’s ongoing Summer Film Series last Friday, July 19, with “Mezze & a Movie.” Patrons enjoyed a screening of Licorice Pizza, while courses featuring seasonal vegetables, dips, breads, and fresh fruit were shared from table to table. The cottage will also host a movie screening on August 2, in conjunction with Alabama Audubon’s Black Belt Birding Festival, with details to be announced soon.
“Tell everyone you know, but then also don’t tell everyone you know because if it gets too busy, I don’t know what we’ll do,” Cole continued in the announcement, concluding, “But it’s probably best you tell everyone because I’m making food, and someone has to eat it!”