The Depot

(Last month on July 3rd, I gave a hometown tour of my hometown of Helena, Alabama. I thought I would give more individual credit to the city I love and it's businesses. You can find more Helena businesses and information featured on the City of Helena tab at the very bottom of my right sidebar. It is under the "Labels" tab.Today I am taking you to the place in town to eat and socialize, and that's The Depot Deli & Grill.)

The Place to go

Located in the heart of Old Town Helena and nestled comfortably near the Buck Creek Waterfall sits one of the Birmingham area's best kept family restaurant secrets, The Depot. It's memorable hometown cooking and a friendly atmosphere keeps patrons coming back for more. Considered an integral part of the community by most, it is often host to party-size gatherings for sporting team outings and various other groups. A visit to the Helena Depot Deli & Grill gives you a taste of what has made Helena, AL one of the most desirable places to raise children (ranked 13th on Business Week's 2007 list of Great Places to Raise Kids) in the country. And by a 2009 Money Magazine article which listed Helena in the top 100 places in which to live in America. Those accolades can all be confirmed by a single trip to the Depot. The place to go, be, see and be seen in Helena. It's where all neighbors converge, break bread and talk about what's in the news.

The History

The South and North Alabama Railroad Company constructed the Helena Freight House and Depot about 1872 while repairing damage inflicted by Union raiders in 1865. The original location of the structure was just north of the present railroad crossing. When a new depot was constructed around 1905, the building was moved by C.T. “Tom” Davidson to a site behind his house where he used it for storage and a work shop.
From 1872 to 1905, this building served as the hub of activity for the area. Most goods and people arriving or departing from Helena passed through this depot. It is one of the oldest structures remaining in town surviving the disastrous 1895 fire, the tragic 1933 tornado and numerous floods. It was moved to its present site in March 1999.

The Food

Today, it is where you can find Matt and his crew grilling up some of the best burgers and chicken in town. My friend, Jack Gray swares by the polish sausage, "the best!", he insists.

The Depot is certainly a place where "everyone knows your name". It's "hometown" at it's best! It also has one of the best views in town, perched atop of the banks of Buck Creek. From the back porch, enjoy the sound of the rushing waterfall as you eat one of the best burgers you will ever have. The Depot...it's the place to go in Helena!

The Depot (web site)
Hours of Operation
Monday - Saturday: 11am - 9pm
Sunday: Closed
Contact Information
Address: 29 Lake Davidson Ln Helena, AL 35080-3264
View Map & Directions
Phone: (205) 620-1426
Fax: (205) 620-1426
Email: LetsEat@HelenaDepot.com

Click: Photography of Helena images is available for purchase at my Smug Mug Site, Photographic Memories.