Orange Beach, Ala. – (OBA) – There’s lots of activity at the most important intersection in Orange Beach – the intersection of State Routes 161 and 182 – with homes going up on the east, the new CoastAL complex in the center of the parcel and the Atlas condominiums on the west.

CoastAL co-owner John McInnis says construction on his latest project is going well.

“It’s going well,” McInnis said. “We’re excited about it and it will open sometime this summer.”

There are two buildings going up now with a third planned for the site as well.

“The retail building and the outdoor bar/restaurant are being built,” McInnis said. “Parallel to the road is the retail building for the CoastAL Lifestyle brand. The construction is going well, there are no major changes to speak of and we're looking towards a July or August opening of the outdoor bar and kitchen, outdoor retail space and the outdoor green space. As well as about half the parking.”

The McInnis group is partnering with the city of Orange Beach on the parcel building the retail and outdoor bar with future plans for a full-service restaurant on the site. McInnis said the opening target date for the restaurant is January.

Orange Beach will use its half for a residents’ beach access parking lot.

Mayor Tony Kennon said it has been a goal of the city to own some beach front property. He and the council voted in a unanimous decision to move forward with the restaurant in December.

In September, McInnis and company came to the council to make some changes to the plans including increasing the footprint of the outdoor bar, increasing the gross floor area of the restaurant, modifying the front façade of the restaurant and reducing the restaurant building’s setback on the east.

CoastAL partners will also pay for the construction of the resident parking lot to the west of the retail-outdoor bar area as part of the deal with Orange Beach.



“That work should begin soon, I don’t have a specific timeline from them,” City Administrator Ken Grimes said. “They are also completing public restrooms near the center of the site where a main boardwalk will go to the beach and they will build a lifeguard/responder storage and safe room on the southwest corner of the site for the city.”