This beloved Birmingham soul food restaurant survived a bombing, relocations, and 70 years of change with one simple menu

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The menu at Green Acres is seen in Birmingham, Wednesday, July 29, 2026. (Eric Kiekeben/AL.com)

Customers wait for their food in Green Acres around lunchtime in Birmingham, Wednesday, July 29, 2026. One decoration, seen on the wall, was a January 2009 issue of the Washington Times when Barack Obama was inaugurated. (Eric Kiekeben/AL.com)

A newspaper article on the wall inside of Green Acres has a headline that reads

Green Acres is seen in Birmingham, Wednesday, July 29, 2026. The restaurant was founded in 1958 by Birmingham native Charles Gratton. (Eric Kiekeben/AL.com)

A sign dedicated to Charles Gratton, the founder of Green Acres, is seen on the restaurant's wall in Birmingham, Wednesday, July 29, 2026. After his passing in 1999, his son, Greg Gratton, took over until he retired in 2015. Now, his daughter, Tomeka Bell, has been running Green Acres since 2015. (Eric Kiekeben/AL.com)

The

Photos of Green Acres staff and others line the walls inside the restaurant in Birmingham, Wednesday, July 29, 2026. (Eric Kiekeben/AL.com)

Green Acres is seen at 1705 4th Ave N in Birmingham, Wednesday, July 29, 2026. The Fourth Avenue Historic District appeared on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. (Eric Kiekeben/AL.com)

A certificate from Steve Harvey's

Customers form a winding line inside of Green Acres around lunchtime in Birmingham, Wednesday, July 29, 2026. The walls contained decorations showcasing the history of Green Acres, from old photographs to news articles and more. (Eric Kiekeben/AL.com)

A bite taken out of a fried green tomato from Green Acres is seen in Birmingham, Wednesday, July 29, 2026. (Eric Kiekeben/AL.com)

Customers are seen outside of Green Acres around lunchtime in Birmingham, Wednesday, July 29, 2026. (Eric Kiekeben/AL.com)

The

Greg Gratton’s office sits at the back of Green Acres, the restaurant his family has run in one place or another around Birmingham for nearly 70 years.

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