urbanemporium: Mobile, AL

The urbanemporium is a non-profit store for new start up retail businesses located in the heart of downtown Mobile, Alabama. Basically it’s a great shop filled with all kinds of fun stuff and the feel of an upscale flea market.

What really got my attention was the window with the funny but very practical & colourful waffle robes monogrammed with “property of the Betty Ford clinic.”

Well I needed one anyway and might end up there one day. Don’t they have a BYOB policy? (bring your own bathrobe).

Sock Monkey — Doesn’t everyone need a sock monkey backpack?

Tile Wall Sayings — A wall full of funny tile quotes – mostly true.

What’s really neat about this store is that there is an art wall with marine murals done by young artists from the Southwest Alabama Regional School for the Deaf and Blind in Mobile. They paintings are made on black tar paper. Words aren’t necessary as paintbrushes illustrate the fanciful aquatic images swimming in their imaginations.

Annabelle. She gave me a pamphlet on the Dauphin street historic district walking tour of interesting places. **The school is selling the paintings to the public to raise money for a new multi-sensory room that will provide deeper therapy for multi-disabled students.**

Cypress lined st. — Overhanging Cypress trees line the streets in Mobile

Interesting tidbit: Did you know that Mardi Gras originated in Mobile in 1702 before New Orleans. Now New Orleans hosts the biggest Mardi Gras but they still celebrate big time in Mobile.