Birdies, a gourmet market with a deli and coffee bar, is the newest addition to Prince Avenue. Owner Kirsten Hindes never thought she would run her own business, but when a space opened up in the old Model Citizen Salon location, the specialty food store she had always wanted to see in Athens seemed a natural fit.
Birdies owner Kirsten Hindes poses for a portrait on Jan. 24, 2024, in Athens, Georgia. (Photo/Sidney Chansamone, @sid.chansa)
“I really loved transforming this building. It was built in 1910, so I tried to imagine what it would’ve looked like if it was a shop back then, but I also wanted it to have a little bit of a modern edge,” Hindes explained.
The familiar red brick facade is now adorned with hand-painted blue and gold signage promising “provisions, coffee, sandwiches and fine cheeses.” The inside is bright and spacious with ornately-packaged food lining the navy shelves, cafe seating along the large windows and an old fashioned deli counter housing cheese wheels and cold cuts.
“I lived in London for a year working for a coffee company, and that’s how everything there was. Old buildings with character that had modern concepts and modern elements, but still respected the history of the building,” Hindes recalled.
The renovation was a collaboration with Character Built, the Athens-based construction company behind Condor Chocolates, Puma Yu’s, the Creature Comforts downtown taproom and dozens of other beloved businesses.
“This was a labor of love for them and me,” Hindes said.
Her time in London not only inspired her design choices but also an appreciation for her tight-knit community and local ingredients. Produce from Woodland Gardens and Diamond Hill Farm as well as bread from Independent Baking Co. have helped expand the Birdies pop-up menu over the last few months.
“We had a couple grab ‘n go sandwiches, and then we had grilled cheese, and we’ve just been growing and growing and growing,” Hindes explained. “Now we have soup, salads and sandwiches and people are thrilled.”
Recent daily specials have included a wild mushroom and leek chowder, a watermelon radish and cucumber salad and a smoked salmon sandwich with avocado, arugula and whipped goat cheese. Pop-ups aside, you can always find caprese and prosciutto grab ‘n go sandwiches and a variety of baked goods.
The best part? All the meats and cheeses in their sandwiches are for sale at the deli counter, making it easy to recreate your favorite menu items — or make your own recipes.
The shelves surrounding the deli and coffee counter stock all the other ingredients you might need. Birdies boasts the highest quality products from around the world for gourmet experts and casual customers alike.
From small-batch pantry staples like sugar kelp soy sauce and coarse-ground spicy mustard to charcuterie sides like anchovies, olives and San Marzano tomatoes, everything is beautifully packaged and hand-selected.
Before Birdies, Hindes was trained as a chef at the New England Culinary Institute, worked at French restaurants, and spent seven years at Whole Foods specializing in cheese, wine, beer and coffee.
“I’ve done all the aspects, and now I’m bringing it all together,” Hindes said. “I’m still surprised when I wake up every morning. I have a great team, and it’s been fun to train people and teach them about cheese and share my passion with everybody else.”