Birmingham-based barbecue chain Jim 'N Nick's torched the ribbon on its latest Huntsville-area location Wednesday.

Why it matters: The third Jim 'N Nick's in the metro area, and the chain's 58th location, occupies a prime corner at Cecil Ashburn Drive and Carl T. Jones Drive in Jones Valley.

Zoom in: Jim 'N Nick's president Brian Lyman said "it was a no-brainer to come to Jones Valley."

• The University Drive location opened in 2017 and the Madison location in 2023, said Grey Standridge, local owner of Jim 'N Nick's in Huntsville.
• The corner, formerly the site of a CVS store that closed in late 2023, sees around 25,000 vehicles per day, according to city traffic counts, and is a key corridor for commuters coming over the mountain from U.S. 431.

What they're saying: Standridge said the search for a South Huntsville location took nearly three years, adding that "we really struggled to find the right spot."

• "There's so much growth happening in this area ... almost as soon as [sites] become available, they're gone," he said. "We kind of felt like we got really lucky with finding this location in such a prime spot."

State of play: The restaurant has hired 87 so far, Standridge said, and is still hiring.

• At the opening event Wednesday, Jim 'N Nick's also presented local schools nonprofit Free 2 Teach with a $2,500 check.

💭 Derek's thought bubble: I don't go to a barbecue restaurant without eating, and if smoked chicken and Alabama white sauce is on the menu, I order it.

• I also got the pulled pork, baked beans and potato salad, trying out the Carolina mustard sauce as well, and everything was on the level, especially the sauces.

The bottom line: The opening was at 11am, and by 11:30am the place was full.

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As the government shutdown continues, Huntsville is bracing for impact.

Why it matters: Much of Huntsville's economy is driven by the federal government to some degree.

• That's especially true for the 45,000-plus workers on Redstone Arsenal every day.

Zoom in: After the last shutdown, Congress passed a law requiring back pay for furloughed federal workers, notes Mike Ward, senior vice president of government and public affairs at the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce.

• The picture is different for government contractors, who Ward notes make up about half of those working on the arsenal.
• Many larger contractors have long-term agreements with the government, so the shutdown may impact only their ability to access offices or facilities they need to do their work, he told Axios Huntsville.

Yes, but: Smaller contractors — those with fewer than 400 or so employees — of which Huntsville has many, are the most vulnerable, Ward said, as they may not get paid back for this lost time.

• And Huntsville may feel it in sales tax, he added, as folks put off those discretionary purchases while they're missing paychecks.

Context: At the arsenal, Garrison Commander Col. Erin Eike reported that all gates will run as normal through the end of the week, Redstone Rocket reported yesterday from a community update.

• Beyond that, hours will be adjusted depending on traffic, she said.

What they're saying: "In the past ... there have been ongoing negotiations and some other things that lead you to believe it isn't going to last for a very long time," Ward said.

• "This one feels like it's a little harder to get a handle on how it plays out."
• In a statement, Rep. Dale Strong, whose district includes Huntsville, said, "This shutdown could end today if Democrats would support the clean continuing resolution to fund the government."

Go deeper: The seven Democratic senators whose votes could be key to ending the government shutdown

🚦 Garrison leaders addressed the impact of partial closures at Gate 3 and other changes on commuters — including one whose commute went from 15 to 50 minutes — and the need for almost 50 guards. (Redstone Rocket)

🏗️ New construction in Huntsville this year has reached $1.6 billion. (AL.com)

🤝 The Marshall Space Flight Center updated small businesses on how they can partner with NASA to get the U.S. from the Moon to Mars. (Huntsville Business Journal)

🚨 A search is underway after an inmate walked off a Huntsville job site. (WHNT)

Nearly a quarter of U.S. homeowners paid condo or homeowners association fees last year, and the median monthly bill was $135, new Census Bureau data shows.

Why it matters: Expensive condo or HOA dues add to the already high cost of homeownership.

Zoom in: New York state posted the highest median monthly condo and HOA fees at $739, followed by Washington, D.C., at $505 and Hawai'i at $470.

• In Alabama, 17% of households pay association fees, compared to 25% nationally.
• The median fee of $52 is just 38.5% of the national median fee. Only Arkansas, Oklahoma and West Virginia had lower fees, and Wyoming's was also $52.

The big picture: Dues pay for maintenance and amenities like pools and gyms, plus other costs that keep a community running.

Friction point: Such associations often enforce strict rules on everything from holiday decor to lawn care, with fines for residents who fail to comply.

• And condo dues are climbing, especially in Florida, where insurance and safety compliance costs run high, a 2024 Redfin analysis found.

The bottom line: "The amount of condo and HOA fees differed widely between and within states," per the Census Bureau.

• Roughly 5.6 million homeowners paid less than $50 a month, while around 3 million paid more than $500 a month.