Reviewed by: Amelia Pilgrim
Huntsville news: Shake Shack, Ding How + 8 other interesting stories we covered in July 2026
Reading time: 5 minutes
We had plenty of exciting stuff happen around Huntsville back in July—from the announcement that Shake Shack is coming to Bridge Street, to a Calhoun professor appearing on two episodes of Jeopardy! and winning over $64,000.
Let’s take a trip down memory lane and recap 10 of the biggest + most interesting stories we covered throughout July.
Read more below, and make sure to subscribe to our newsletter to get news like this delivered to your inbox.
10 of the biggest + most interesting news stories from July 2026
Ding How announced its reopening
Okay, technically this news story was announced on June 29, but there was so much excitement surrounding it, we had to include it. Ding How, the beloved Chinese restaurant off Airport Rd, announced that it would be reopening.
The popular restaurant was forced to close in April of 2024 after a structural fire damaged the building.
Shake Shack is coming to Bridge Street
The popular fast-casual chain announced that it would be opening a second Alabama location at Bridge Street, with the other being located in Birmingham. Fans of the restaurant are looking forward to indulging in a menu of delicious burgers, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches + more.
The plan is for the new Shake Shack to open in the summer of 2027—you can check out the full details here.
New 48-unit affordable housing community for seniors
Grove at Indian Creek is a new affordable housing community for seniors that opened in Northwest Huntsville. There are requirements in place regarding the age + income of potential renters, which makes sure housing is available for those who need it most.
There are plenty of amenities offered here, like clubhouse access + a laundry facility, but you can find all the details here.
Tesla to open new service center in Huntsville
In other news, Tesla announced that it would be opening its second service center in Alabama. This will be completed in 2027, and be located at 3100 University Dr NW 35816. These centers conduct major vehicle repairs that cannot be done remotely.
The other Alabama service center is located in Birmingham, but you can also find one in Chattanooga and in Nashville.
Redwire adding 164K-square-foot expansion to Huntsville facility
Redwire Corporation announced that the company would be expanding its Huntsville facility by 164,000 square feet, which will increase both the company’s manufacturing and engineering capacity. 150 new jobs are expected to be created as a result of the expansion.
The facility is located at 170 Jetplex Blvd SW, Huntsville, AL 35824.
$45M Sparkman Intermediate School now open
The new $45M Sparkman Intermediate School had its ribbon cutting on July 24—just in time for school to start. The school is located in Harvest, Alabama, and will serve more than 800 students.
It is the first new school in the Madison County School System since 2014, and you can read the full details here.
Perry’s Steakhouse is coming to MidCity
Perry’s Steakhouse announced that it would be opening a 2nd Alabama location, which will be coming to MidCity in the summer of 2027. This chain is known for its modern elegance and comfort—and of course, having some delicious steaks!
The restaurant will be located at 1101 Mid City Dr, Huntsville, AL 35805.
UAH Professor discovers new species of fish
Matthew Niemiller, an associate professor at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, recently discovered a new species of fish living in Bobcat Cave, located under Redstone Arsenal.
This was big news because Bobcat Cave is well-monitored, meaning there are still discoveries yet to be made in places we aren’t expecting them. Find out other interesting details about the fish here.
Madison local + Calhoun Professor wins big on Jeopardy!
Matthew Riggle is a Calhoun Mathematics professor + Madison native who appeared on the hit show Jeopardy!, and won over $64,000! This took place over two episodes.
Riggle will be appearing in his third episode on September 14, so keep an eye out for that!
University of North Alabama commits to rebranding
The University of North Alabama announced that they were adopting a new logo going into the fall 2026 semester, with the goal of appealing to a wider group of prospective students.
The new logo features the university’s iconic fountain, which replaced the old lion. Learn more about it here.
Want more content like this? Follow Hville Blast on Facebook, TikTok, YouTube and Instagram, and be sure to subscribe to our newsletter.
