Gardendale is one of the farther communities Near Me - Smoothies & Ice Cream serves, and we will be upfront about it: the shop is in Hoover, about 38 minutes south. It is at 5882 Elsie Rd in the Knox Square development, across from Hoover Metropolitan Stadium. If you are heading south on I-65 for a game, shopping or a visit, it makes a good stop. Everything is made to order from real fruit.
Planning the trip from Gardendale
Take I-65 South through Birmingham and past Homewood to the I-459 interchange. Get on I-459 South and take Exit 10. Follow AL-150 for a short distance and turn right onto Stadium Trace Parkway. From there, Knox Square is a short way down on Elsie Road. The trip is about 26 miles.
Downtown Birmingham traffic on I-65 can add time during weekday rush hour. On weekends, when the shop opens at noon, the drive is usually smoother.
Making the drive worth it
Since you are traveling a little farther, here are a few ways to get the most out of the visit:
- Order ahead online so your order is ready close to when you arrive.
- Size up. Smoothies come in 20 oz and 32 oz. The 32 oz is a good pick if you plan to share on the ride home.
- Try both forms. Every signature flavor comes as a smoothie or as ice cream. The fruit and ingredients are identical. One is blended, the other runs through the shop’s ice cream machine.
- Bring the kids along. The Kid’s Favorite flavors are Sprinkle Blast, Choco Monkey and Cookie Galaxy.
The full signature lineup has 12 flavors. The Energize group has Tropical Buzz, Island Energizer and Citrus Cleanse. Performance, made with protein, includes Performance Fuel, Power Up and Muscle Berry. For dessert lovers, the Indulgence trio is Nutella Dream, Tropical Dream and Dark Chocolate Berry.
Bringing your group south
For a Gardendale birthday party, team party or school group, the shop itself can be booked as a private event. A Gardendale High School club, a team that plays at G. William Noble Park or friends from around the Gardendale Civic Complex on Main Street could all make the trip together. Because Gardendale is farther from the shop, it helps to request a date early so there is time to plan the drive.
Use the Events page to request a date. The phone number is (205) 378-7731, and the email is fruitnearme@gmail.com.
Details
Hours: Monday through Thursday 5–9 PM, Friday and Saturday 12–10 PM, Sunday 12–9 PM.
Near Me is rated 5.0 on Google from 915 reviews as of October 2026. There is outdoor seating at Knox Square. Dairy-free orders use vegan vanilla or coconut sorbet, and the full list of Fruit Refreshers is on our menu.
