Irondale is known for small-town history, from its downtown to the Irondale Cafe. For something cold and made to order, Near Me - Smoothies & Ice Cream is about 30 minutes away in Hoover. Its address is 5882 Elsie Rd, Hoover, in the Knox Square development facing Hoover Metropolitan Stadium. Each smoothie and ice cream is made in front of you from real fruit.
I-459 from Irondale
The easiest way is to use I-459 for nearly the entire trip. From Irondale, head south on Grants Mill Road to the I-459 interchange and get on I-459 South. You will pass the US-280 and I-65 exits before reaching Exit 10. Follow AL-150 for a short distance and turn right on Stadium Trace Parkway. The shop sits in Knox Square on Elsie Road.
The drive covers about 21 miles. If you are starting near I-20, taking I-20 East to I-459 South works too.
Protein smoothies for Shades Valley athletes
Shades Valley High School is in Irondale, and plenty of Mounties athletes finish practice hungry. The Performance group is the natural pick, since each flavor includes protein:
- Performance Fuel
- Power Up
- Muscle Berry
Performance smoothies come in 20 oz and 32 oz. The shop opens at 5 PM on weekdays, so the timing usually works for a stop after practice or a game.
Teammates who want something sweeter can choose from the Indulgence group (Nutella Dream, Tropical Dream, Dark Chocolate Berry) or the Kid’s Favorite group (Sprinkle Blast, Choco Monkey, Cookie Galaxy). Any signature flavor can also be ordered as ice cream. The fruit and ingredients are the same as the smoothie version. The only difference is that the shop runs them through its ice cream machine instead of a blender.
For dairy-free orders, vegan vanilla or coconut sorbet replaces the dairy.
Team parties and school groups
A Shades Valley team party, a school group trip or an Irondale birthday can be held at the shop itself. Near Me hosts private events at its Knox Square shop in Hoover, so the group makes the drive down I-459 together and everyone orders their own flavor after they arrive.
Request a date on the Events page, or call (205) 378-7731 or email fruitnearme@gmail.com to plan.
Hours and quick facts
- Monday through Thursday: 5–9 PM
- Friday and Saturday: 12–10 PM
- Sunday: 12–9 PM
The shop is rated 5.0 on Google from 915 reviews as of October 2026. It has outdoor seating and online ordering. Other menu items include Fruit Refreshers, Frozen Fresca, Matcha and a two-topping scoop of vanilla or chocolate. See our menu for prices.
