They say that good things happen to good people.
It was evident when I spent some time recently with Bryan Knox that he is genuinely nice and is grounded in his belief in God and all things Gardendale. He is also a smart business owner who has built a very successful real estate business that is headquartered right here in Gardendale.
Bryan could have opened his business in any city, but he stayed in Gardendale and chose to support the growth of our community.
This article is the next installment in the Business Spotlight Series in The Gardendale News.
While Bryan Knox serves on the Gardendale City Council, we have put politics aside, and this article is about getting to know Bryan personally and what helped shape him into a successful and prominent business owner in Gardendale.
Good things do happen to good people, Bryan Knox is good example of that.
Treye Hanner: Tell our readers about your business. How did it begin and why did you decide to get into your field?
Bryan Knox: My business interests are multi-faceted. Approximately 23 years ago, I began a career in real estate and auctioneering that exposed me to all types of real estate transactions. Over the last 20 years utilizing what I call the “traditional sale method” (list and sell) and the auction method of marketing,
I have sold almost every type of real estate you can imagine. Single family homes, large and small farms, multi-story, commercial properties, hotels, condos, distressed properties, we’ve seen a little bit of everything.
Presently, the lion’s share of my real estate business now focuses on the sale of single family homes in Gardendale and the metro Birmingham area. I am also involved in some investment property and rehabbing homes for resale.
In the auction arena, I still do real estate auctions, just not on the scale that I did pre-2008. I also currently work with a number of non-profit organizations across Alabama serving as auctioneer and consultant assisting with them with fund raising auction events and galas.
Real estate sales and auctions are two arenas that have caught my interest since I was a small child. I can remember as a 5 year old child riding around in the car with my parent’s real estate agent as they looked to move to the Fultondale area in 1974 and thinking “this is fun!” I never forgot that feeling of going from house to house as mom and dad dreamed about what their next home would look like.
As for auctioneering, I will never forget the first time I walked into an auto auction in Vinemont, Alabama and heard the auctioneer “chant” as car after car rolled through selling to the highest bidder. That voice inside once again said “this looks like a fun way to make a living!” Well, as they say, “the rest is history.”
I would have never imagined that The Lord would allow me the blessings that came from the decision to become an auctioneer. In 2001, I became the Alabama State Grand Champion Auctioneer and in 2007, I was blessed to win the International Auctioneer Championship, which was a life changing event for me.
Those wins led to me being able to participate in some really neat things including doing a commercial for Comedy Central as well as being the auctioneer on History Channel’s “Real Deal” tv show that aired in 2011-2012.
Treye Hanner: Why did you choose Gardendale as the place for your business?
Bryan Knox: Gardendale is home. Growing up with an idyllic childhood in Fultondale during the 70’s and 80’s, somehow I just always knew that I wanted to make Gardendale my home one day.
For many years, my business took me all over the state of Alabama. When my wife Mitzi and I decided to open the Knox Realty brokerage, we made the decision that it would absolutely be based in Gardendale where we live, play and worship.
Gardendale is such a wonderful community, and we have the benefit of being surrounded by some incredibly talented, forward-thinking leaders and entrepreneurs. Being blessed to live in Gardendale, own a business in Gardendale, and now serve in the municipal government of Gardendale is like a dream come true for me. I truly love this town and the people in it.
Treye Hanner: What changes have you seen in Gardendale that have affected your business since it began?
Bryan Knox: Gardendale has experienced steady, planned growth for a number of years now and as they say, “all ships rise with the tide”. Our business has grown exponentially as Gardendale has grown.
Gardendale has so much to offer to anyone who is considering moving into the North Jefferson County area, and that makes it an “easy sell” as we show properties to potential buyers. Even for folks who may choose Morris, Kimberly or Warrior as their home will benefit from all that Gardendale has to offer.
In addition to the retail and restaurant growth we are currently experiencing, Gardendale has become the “medical hub” for North Jefferson County. We literally have almost any medical specialty you might need represented and a new, state-of-the-art, free standing emergency room right at our fingertips. Add to that the $32 million dollar park renovation at Bill Noble Park that will be completed in 2023, and you have a recipe for success in this area.
Treye Hanner: Are there any changes you would like to see in Gardendale that would help your business grow?
Bryan Knox: We are currently on a trajectory for steady growth over the next decade in Gardendale. I think a more proper question would perhaps be “what changes do we need to make as a business to help that growth to continue and assist in positive change in our community?”
I am thankful to live in a proactive city that is thinking forward, while still maintaining a great sense of community. We have a very strong Chamber of Commerce, numerous churches, excellent civic clubs and wonderful schools that all have a part in that sense of community.
I believe that if we will all have the attitude that we are all individually responsible to be a part of making our community what we want it to be rather than waiting on someone else to make it happen, we can continue to be a great community.
The city leaders are no more important than the citizens. The large churches no more important than the smaller ones. The large companies are no more important that the “mom and pop” businesses. You see, it takes all of us to make our community the great place that it is.
Treye Hanner: Finally, why do you believe your business has been so successful, and what would you like prospective customers to know about why they should buy from a local business in Gardendale?
Bryan Knox: Our brokerage specializes in the sale of single family homes, land and commercial real estate. However, if you are really honest about it, we specialize in helping people. We have been successful because we have striven to make a name for ourselves as a brokerage that you can depend on as you buy or sell what is perhaps the largest investment you may ever make.
Our clients have told us repeatedly that they used our brokerage because of a reputation for honesty and knowing that we have strong market knowledge in this area. There are some wonderful Realtors in our area and the choice can be difficult when choosing an agent or brokerage.
If a client blesses us by choosing our brokerage, we promise to treat them with dignity, honesty and respect for their investment. In addition, we will make the process as painless as possible and hopefully make it fun also.
At the end of the day, we want our clients to have the same reaction that I had as a 5 year old in 1974 when mom and dad were buying a house…” hey, that was fun!”
