The Retail building was completed in 1970 and features a total of 73,516 SF. Blues legend Bessie Smiths Atlanta Blues opens with the lines: Down in Atlanta G.A. The below-street portion of the district, with its late 19th-century storefronts, was abandoned until the 1960s, when it was rediscovered and transformed into a hotspot for shopping, dining, and nightlife entertainment through the 1970s. Yes indeed it was great in 72, 73, 74 and I had a grand old time. A quick stroll down West Paces Ferry or Mt. Bessie Smith - Preachn' The Blues 1927 (Atlanta Georgia Blues). In the early 1920s, Atlanta architect Haralson Bleckley convinced the city to replace the haphazard iron bridges with a unified system of concrete bridges over all the streets in the area. When neighboring DeKalb County relaxed their restrictions on alcohol consumption in the early 1970s, new bars sprouted up in other parts of the city, generating competition. The new, expanded Underground Atlanta, with about 140 shops, clubs, restaurants and pushcart kiosks, replaces the original Underground nightclub district that closed in the early '80s. 2006Vision, the megaclub that replaced Kaya in Midtown in 2003, is forced to close when the building is sold to a condo developer. When disco was in its prime, Atlanta was home to one of the most in-demand, star-studded disco nightclubs of the time. The north block (Block 1 of the 2017 redevelopment project) is occupied by Peachtree Fountains Plaza and has an area of 1.9 acres (0.77ha), bounded by Peachtree, Alabama, Pryor, and Wall. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Theres a $15 cover charge to enter. By 1910, the intense railroad activity and development in the area led to the erection of several iron bridges to accommodate pedestrian and automotive traffic across the railroad tracks. It has been described as Atlanta's most notorious singles complex. The old Alabama street was named Lower Alabama Street and the new street created over the viaduct was named Upper Alabama Street. WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta facebook feed(Opens a new window), WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta twitter feed(Opens a new window), WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta instagram feed(Opens a new window), WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta youtube feed(Opens a new window), >>Photos: Underground Atlanta through the years, Checks from Georgias $1 BILLION tax rebate are starting to hit bank accounts, Criminals are using this common security feature to access your bank accounts, Bride killed, husband seriously hurt in crash leaving wedding reception, Large amounts of drugs, weapons, other contraband seized by Ga. correctional officers, No. Title: Underground Atlanta (Dante's Down the Hatch) Identifier: G1980-21_09_16_02: Decade: 1970s: Creator: Georgia State University: Description: Rampway Assort 1975?-1981 Urban Atlanta--40/20 70% Pg. After the devastation of Atlanta during the Civil War, the city began to rebuild itself around the railroad tracks that brought goods and people to the city. See more ideas about atlanta, georgia history, atlanta georgia. 2003After a series of late-night shootings in Buckhead Village and weekend cruising on Peachtree Road, the Atlanta City Council votes to set last call at 2:30 a.m. Backstreet loses its status as a 24-hour club. Underground Atlanta v1.0 was also very popular during this time. [11] The city of Atlanta contributed $123million of that, including the $85million bond revenue, with the remainder from sales taxes and federal sources. Unfortunately, a lot of that had to do with the liquor laws of the time. [5][6], Down in Atlanta GA Since 1961, Atlanta magazine, the citys premier general interest publication, has served as the authority on Atlanta, providing its readers with a mix of long-form nonfiction, lively lifestyle coverage, in-depth service journalism, and literary essays, columns, and profiles. Doug Monroe's article on Underground Atlanta in the December 2006 issue of, This page was last edited on 1 January 2023, at 20:10. [7] By 1976, sales were down to just 40% of 1973 results.[11]. Mindful of the security issues (real and perceived) that contributed to the first closure of Underground in 1980, UFD began to plan entrances, exits, and lighting to emphasize safety and Rouse assembled a security force of 30. Pianos playin' till the break of day, Bessie Smith, "Preachin' the Blues" (1927). Some say that the word was originally Pitchtree, after a large pine tree in the area (pitch being the resin from pine trees, which was useful for as caulking for ships and barrels). But it also looked old and sad, and I was happy for the area when they developed it. Fans of the short-lived Fox series Vanished might recall a particular scene in the second episode. Trackside Grill 2840 S. Main St. N.W. This is apocryphal, however, and might just be a fun story. Although they struggled to stay open, the area was once again abandoned by February 1982. Richard's is an Atlanta club that was big in the 1970s. 1969Underground Atlanta opens, giving the city a nightlife nexus with Dantes Down the Hatch, Muhlenbrinks Saloon, the Bucket Shop, and many more. Underground Atlanta, the famous shopping mall in the heart of downtown Atlanta, has seen the city through many historical events. Hardcover. Cookie Notice Construction on Underground began in November. New Age, Athens. Like ghosts rising out . [11] During this time, some of the clubs that had been destroyed by the MARTA construction eventually won a claim for damages from federal mass transit authorities and used the money to help revitalize the area a second time. It appears both Dantes Down the Hatch and Down the Hatch are registered trademarks and its unclear whether organizers sought permission to use either for the pop-up or promotion. Two gritty underground clubs, Nomenclature Museum in Midtown and downtowns Karma, bring a new level of edginess to Atlanta nightlife. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. C-Span2's BOOKTV video of John McMillian discussing Smoking Typewriters: the Sixties Underground Press and the Rise of Alternative Media in America: . Atlantas massive railroad depot was, of course, a prime strategic target: just as you always seem to go through Atlantas airport when flying these days, back then most goods shipped in the South went through Atlanta, too. Archived post. Dantes briefly returned to Underground Atlanta in 1989, opening a second location there. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. This article originally appeared in our August 2012 issue. [14], Six Gun Territory No. Something went wrong. I didnt see the later reference to the gully. Atlanta, 1981..the stairway to enter Dante's Down the Hatch at Underground Atlanta. As of the fall of 2017, Underground Atlanta is a thing of the past. Although the area saw significant attendance during the 1996 Olympics, Underground Atlanta and the Five Points station were evacuated following the bombing when an abandoned bag was found,[25] and Underground still ended the year $6.5 million in the red. It closed a decade later. In addition, the construction of the MARTA East Line beginning in 1975 tore out approximately one third of the Underground blocks[5] and eliminated parking. The old storefronts were boarded up and became basement storage. It was Atlantas Bourbon Street, Rush Street, or Times Square. Lumpkin refused the honor, and instead suggested Marthasville after his daughter, Martha Atalanta Lumpkin. By the mid-seventies it was already on the skids, and well on its way to disrepair, collapse, abandonment, those pesky insurance fires that inexplicably used to claim so much of Atlanta's underwater real estate, and multiple closings and re-openings. Fuller and Paterson purchased all the corporation's stock in October 1967 and construction began in November 1968. For the mass transit system in Atlanta, see, Entrance to Underground Atlanta, near the corner of Peachtree and Wall. Gay nightclubs spring up, like the Cove in Morningside and the Armory in Midtown, as well as drag bars like Hollywood Hots on Cheshire Bridge and Mrs. Ps on Ponce. Very interesting! High points included a transcendental 1975 show by a peak-form Bruce Springsteen and Patti Smith's week-long stint in the mid . . As we were walking around, my wife pushed me to another direction, and I didnt realize it at the time, but she said there were some thugs, trying to lure us into an alley. Queen City Express, Cincinnati. [17], The renovation also removed Plaza Park, which had been built in the late 1940s, and replaced it with Peachtree Fountains Plaza. By. and Iggy Azalea once shared the stage here). The site has then seen a precipitous drop in activity, even folding entirely in the 1980s. Development was clustered around the arched-roof central train station now the site of Underground Atlanta with the . Some of my friends called Atlanta, the Little New York. But going back a few years to 1966 it was a tradition for the yearbook staff picture to be photographed at some unique location. Interestingly, for reasons I have yet to learn, the new depot was built in a gully. [7][11], Popular spots in Underground Atlanta included Dante's Down the Hatch, Scarlett O'Hara, The Blarney Stone, The Rustler's Den, The Pumphouse, The Front Page, The Bank Note, and Muhlenbrink's Saloon, where Atlanta's Piano Red, under the name Dr. Feelgood and the Interns, played from 1969 to 1979. In the years immediately following the war, Atlanta got by with a few improvised rail depots. Underground Atlanta became a 1970s hot spot for nightlife in downtown Atlanta. By the mid-1970s the country as a whole was in recession, and patronage was too sporadic to support the seventy-odd . The total finished project will span over 150,000 square feet. Atlanta's nightlife in the 1960s and 1970s. [11] Developers envisioned Underground Atlanta would become the third major tourist attraction for Atlanta, including Stone Mountain Park and Six Flags Over Georgia. Underground Atlanta. It was the place to be! [2], Located in Cumberland district of Atlanta, Riverbend got its name from the fact that it overlooked a bend in the Chattahoochee River. >>Photos: Underground Atlanta through the years One of the most obvious nods to the 1970s in Atlanta restaurant design is the den inside Ford Fry's BeetleCat, which opened in 2015. It would be another two years before the state lifted its own ban, but unincorporated DeKalb and many other counties would remain dry for decades, making Atlanta a nightlife hot spot. 2009The Fred in Sandy Springs and Buckheads Prohibition kick off Atlantas additions to the modern speakeasy trend. The last peach drops in Atlanta for New Years Eve. This version of Underground Atlanta is sometimes called New Underground to differentiate it from the old, fun Underground. Remember this, as it will be important later. I may have just missed it. Take a photo tour and read more about the plans for Underground Atlanta from Urbanize ATL, which include plans for a 21-stall food hall from Chattahoochee Food Works backer Robert Montwaid. By submitting your email, you agree to our, The freshest news from the local food world, Things Are Getting Spooky at Underground Atlanta for Halloween Weekend, Sign up for the newsletter, The Next Chapter of South Downtowns Historic Hotel Row Includes New Restaurants, old store fronts and at carts along Lower Alabama Street, Downtown Landmark Underground Atlanta Becomes the Latest Location to Gain a Food Hall, Dante Stephensen, founder of iconic Atlanta nightspot Dantes Down the Hatch, dies, Photo tour deep into Underground Atlanta as renovations finally begin, Hotel Clermont Is Now Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, 5 Big Atlanta Restaurant Stories You Might Have Missed in April, How Two Atlanta Chefs Are Building Their Kingdom of Fried Chicken in Decatur, Lindberghs Uptown Atlanta Development Will Soon Include a Test Kitchen for Local Chefs, Here We Go, Atlanta, Another Food Hall Just Opened, Giving Kitchen Is Auctioning Off Taylor Swift Tickets in Atlanta to Benefit Restaurant Workers. I too have very definite memories of under the Viaducts. By 1976, Underground Atlanta was in steep decline, with the construction of Atlanta . 2007Following the departure of Tongue & Groove and a few other holdouts, the Buckhead Village nightclub district is bulldozed to make way for high-end shopping. Despite this, Underground Atlanta has consistently struggled to attract consistent and diverse patronage. . This bi-racial group was meeting regularly to strategize about . Required fields are marked *. And once a few highly-publicized muggings hit the news well, that was it for Underground Atlanta. Riverbend Apartments is currently known as Walton on the Chattahoochee (pictured here in 2018) Riverbend Apartments was an infamous 600-unit apartment complex located in suburban Atlanta, Georgia, off Interstate 285. The ship's voyage began in 1970 as the centerpiece of the original Dante's Down the Hatch at Underground Atlanta. The number of visitors from outside the area was the only disappointment. Graphs are temporarily unavailable due to technical issues. Throughout Halloween weekend, people can also attend a number of other events planned at Underground Atlanta, including DJs spinning electronic dance music on various stages, costume contests, spooky Halloween installations, food vendors, and an art show featuring Atlanta artists and the works of UK street artist Banksy. Atlanta is Georgia's largest city and the principal trade and transportation centre of the southeastern United States. Developers have unveiled a robust redevelopment plan. So after a few years, the entire subterranean area a 12 acre, 5 block stretch of street was completely forgotten about. 2001Atlanta outlaws under-21 clubs, sounding the death knell for 18 to party, 21 to drink places like the Somber Reptile near Georgia Tech. However, the development was put on hold in December 1985 when the Georgia Supreme Court ruled the proposal, which included a municipal bond issue, first required approval by Fulton County citizens.[11]. You can still find echoes of the original Underground sometimes, though. And so the Good General made damn sure that it burned to the ground, along with mostof the rest of the city. It was the grander of two railway stations downtown the other being Union Station located nearby at what is presently a parking deck for Underground Atlanta. During some construction work, that the area was rediscovered. I was there before all the expressways were built. The World of Coca-Cola museum, that opened adjacent to it, brought an influx of foot traffic, but it continued to struggle from thenon. Ward notes that Underground Atlanta was largely an entertainment complex, until a fire, in the early 1980s - destroyed the original essence of Underground Atlanta. The area included both a street level and underground level. Its considered Atlantas earliest commercial district. Underground Atlanta became a 1970s hot spot for nightlife in downtown Atlanta. 1938The Top Hat Club opens on Auburn Avenue, bringing in major acts like Cab Calloway and Louis Armstrong. From basement speakeasies to the annual Peach Drop (where an 800-pound peach is dropped from the top of a building to ring in the new year), this arts, entertainment, and retail district has seen it all. The buildings comprising Underground Atlanta were constructed during the city's post-Civil War Reconstruction Era boom, between 1866 and 1871, when the city's population doubled from 11,000 to 22,000 residents. Underground Atlanta is a shopping and entertainment district in the Five Points neighborhood of downtown Atlanta, Georgia, United States, near the Five Points MARTA station. I feel Ive been learning a lot about Atlanta in the past couple months. Crime became uncontrollable and the area was considered dangerous. The final NASCAR race at the Middle Georgia Raceway was the 1971 Georgia 500, held on November 7, 1971. 1960sHippies take over the Strip on Peachtree Street between 10th and 14th at Bottom of the Barrel, Golden Horn, and Catacombs. We do not currently have plans to bring back Dantes Down the Hatch (the restaurant), we are simply cleaning up this Underground treasure and bringing it back to life for holiday pop-up events, Pilcher adds. No one is seriously injured, but the lesbian bar never recovers its clientele. and many more. Since New Orleans was the hot destination at the time, Underground Atlanta would take its cue from the Crescent City. There were several relics of an older Atlanta still around at the time. 2023 Cox Media Group. Underground Atlanta through the years Underground Atlanta became a 1970s hot spot for nightlife in downtown Atlanta. In the 1920's a viaduct was built over Alabama street to help relieve traffic congestion. It wasnt until 1968, during some construction work, that the area was rediscovered. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. Stephensen had hoped to possibly reopen Dantes Down the Hatch elsewhere in Atlanta. Stone Mountain, Downtown Atlanta, Atlanta Stadium, Traffic Helicopter, Power Line, Bank Pick Up, Atlanta Federal Prison and Flying Underneath Chattahoochee B. In 1839, when the city of Savannah was celebrating her 106th anniversary, Atlanta was little more than the dusty crossroads of two old Creek and Cherokee trading roads, one of which still exists today (in more or less its original form) as Peachtree Street. Local newspapers were packed with stories ofGregg Allman, Cher, the Rolling Stones, the cast of The Waltons, and other celebrities hanging out at Underground. Underground Atlanta to open on April 8, 1969. He gets help when Blakes, the gay Cheers, opens. Underground Atlanta, or "the original Atlanta," is one of the most popular attractions in Georgia.A historic site combining Old Atlanta with contemporary world style, it is located in the heart of Downtown Atlanta, this is the spot where the Atlanta City sprouted up around the railroad and where it first rose from the Civil War ashes. Day or night, Underground makes good. Your email address will not be published. 2010Nonis, the Sound Table, Cafe Circa, and other bars lure nightlife to underappreciated Edgewood Avenue. Halsa at Serenbe. . Pryor and Alabama each have two levels; each level has two main halls, which are called Upper and Lower Alabama and Pryor Streets. Underground Atlanta Selected For North American Debut Of THE ART OF BANKSY: WITHOUT LIMITS. And, like a time capsule, the area proved to be fascinating to local residents. If you can remember everything, then you werent there. It has been described as Atlanta's most notorious singles complex. 2000sCity Halls tougher stance on nightclubs and bars, combined with a surge in development (and followed by the Great Recession), cool Atlantas overheated nightlife scene. and entertainment district called Underground Atlanta in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The Great Speckled Bird Digital Archive (Atlanta's Underground Newspaper ) Digitized by Georgia State University with a grant from the Georgia Humanities Council. Among the more popular spots in Underground Atlanta were Dante's Down the Hatch, Scarlet O'Hara, The Blarney Stone, The Rustler's Den, The Pumphouse, The Front Page, The Bank Note, and Muhlenbrink's Saloon, where Atlanta's Piano Red, under the name Dr. Feelgood and the Interns, played from 1969 to 1979. You just distracted me from my work for a bit. The future home of Underground (center) It wasn't until 1968, during some construction work, that the area was rediscovered. That '70s City: Scenes from Atlanta in the 1970s. [38], Morrison, Jeffrey, Atlanta underground: history from below, Guilford, Connecticut: Globe Pequot, [2019]. Drinking corn and hollerin hoo-ray The city readily agreed to the plan, and rubber stamped all the permits, allowing Underground Atlanta to open on April 8, 1969. Underground Atlanta (Dante's Down the Hatch) Search this record. 2011After two years of legal battles, the Gidewon brothers of Vision and Compound fame spend millions to open two new, upscale Midtown nightclubs, Vanquish and Reign; the clubs close four years later. 1997Centennial Park bomber Eric Rudolph strikes again with a nail-bomb attack at the Otherside Lounge on Piedmont Road. Atlanta's downtown business district has steadily declined for decades as highly desirable office tenants like banks and law firms in the 1970s bolted to Atlanta's most desirable districts such .