AJC > Sandy Springs > Blog > Archives > 2007 > December > 10
Monday, December 10, 2007
Bye, bye American Pie
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
For such a young city, we’ve lost a landmark.
American Pie, a Sandy Springs staple, has quietly gone away, leaving behind memories of alcohol-abetted debauchery and hook ups for generations of pub crawlers.
I remember when the building that housed American Pie was one of those steakhouse chains that popular during the ‘70s. I can’t recall if it had the fiberglass steer parked out front, or if the steer was on the neon sign but it was the place in town to go for all things beef.
After the bovine business slowed, the building became American Pie and young Sandy Springsteens had a place of their place own to drink and hook up. I don’t have the exact dates but suffice it to say that the Pie was around during the “your place or mine” era of sexual freedom.
This, of course, was a time when an STD could be cured by some penicillin and the HIV virus was beyond our imagination. Casual sex was a good thing back then.
I only went to the Pie once with dubious intent. I was divorced, wanted to see what the fuss was about and perhaps try my luck. As I sat at the bar 10 feet away I saw a guy in a glittering silver suit, heavily moussed hair and wrap-around sunglasses hit on a woman in a black latex mini skirt. They left together five minutes before I realized I was in the wrong place and made my own exit.
I was no saint, but I sure didn’t belong at the Pie, either.
Later the place became know for all sorts of quirky events, as well as the home for expatriate Pittsburgh Steeler fans to watch their team via satellite and chug Iron City beer. They even made the official sandwich of the Steeler fan - white bread with a fried egg, french fries and some kind of meat. God knows how many future heart bypass procedures are out there from those things.
Part of what did the Pie in was the city’s decision to roll back the time for last call, but I also wonder if it hadn’t run its course.
Years ago in midtown there was a place named Harrison’s, which was as much a landmark as Stone Mountain. It was a place to see local celebrities and suck down pricey booze, not to mention make a new one-night friend.
At its height the place was packed. Then other bars opened and the hordes went elsewhere for their alcohol and assignations. We can be a fickle city.
And I’ve never run a bar, but I suspect it’s hard to be the hip and happening place for years on end. In any event, a colorful chapter in Sandy Springs’ folklore has gone away.
Bye-bye, American Pie.
Permalink | Comments (115) | Post your comment | Categories: Jim Osterman
Services »
