By AJC Staff

August 4, 2006 5:05 PM | Link to this

Do you have any memories of Manuel’s that you’d like to share?

By daniel p mcgarity

August 5, 2006 5:19 PM | Link to this

I found this dive to be dark,dank and sticky. I was afraid something would crawl out of the wood work and bite me.

By Talon

August 5, 2006 9:40 PM | Link to this

I was at Manuel’s when a guy took a shotgun and blew the top of his head off in the parking lot. It musta landed fifty feet away.

It was cool.

By Bill Howell

August 6, 2006 9:26 AM | Link to this

In 1965 Sears employed 12 local college students as drivers to help the students pay for college. Manuel gave us hotdogs and let us study or play cards at a special table. A light delivery day would find 3 or 4 large trucks in Manuel’s tiny parking lot. When customers complained about the lack of parking space Manuel would run us off and yell, “to never come back”, but he always winked and we always came back.

By itsme

August 7, 2006 6:24 AM | Link to this

My husband and I took my intern to Manuel’s to celebrate her 21st birthday. We sat two tables away from Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter. No admonitions could stop could stop my eager intern from going to say hello. The Carters were there alone and were so gracious. We sat with them for a few memorable moments and chatted.

By John Genins

August 7, 2006 10:53 AM | Link to this

I can Certiy that Manuel’s was THE place for KAs, most Emory Folks & such Movers and Shakers (and Moes & Joes) from 1957 when I first went there through 2002.

Thanks for the Memories !

By John Genins

August 7, 2006 10:54 AM | Link to this

I can Certify that Manuel’s was THE place for KAs, most Emory Folks & such Movers and Shakers (and Moes & Joes) from 1957 when I first went there through 2002.

Thanks for the Memories !

By Ziza

August 7, 2006 3:10 PM | Link to this

My husband and I went there regularly for a while, but found the servers in the back rooms so rude, we stopped going.

By Roy

August 7, 2006 4:03 PM | Link to this

Manuel’s was “our place” during my years at Tech, the mid 70’s. I am glad to see Curtis is still around. He served us many a pitcher. Roy

By Buddy

August 7, 2006 4:40 PM | Link to this

One of the interesting things about the origin of Manual’s Tavern is that DeKalb was dry as a bone in those days. As I understand it that is why it is located just over the county line. Nearest place for a Dekalb resident to go have a brew, democrat or otherwise. And that explains why a guy with a bar in Atlanta was the godfather of DeKalb politics.

By Test

August 7, 2006 5:17 PM | Link to this

http://www.ajc.com/business/content/shared-gen/ap/FinanceGeneral/StewartSettlement.html

By loyal patron

August 7, 2006 5:49 PM | Link to this

best chicken wings and patty melt in the city. it’s about as no frills a bar you’ll ever find. want trendy? this ain’t it. and i for one would have it no other way…

…and if you stuck to the seats (see above), no worries, it probably was your own pretentiousness oozing from you that was the culprit.

By GBH grad

August 7, 2006 7:26 PM | Link to this

I loved Manuel’s when I was a nursing student at Georgia Baptist in the mid-70’s. I went there on a blind date and met the man I wanted to spend my life with. He wanted to spend the rest of his with me - but we never wanted to at the same time!! But we spent many nights at the Tavern dreaming of what it would be like. Great memories…

By Richard Moore

August 7, 2006 8:12 PM | Link to this

I first went to Manuel’s in 1968 in the company of Morris Shelton of the Atlanta Journal. At the same table was Manuel, Paul Hemphill, then a columnist with the Journal, and Captain Max Cleland,back home from Walter Read Hospital recuperating from his loss of three limbs in Vietnam, plus a carpenter and an electrician. Manuel loved to mix and match politicians and journalists with regular folks. I always thought he lost more than he gained by running for office. He was a great outsider.

By Martin

August 7, 2006 8:32 PM | Link to this

Manual’s is a place for people who aren’t stuck up.

If you need a waiter who wears a lot of “flair” (see the movie Office Space if you know not of what I speak), then you don’t need to go to Manuals.

But if you have a group of real people that you want to have a few beers with, take them over to Manual’s. It’s the most non-BS drinking joint you will find in Atlanta.

By Tom Catron

August 7, 2006 9:52 PM | Link to this

The name of the artist was Charlie “Dean” Chapman, and the model was his girlfriend, not his wife. She later became my sister in law, and her name was Toni.

Why was Manual’s brother Robert not mentioned ?

My dad was drinking at Manual’s before it was Manual’s. We lived on Ponce de Leon in the 40’s, and I went to Highland Grammer School around the corner on N.Avenue. The name of that service station across the street, by the way, was Ray’s.

By Steve Ward

August 8, 2006 10:44 AM | Link to this

I’ll always remember the most quotable pieces of graffiti from the men’s restroom ( who can forget the restrooms back in the early 70’s?) ” Lassie kills chickens” was my favorite.The political comment from when Mr. Maloof was running for the DeKalb County commission is a classic ” Bob Guhl wears elevator shoes” was directed towards his opponent at the time.

By Joey

August 8, 2006 12:44 PM | Link to this

My former roommate Jan became Manuel’s daughter-in-law when she married Manuel’s son, John. Jan, if you’re out there get in touch with me!

By Reecie

August 8, 2006 12:50 PM | Link to this

MANUEL’S TAVERN is the best! Real Atlanta, and revered location of my lst beer in public…still has the waiter I flirted with over 20 years ago. That’s a plus.

By Frank Owen

August 8, 2006 1:15 PM | Link to this

Manuel’s Tavern!!!!

A place wherw everybody knows your name. I was a patron of this fine BAR(legally) from’66 to ‘71. What I remember most is that during the Holidays Manuel would have his patron apperciation days. A masive buffett of ham,turkey and all the trimmings,no charge. The only reason I was not a bar fly after 71 is that I was transfered to Charlotte then.

By Amy

August 8, 2006 1:58 PM | Link to this

Manuel’s is like Cheer’s in real life. Everyone is really friendly and they remember you and what you like to order. (Maybe I go there too much!) It’s the place to go when you just want a beer and hang out with your friends, not worry about picking someone up or it being a meat market. Congratulations!!

By Cynthia

August 8, 2006 3:46 PM | Link to this

I love Manuel’s. It is so down to earth yet charming and fun. I am proud to have a place like this in Atlanta and am happy that Manuel’s spirit gets to be there all the time. I’m sure he enjoys that. :)

By Lucky

August 8, 2006 8:07 PM | Link to this

As great as the tavern was, and is, it would never have been the same without the “quiet strength” of Manuel’s brother Robert! He was the one who kept the home fires burning during Manuel’s political years. He was the one who was always behind the scenes while Manuel had a very successful political life. Please do not forget this hard working, dedicated, but quiet brother of Manuel’s who is as much responsible for this landmark’s success as anyone.

By Marshall S. Williams

August 8, 2006 10:50 PM | Link to this

1964: Fresh out of the Army. Stopped by Manuel’s with a friend for a beer. Went to UGA went to Manuel’s; went to Emory Law went to Manuel’s; went to work at Williams Bros went to Manuel’s; and, so on and on. Miss Tommy miss Manuel. Brian: do not f*** up. McCloskey, you didn’t know I was ahead of you, did you? Manuel used to say to me,”you old son of a b***, where have you been? Found me a place in the mountains?” Manuel, you now have your own, up there with God, to watch over us.

By Mimi

August 9, 2006 12:30 PM | Link to this

HELLO??? Where in the article is there any mention of Robert Maloof? Anytime I was in the tavern, it was Robert who was holding down the fort! How could he have been ignored throughout the entire article? Unbelievable!

By Jackie

January 8, 2009 10:43 PM | Link to this

I have really enjoyed this trip down memory lane. My parents were regulars at the Tavern from the late fifties till they died. Perhaps some of you might remember Mary and Wilson.

Yes, Robert was definitely an important person, very much in charge. I remember Bill and Pat very well also. Everyone at the bar was so good to my parents, but then, that’s what Manuels was, a caring place.

By propecia

May 27, 2009 11:29 AM | Link to this

Incredible site!

By Judy

September 23, 2009 12:43 PM | Link to this

Going to Emory in the late 60’s meant going to Manuel’s. It was an extension of campus life. I don’t remember any thought of age requirements, fake id’s or other such “nonsense”. It was like going to Europe as a student. Beer was just part of life, and Manuel was our folk hero, making the world our oyster. What great memories!