DEL.ICIO.USAtlanta’s lack of nightlife leaves visitors bored
Hospitality industry confronts city’s loss of party-town reputation
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Monday, December 29, 2008
When it comes to efforts to lure conventioneers, Atlanta’s got the hotels, the easy access to the city via the nation’s busiest airport and even the attractions with the Georgia Aquarium and the World of Coca-Cola.
Now what the city needs is a little more nightlife.
AJC file
The drinks flowed late into the night during Buckhead’s party-scene heyday. These days, the bars and clubs have made way for development.
That’s one of the challenges hospitality officials are facing as they look at how to strengthen the city’s hand in 2009, which many expect to be a very tough economic year.
And it’s a 180-degree change for a city that was once considered a party town because of Buckhead. For years, visitors flocked to the city because of the area’s nightlife, with clubs staying open until 3 a.m. and some operating 24 hours. The city also was notorious for its adult entertainment, though officials never boasted that attribute.
Moves to curtail hours and efforts to revitalize Buckhead with high-end development have effectively killed its party reputation.
Earlier this month, William Pate, incoming president of the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau, told members of the board of the Georgia World Congress Center that the city is well-positioned to win convention business because of such assets as the convention center, some of the most affordable room rates in the country and more awareness of the cultural activities offered here.
But downtown, where most of the conventions take place, is missing the after-hours component.
Keeping conventioneers coming is critical to Atlanta’s $11.4 billion tourism industry. Conventioneers’ dollars keep hotels and restaurants full and help keep businesses like florists, caterers and linens suppliers operating.
Both ACVB and GWCC board members agreed that getting nightlife downtown is easier said than done. To attract after-hours hotspots, more residents will have to move downtown and suburbanites, many of whom view the area as unsafe, will have to visit more frequently than an occasional sporting event.
Otherwise, said GWCC board member Tom Bell, the businesses will have to rely on convention traffic, which is not the best plan for a bottom line. For instance, 75 percent of sales for some downtown restaurants come from visitors.
“It just really doesn’t work,” said Bell, head of developer Cousins Properties, which moved its headquarters from Cobb County to downtown to help revitalize the area.
While nightlife downtown is not as pervasive as it was in Buckhead during the area’s heyday, it is not nonexistent. Several clubs operate at Underground Atlanta, and the Tabernacle brings throngs of concertgoers to the area on a regular basis. A handful of restaurants also has become popular at night.
Still, much of the city’s inner core is deserted after the business day is done, adding to the perception that downtown is dangerous. In addition, metro Atlanta has more than one urban center, which gives investors in nightlife many options beyond downtown.
“These are some of the things we are confronting,” Bell said.
There are signs of hope, the leaders said. The city is doing more to address the panhandling issue, which has bedeviled Atlanta for years.
Undercover police officers are making more arrests of panhandlers and hospitality officials are working harder to educate visitors about the problem in advance. And more residential units are being built downtown, such as Atlanta-based Novare Group’s Twelve Centennial Park and the condominium component of the new W Hotel downtown.
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Comments
By veritas
Dec 30, 2008 3:07 PM | Link to this
Why blame religion for Atlanta's shortcomings?
Whem the criminal element, the playas, hos and hip hoppers, take over Buckhead, the money-spending, law-abiding consumers of all races quickly took heed and left.
It will take a lot to lure them back.
By Jim
Dec 30, 2008 3:06 PM | Link to this
No Guiliani types? Why of course why would Atlanta residents want to bring someone it to clean up the city, make it safe, cut the violent crime rate and murder rate to the lowest level in years, improve the business climate, bring in millions more tourists, and instill law and order in a city that was spiraling out of control? NY saw the greatest revival under Mayor Guiliani than ever before. And YES, law abiding New Yorkers loved it!
The same thing wonıt happen in Atlanta because people like Chuck Barnes have their heads so far of their butts they lost any common sense they probably never even had to begin with. Thanks to the mind set of people like Chuck, Atlanta will remain what it is because people will continue to elect people like Shirley ılet the bums ruleı Franklin. Just because you love living in a ghetto Chuck doesnıt mean everybody else does too!
By BKLYNDodger
Dec 30, 2008 3:06 PM | Link to this
I am a Black man from Brooklyn, NY and purchased a second home in Buckhead in March of 2006. While I do miss the night life that was literally in front of my door, I must admit that I look forward to the new "Streets of Buckhead". I only came down once a month to party when the "Old Buckhead" existed, but I always had a great time. I guess I missed much of the violence, because many of the bars and clubs in the area were closing down. My perception of the problem with the "Old Buckhead" is that a few dumb people that happened to be black and white ruined it for everyone. I recall seeing blacks and white alike acting like fools and and getting into fights. Although, the gun play seems to be largely perpetrated by African Americans. Sad but true. The Ray Lewis incident was the straw that broke the camel's back and gave Carter the ammunition he needed to close down the bars. I think the night life will return, but it will be more upscale and it will be for the best.
By Frustrated
Dec 30, 2008 2:56 PM | Link to this
The problem with the city is the planners. There is a group called the NPU (neighborhood planning units) and there is about 26 +/- of them. There are decent ones and terrible ones, like the Virginia Highlands. The point is, they have the power to influence our city's legislators, even when at odds with the will of the people. Check it out. They ruin all the great ideas before you even hear about them...and the meetings are so boring, nobody except the nazis attend. I say give them the boot!!!
By Al
Dec 30, 2008 2:55 PM | Link to this
Atlanta used to be one of the best places to party and have a great time before and after hours. Clubs where allowed to remain open until the wee morning hours. I miss the old days.
By S
Dec 30, 2008 2:24 PM | Link to this
Buckhead used to be the place to go when looking for nightlife. In my travels across the US, I was always asked about bars and dance clubs in Buckhead and is it really as much fun as they heard.
Lets be honest about the demise of Buckhead . . . it was not the religious right, it was not the city and it was not earlier closing times. It was the "element". All of the sudden a wave of people started coming to Buckhead, most to just cruise around clogging all traffic, not spend any money, increase crime and drive out the people who actually went inside the bars and clubs to spend money. When the element effectively drove out the previous paying customers, the bars and clubs could no longer afford to stay open so the "element" effectively wiped out Buckhead bars and clubs. After the bars and clubs in Buckhead the element moved to Atlantic Station . . . we will see how it turns out . . .
The "new" highend Buckhead with it's shops and stores will never survive . . .
By Jeff
Dec 30, 2008 2:21 PM | Link to this
"Hotlanta" is gone forever because the short-sighted politicians shot themselves in the foot by regulating all the "fun" out of Atlanta. Backstreet and the Gold Club were known all across the south, if not all across the country. Who thinks that block-long lines will form outside Hermes to pay $1200 for a scarf in the "New Buckhead"? I've been to "World of Coke" once. That was enough for a lifetime. Same with the Aquarium. Atlanta is known for absolutely nothing aside from traffic, sprawl, and crime. Who thinks Las Vegas doesn't have traffic and crime? They have plenty of both, yet they are known for nightlife and gambling - and they rake in billions in convention business and TAXES (now the politician's mouths are starting to water!). If the city fathers are wondering who killed the goose that laid the golden egg, I suggest they find a hand mirror!
By Bob
Dec 30, 2008 2:13 PM | Link to this
please read my comments again yoowza. I never used party affliation to blame anyone for anything. Conservativism crosses all party lines. Again, I am looking at progressive people with 21st century thinking.
By Bob
Dec 30, 2008 2:10 PM | Link to this
I never said that is was Republican or Democrat thing. Conservatives and Liberals cross all political parties. I prefer to use these terms rather than a party affliation. (i.e. Vernon Jones - Democrat conservative, Olympia Snow -Maine Republican liberal). Again, redeveleopment is not allowing anyone to run rampant. Please do not say that I said things unless I said them. And based on my statements, I did not make any of these inferences as well.
By Chuck Barnes
Dec 30, 2008 2:06 PM | Link to this
Totally agree with below I-20 across the metro. Majority of the city's danger resides here. Drugs, ho's, etc...breeds lots of crime. I have lived in Atlanta for many years and unfortunately know some of these areas all too well.
MARTA expansion or trasit expansion over the next 5 years is a MUST!
Atlanta needs more community activities like, festivals, movements etc... Areas around DC metro, Silver Spring, Maryland where I frequent often are very successful with these community activities. We need bonding! LOL!
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