Georgia restaurants serve as campaign stops for politicians

Food & Dining

Georgia restaurants serve as campaign stops for politicians

Whether it’s a hole-in-the-wall barbecue joint or a restaurant that helped feed the civil rights movement, eateries give politicians a place to kiss babies and shake hands.

Former presidential hopeful Mitt Romney digs into the onion rings stumping in Georgia for Attorney General Sam Olens (left), joining Olens for lunch at The Varsity on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2014, in Atlanta. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

Democratic Presidential candidate John Kerry trys a chili dog at the local landmark restaurant the Varsity in Atlanta as he chats with owner Nancy Gordy Simms (a supporter of President George W. Bush) on Monday, April 19, 2004. (CURTIS COMPTON/AJC staff)

President George H.W. Bush greets Gordon Muir at the Varsity.

President Bill Clinton chats with Erby Walker at The Varsity in the 1990's.

Former presidential hopeful Mitt Romney enjoys a iconic frosted orange while stumping in Georgia for Attorney General Sam Olens, joining Olens for lunch at The Varsity on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2014, in Atlanta. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

June 25, 2012-President Barack Obama makes stop at Varsity for hot dog en route to campaign event downtown Tuesday. President Obama greets customers during the short visit. President Barack Obama was visiting Atlanta on Tuesday to attend fundraisers for his re-election campaign, including a reception at the Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel downtown. Obama reportedly will also make a stop at the set of a movie filming this week in Midtown and Inman Park, before departing Tuesday afternoon. VINO WONG / VWONG@AJC.COM

JUNE 25, 2012: President Obama visited Atlanta a number of times in 2012 for campaign fundraising events, including one in March at Tyler Perry's studio. In June, he attended a reception at the Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel and picked up a hot dog at The Varsity.

12:12 p.m. Atlanta: Holding his grandson Grant Walters, 3, Georgia Democratic Senate candidate Jim Martin (right) talks with supporters Joe (left) and Sue Bearden of Blueridge at the Varsity on Tuesday. Martin made appearances around town to get a few last minute votes.

Republican presidential candidate, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, left, is handed a hot dog as he visits the Varsity restaurant in downtown Atlanta during a campaign stop on Tuesday. AP/David Goldman

Then-President Clinton enjoyed a grilled chicken sandwich, french fries and a Diet Coke with governor Zell Miller when he visited The Varsity in January 1996. With them are employees Vanessa Dukes (left) and Yolanda Pleasant.

Saying she's starving as she makes a campaign appearance to thank supporters at the Varsity in Atlanta, Mary Norwood grabs an order of fries.

February 26, 2016 Atlanta - Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton meets customers on a visit to Octane Coffee Bar - Grant Park on Friday, February 26, 2016. Made with Nikon D750 camera, a 70-200 mm zoom lens at 78 mm, F/5, 1/320 second, ISO 3200. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Democratic candidate for Georgia governor Stacy Abrams talks to a crowd during a campaign stop at the Two Eggs restaurant in McDonough Saturday, July 9, 2022. Steve Schaefer / steve.schaefer@ajc.com)

Former President Bill Clinton speaks at a rally for Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Michelle Nunn at Paschal's Restaurant, Friday, October 31, 2014.

Georgia Rep. John Lewis supports Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton who held her first Georgia appearance in Atlanta on Oct. 12, 2007 at Paschal's restaurant.

Richard Stogner was a fixture in Atlanta politics as he served under four Atlanta mayors and as a high-level official in DeKalb and Fulton counties. He was a Tuesday night regular at Manuel's Tavern. (RENEE' HANNANS HENRY/2004 AJC file)

President Barack Obama waves to the crowd as he leaves Manuel’s Tavern on Tuesday, March 10, 2015, in Atlanta. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. left, sits with rapper Killer Mike at the Busy Bee Cafe on Monday in Atlanta. Killer Mike introduced Sanders at a campaign event at the Fox Theatre later in the evening. AP/David Goldman

Busy Bee owner Tracy Gates and Vice President Kamala Harris share a laugh outside the restaurant on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. (Tia Mitchell / Tia.Mitchell@ajc.com)

Republican Karen Handel greets diners during a campaign stop Old Hickory House in Tucker on Monday, the day before the election in Georgia’s 6th Congressional District. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Lane Flynn, one of three Republican candidates for Georgia House District 81, at a meet-and-greet campaign stop at Hudson Grille Brookhaven. KRISTINA TORRES / KTORRES@AJC.COM

Atlanta mayoral candidate Andre Dickens talked through his campaign promises with market customer Mona Gilbert at a campaign stop at the Sweet Auburn Curb Market.
Saturday, November 20, 2021. Miguel Martinez for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

211120-Atlanta-Atlanta Mayoral candidate Felicia Moore listens to political strategist Fred Hicks during a campaign stop at My Coffee Shop in East Lake on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021. Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Woodstock-U.S. Senator Kelly Loeffler speaks to supporters at a campaign event at the Tuscany Italian restaurant in Woodstock on Wednesday, July 8, 2020. Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams greets voters at the Canton House restaurant along Buford Highway.

In an undated photo, former presidential hopeful Patrick Buchanan leaves Poole s Bar-B-Q in East Ellijay. / AJC file photo

MONROE: Republican U.S. Senate candidate Guy Millner, center, chats with David Wood, 58, left in white hat, and Earl Wold, 63, right in brown hat, during a campaign stop at the Huddle House restaurant in Monroe, Ga., on Tuesday, April 16, 1996. (AJC staff photo/Curtis Compton) 4/96

A shelf full of barbecue competition trophies greets visitors to Dave Poe’s BBQ in Marietta. The restaurant has served as a campaign stop for several politicians.
Bob Townsend for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

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Former presidential hopeful Mitt Romney digs into the onion rings stumping in Georgia for Attorney General Sam Olens (left), joining Olens for lunch at The Varsity on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2014, in Atlanta. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

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