Flashback Fotos: Time-traveling down Ponce de Leon Avenue

Things to Do

Flashback Photos: Time-traveling down Ponce de Leon Avenue

When most people think of Atlanta streets, Peachtree Street immediately springs to mind. But many Atlantans will think of Ponce de Leon Avenue.

Atlanta landmark Mary Mac's Tea Room on Ponce de Leon Avenue in 1979. And don't miss our gallery of Midtown in the '70s and '80s. (DWIGHT ROSS Jr/AJC staff) »» SEE MORE FLASHBACK FOTOS FROM THE AJC ARCHIVES.

A very young Billy Graham looks over the seating capacity of Ponce de Leon ball park in 1950. Dr. Graham's revival services were held for six weeks later that fall. Ponce de Leon Park was located across from the Sears building (later City Hall East and soon to be Ponce City Market), where there is now a shopping center, »» SEE MORE FLASHBACK FOTOS FROM THE AJC ARCHIVES. Find out how Ponce de Leon Avenue got its name here.

Plaza Drugs has been an Atlanta landmark since 1951. This photo was taken in 1981 by AJC staffer Ray West, who also happens to be Kanye West's father. Urban Outfitters now occupies this space. Check out our Flashback Fotos of Midtown in the 1970s and 1980s here. Photo: Ray West. »» SEE MORE FLASHBACK FOTOS FROM THE AJC ARCHIVES.

Looking east a the busy intersection of Ponce de Leon Ave. and Moreland Ave. in 1986. We'd love to pay $1.05 for a gallon of gas again. (Joe McTyre/AJC staff)

Druid Hills United Methodist Church, Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, Georgia, February 15, 1972. The church was built in 1955.

Exterior of Mrs. P's, a gay bar in a hotel on Ponce de Leon Avenue, the day after it was raided by Atlanta police. Photo from September 25, 1980.

A 1946 photo of the exterior of Asa Candler's Ponce de Leon Avenue house (built in 1916). Since 1957, it has been the home to St. John Chrysostom Melkite Greek Catholic Church.

A horse-drawn carriage pauses before crossing a railroad track near the southwest corner of Piedmont and Ponce de Leon Avenue, probably in the 1890s.

A night view of Plaza Drugs and the people who frequent it, taken in 1979. (Dwight Ross Jr./AJC staff)

The Atlanta Gay Center, 931 Ponce de Leon Avenue in January 1981. Check out our Flashback Fotos of Midtown in the 1970s and 1980s here.

Record crowd of 25,221 at Ponce de Leon stadium April 10, 1949 to see the Atlanta Crackers defeat the Brooklyn Dodgers 8-4. Ponce de Leon Park was located across from the Sears building (later City Hall East and soon to be Ponce City Market), where there is now a shopping center. (Ed Pierce/AJC staff)

Old Briarcliff Hotel at the corner of Ponce de Leon Avenue and North Highland Avenue. Photo taken July 14, 1980. (STEVE DEAL/AJC staff)

The refurbishing of Briarcliff Plaza, at North Highland and Ponce de Leon avenues, was a key event in the rebirth of the neighborhood. This photo is from 1987. Urban Outfitters now occupies the Plaza Drugs space. (Steve Deal/AJC staff)

Development of the old Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant (and, behind it, the Kroger) on Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, Georgia, March 22, 1985.

A 'for sale' seals the end of an era in the mid-1960s. Ponce de Leon Ball Park is on the market. The once-proud Poncey to be torn down.

The Fox Theatre, as seen from Ponce De Leon Avenue, looking northeast, Atlanta, Georgia, March 17, 1978. Check out many more of our Flashback Fotos galleries here.

The new and improved Ponce Krispy Kreme reopened Tuesday October 7, 2003, with a week of festivities. This shows the interior of building as it was being renovated. (NICK ARROYO/AJC staff)

Intersection of Piedmont and Ponce de Leon looking north, probably in the 1930s. Find out how Ponce de Leon Avenue got its name here.

A 1981 photo of Rainbow Terrace (later Lullwater Estate) at 1610 Ponce de Leon Avenue. It was built for Lucy Candler, daugher of Coca-Cola's Asa Griggs Candler.

Workers move in to fill a huge chasm under Ponce de Leon Avenue in 1955. The cavity at Penn Avenue extended 42 1/2 feet below the street and was 25 feet in diameter.

The Samuel M. Inman House in 1945. It sat at the corner of Peachtree Street and Ponce de Leon Avenue, and was demolished the year after this photo was taken.

The Sears, Roebuck and Company buidling in 1979. It would eventually become City Hall East and is now in the process of being transfirmed in Ponce City Market.

Construction workers add to the 32nd floor to Southern Bell's new corporate headquarters in Midtown Atlanta in 1979. The $90 million structure, which sits on a commanding site at Ponce de Leon Avenue and West Peachtree Street, will rise 47 floors when completed in 1982. Check out many more of our Flashback Fotos galleries here. (Bill Mahan/AJC staff)

The Southern Bell headquarters building at West Peachtree and Ponce de Leon Ave, a close neighbor of the Fox Theatre. (Cheryl Bray/AJC staff) 1980

Once proud Ponce de Leon Park, pride of the minor leagues, showcase of the Southeast is no more. This is how it looked in 1966, awaiting total destruction. Ponce de Leon Park was located across from the Sears building (later City Hall East and soon to be Ponce City Market), where there is now a shopping center. Find out how Ponce de Leon Avenue got its name here.

1/25

Atlanta landmark Mary Mac's Tea Room on Ponce de Leon Avenue in 1979. And don't miss our gallery of Midtown in the '70s and '80s. (DWIGHT ROSS Jr/AJC staff) »» SEE MORE FLASHBACK FOTOS FROM THE AJC ARCHIVES.

Today's Gallery Headlines

cedar grove, cairo

Photos: Cedar Grove defeats Cairo in first round of state tournament

Salem Campground Covington

PHOTOS: See the 'Places in Peril' across Georgia for 2026

Autotrader 400

PHOTOS: Tyler Reddick wins again at Autotrader 400

Allyson Phillips (center), Laken Riley’s mother, prays at UGA’s Tate Plaza on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, during a memorial service for her daughter. Riley was attacked on Feb. 22, 2024 while running in Oconee Forest Park on the UGA campus and killed. (C.J. Bartunek for the AJC)

PHOTOS: Hundreds honor Laken Riley with 5K, memorial on UGA campus

More Galleries

the weeknd

PHOTOS: The Weeknd electrifies the crowd at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz stadium

PHOTOS: Beyonce fans saddle up for 4-day Atlanta Cowboy Carter Tour stop

PHOTOS: Beyoncé fans arrive for 4-night Atlanta Cowboy Carter Tour stop

College Park Juneteenth Parade standalone photo

PHOTOS: Juneteenth Parade held in College Park

4th Annual Rick Ross Car Show

PHOTOS: Rapper Rick Ross holds 4th annual car show in Fayetteville