The Varsity: The history of Atlanta's iconic restaurant in photos

Flashback photos

Photos: 90 years of the Varsity

The Varsity is the fast-food phenomenon that shows no sign of slowing down, even as it prepares to celebrate its 90th anniversary with a birthday party on Aug. 18. In honor of this milestone, let’s take a look back at this iconic Atlanta institution through the years.

The Varsity restaurant is an Atlanta landmark. Photo taken January 31, 1989. (RENEE' HANNANS/AJC staff)

100822 Atlanta - Joshua Sieweke, Decatur, goes with slaw dogs, fries and a coke for his final order at the Varsity Jr. in Atlanta on Sunday, August, 22, 2010. Curtis Compton ccompton@ajc.com

"What'll ya have?"
September 6 1980-Shouinard Jones, 18-months-old, bites into a hot dog from the Varsity in Atlanta, Georgia. The Varsity originally opened in 1938 and has steadily grown into an Atlanta institution. On Georgia Tech games days, the eatery can host up to 30,000 people. They are best known for their Frosted Orange and chili cheese dogs.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution Archive

A woman makes chili dogs at The Varsity in downtown Atlanta, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016. The Alpharetta location of The Varsity closed its doors good this past Monday. BRANDEN CAMP/SPECIAL

Starlethia Floyd holds a salad at The Varsity in downtown Atlanta, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016. The Alpharetta location of The Varsity closed its doors for good this past Monday. BRANDEN CAMP/SPECIAL

A tray of onion rings sit ready to be served at The Varsity in downtown Atlanta, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016. The Alpharetta location of The Varsity closed its doors good this past Monday. BRANDEN CAMP/SPECIAL

Chili dogs sit ready to be served at The Varsity in downtown Atlanta, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016. The Alpharetta location of The Varsity closed its doors good this past Monday. BRANDEN CAMP/SPECIAL

June 25, 2012-Atlanta-President 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-Atlanta-A U.S. Secret Service screens employees before President Obama makes a stop at Varsity for hot dog en route to campaign event downtown Tuesday. VINO WONG / VWONG@AJC.COM

June 25, 2012-Atlanta-President Obama makes a stop at Varsity for hot dog and greeted a few students before heading to campaign event downtown Tuesday. VINO WONG / VWONG@AJC.COM

August 2, 2018 Atlanta - Gordon Muir, president, and his daughter Ashley Weiser, marketing director, taste their popular menu at the Midtown Varsity, representing the third and fourth generations of the Gordy family at the Varsity on Thursday, August 2, 2018. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

August 2, 2018 Atlanta - Gordon Muir, president, prepares a tray at the Varsity in Midtown Atlanta on Thursday, August 2, 2018. Gordon Muir, president, and his daughter Ashley Weiser, marketing director, at the downtown Varsity, representing the third and fourth generations of the Gordy family at the Varsity. The Varsity is turning 90. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

August 2, 2018 Atlanta - The Varsity is packed with customers on Thursday, August 2, 2018. Gordon Muir, president, and his daughter Ashley Weiser, marketing director, at the Midtown Varsity, representing the third and fourth generations of the Gordy family at the Varsity. The Varsity is turning 90. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

August 2, 2018 Atlanta - 90th Anniversary banner is displayed at the Varsity in Midtown Atlanta on Thursday, August 2, 2018. Gordon Muir, president, and his daughter Ashley Weiser, marketing director, at the downtown Varsity, representing the third and fourth generations of the Gordy family at the Varsity. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

August 2, 2018 Atlanta - Restaurant staff take orders at the Varsity in Midtown Atlanta on Thursday, August 2, 2018. Gordon Muir, president, and his daughter Ashley Weiser, marketing director, at the downtown Varsity, representing the third and fourth generations of the Gordy family at the Varsity. The Varsity is turning 90. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

August 2, 2018 Atlanta - Gordon Muir, president, is greeted by regular customer Juanita Worthy of Atlanta at the Varsity in Midtown Atlanta on Thursday, August 2, 2018. Gordon Muir, president, and his daughter Ashley Weiser, marketing director, at the downtown Varsity, representing the third and fourth generations of the Gordy family at the Varsity. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Jeremy Piven, starring in the new film, The Goods, meets Varsity President Gordon Muir makes a stop at Atlanta landmark, The Varsity. Wednesday, July 22, 2009. Pouya Dianat/Allied Advertising

100114 ATLANTA: 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

151013-ATLANTA-GA- Wendell Brock reports on the Varsity and its history of food and scene in Atlanta on Tuesday October 13, 2015. FOOD: Double chili cheese burger, fries and a Varsity PC (chocolate milk)(Becky Stein Photography)

151013-ATLANTA-GA- Wendell Brock reports on the Varsity and its history of food and scene in Atlanta on Tuesday October 13, 2015. FOOD: Fried apple and peach pies, Varsity paper hat and peach pie a la mode (Becky Stein Photography)

151013-ATLANTA-GA- Wendell Brock reports on the Varsity and its history of food and scene in Atlanta on Tuesday October 13, 2015. FOOD: TO -GO box with fries, rings, slaw dog, naked dog and chili burger. (Becky Stein Photography)

151013-ATLANTA-GA- Wendell Brock reports on the Varsity and its history of food and scene in Atlanta on Tuesday October 13, 2015. FOOD: Chili cheese Fries (Becky Stein Photography)

151013-ATLANTA-GA- Wendell Brock reports on the Varsity and its history of food and scene in Atlanta on Tuesday October 13, 2015. FOOD: Double chili cheese burger, fries and a Varsity PC (chocolate milk)(Becky Stein Photography)

151013-ATLANTA-GA- Wendell Brock reports on the Varsity and its history of food and scene in Atlanta on Tuesday October 13, 2015. FOOD: Frosted orange, chopped onions, slaw dog, chili cheese dog and rings.(Becky Stein Photography)

151013-ATLANTA-GA- Wendell Brock reports on the Varsity and its history of food and scene in Atlanta on Tuesday October 13, 2015. Team hats on the ice cream counter at the Varsity. (Becky Stein Photography)

151013-ATLANTA-GA- Wendell Brock reports on the Varsity and its history of food and scene in Atlanta on Tuesday October 13, 2015. (Becky Stein Photography)

151013-ATLANTA-GA- Wendell Brock reports on the Varsity and its history of food and scene in Atlanta on Tuesday October 13, 2015. One of the many murals at the Varsity. (Becky Stein Photography)

LEDE PHOTO!!! !October 20, 2012 - Atlanta, GA: Georgia Tech fan Bob Sexton picks up one of his chili cheese dogs outside of The Varsity on Saturday, October 20, 2012. On Saturdays, thousands of Georgia Tech fans eat at the landmark before and after the game. The Varsity is the busiest fast food restaurant in the city. JOHNNY CRAWFORD /JCRAWFORD@AJC.COM

October 24, 2012 - Atlanta, GA: The Varsity is the busiest fast food restaurant in the city, on Game Day, when Georgia Tech plays at home, they serve between 18,000 to 30,000 customers. Photo taken on Wednesday, October 24, 2012. JOHNNY CRAWFORD /JCRAWFORD@AJC.COM

Republican presidential hopeful Elizabeth Dole is waited on by Erby Walker at the Varsity is Atlanta, Friday, July 16, 1999. Dole visited the popular eating spot while in town for a campaign appearance. (AP Photo/Alan Mothner)

981126 ATLANTA, GA -- Lana Winings (cq) feeds her 20 month old son, Taylor Winings (cq), a spoon full of 'frosted orange' at the Varsity in Downtown Atlanta. Her family had come for lunch and will eat their Thanksgiving dinner later in the day. To the left is her husband, David Winings (cq) and her daughter Triana (cq) is in the background. (ALICIA HANSEN/STAFF)

B/W photo of Erby Walker working at The Varsity in the 1970's. (SPECIAL PHOTO). For News.

President Bill Clinton chats with Erby Walker at The Varsity in the 1990's. (SPECIAL PHOTO). For News.

ATLANTA, GA - April, 1954 - Downtown Expressway looking south toward North Avenue (crossing expressway) Varsity Drive-In on left, Techwood Homes across expressway on right. Spring St. can be seen at upper left. (Ryan Sanders/AJC staff) 1954

990909 NORCROSS, GA: Grace Whitaker, (cq) 4, of Buford enjoys a hot dog at the Varsity on Dawson Blvd, 9/9/99. Photo by RICHARD FOWLKES/AJC STAFF

030704 - ATLANTA, GA -- Jeremy Wheeler (cq), 8, of Cumming, enjoys a chili dog from the Varsity in the Lenox Square parking lot as he waits for the Fourth of July fireworks to begin later that night Friday, July 4, 2003. (BITA HONARVAR/AJC staff)

040419 - ATLANTA, GA --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)

040419 ATLANTA:--Democratic Presidential candidate John Kerry, center, accompanied by Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, right, and state labor commissioner Michael Thurmond, left in white shirt, stops by the Varsity in Atlanta on Monday, April 19, 2004. Kerry ordered chili dogs, a Varsity orange and onion rings. (CURTIS COMPTON/staff)

060818 - ATLANTA, GA -- A chili dog with french fries, a frosted orange drink and an apple pie at the Varsity in Atlanta, Ga Friday, August 18, 2006. (ELISSA EUBANKS/AJC staff)

100217- Atlanta - NASCAR driver Kurt Busch serves a frosted orange at the Varsity on Wednesday, February 17, 2010. He is a former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion and the winner of the 2009 Kobalt Tools 500. He was at the Varsity to promote the 2010 Kobalt Tools 500 which will take place on March 7, 2010 at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. Johnny Crawford/jcrawford@ajc.com.

070405 - ATLANTA, GA -- The Stanley Cup visits The Varsity Thursday, April 5, 2007 during the lunchtime hour. The Stanley Cup was there for a photo shoot for the AJC. (JOEY IVANSCO / AJC staff)

110712 Atlanta: As summer kicks into full swing, the smell of hot dogs fills the air. Whether inside or outside of the perimeter people love to stop at one of Atlanta's favorite dog spots. Evan Ivester, 6, (left) shoves a hot dog in his mouth as he sits with his mother Susanne at the Varsity off of North Ave. in Atlanta on Tuesday, July 12, 2011. Evan and his family, who hail from Good Hope, stopped at the Varsity after visiting Zoo Atlanta. Jonathan Phillips Special

110712 Atlanta: As summer kicks into full swing, the smell of hot dogs fills the air. Whether inside or outside of the perimeter people love to stop at one of Atlanta's favorite dog spots. Bob Mitchell eats a chili dog at the Varsity off of North Ave. in Atlanta on Tuesday, July 12, 2011. Mitchell and his family stopped off at the Atlanta icon on their way back to Springfield, Il from vacationing in the Bahamas. Jonathan Phillips Special

Original size is 75p.
Copy B/W photo: Georgia Tech students carried the goal posts from Grant Field to the Varsity restaurant after Tech beat UGA in Athens. (AJC FILE PHOTO: JOEY IVANSCO/STAFF).

Frank Gordy, founder of The Varsity, left Georgia Tech after a year but told his schoolmate that he'd make $20,000 before they graduated. He made $40,000. CONTRIBUTED: THE VARSITY

Frank Gordy's uncle Bob Ingram had a hot-dog stand in this 12-foot wide shack next to his gas station on North Avenue. Located right outside the Georgia Tech campus, it was in the right place to feed hungry students. Grody bought the shack and called it The Yellow Jacket, and he was in the food business. CONTRIBUTED: THE VARSITY

07/02/03-ATLANTA/FULTON COUNTY- Curtis McMillan (CQ)(left) and Chas Berry (CQ)(right) are heads-up in the Varsity sign as the Westin is set off in the downtown skyline. The pair who work for J and J Contracting Co. have refaced both sides of the sign, repainted and rebuilt the landmark and now wait for some fiber optics to be delivered and installed before they call it a job. The Varsity restaurant are celebrating their 75th anniversary this year.(PHOTO BY JOHN SPINK)

Outside of the Varsity restaurant in midtown Atlanta, GA. (AJC files)

The prices may be higher now, but those hot dogs haven't changed much. Varsity restaurant workers serving up hot dogs to customers in December 1977. AJC file

North Avenue with the Varsity in the background in July 1958. N06-059_aa, Tracy O'Neal Photographic Collection, 1923-1975, Photographic Collection. Special Collections and Archives, Georgia State University Library.

Feb. 11, 1972 - Friday afternoon traffic heading out of Atlanta as seen from the Fifth Street viaduct over Atlanta's Interstate 75-85 connector. (Al Stephenson/AJC staff) 1972

Varsity founder W. F. Gordy and his family, sometime in the 1950s.

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

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