Flashback Photos: Underground Atlanta's history

Flashback Photos

Flashback Photos: Underground Atlanta's history

It's among the city's most unique features and has frequently proved one of its most challenging from a business and entertainment perspective.

Dante's Down The Hatch restaurant and bar was among the most popular Underground nightlife venues of the '70s and '80s.

1954 -- The old downtown Rich's department store building, built in 1924 and located at Peachtree and Alabama Streets, was a well-known meeting spot for Atlantans for decades. The former Rich's building still stands on the northeast upper level of Underground Atlanta.

March 1969 -- A streetcar is moved to Underground Atlanta in preparation for the Dogwood Festival. On April 8, 1969, Underground was officially opened. Development of the project started in 1967 and construcction began in November 1968.

1975 -- Old-style gas lights flicker on a street in Underground Atlanta. During its most profitable year, 1972, Underground Atlanta boasted 3.5 million visitors and $17 million in sales.

1978 -- Former Georgia governor Lester Maddox, one of the state's most controversial figures, ran a souvenir store in Underground.

1974 -- With other metro areas relaxing their restrictions on alcohol consumption in the early '70s, Underground faced competition as Atlanta's nightlife hub and its clientele became less high-end.

1984 -- Atlanta's Zero Mile Post historical marker, adjacent to the the southern entrance to Underground Atlanta, marks the southeastern terminus of the Western and Atlantic railroad, which was the original site of what would become the city of Atlanta.

1979 -- Although patrons still visited Underground Atlanta by the end of the '70s, the shine had worn off the downtown attraction as crime raged and the area was considered dangerous. After being closed in 1980, Underground Atlanta was abandoned in 1982.

June 5, 1984 -- The Atlanta City Council endorsed a $130 million plan to revive the dormant Underground Atlanta site as an entertainment complex.

November 1987 -- Then-Mayor Andrew Young arrives for the celebration ceremony of phase two for Underground Atlanta. Upon taking office in 1982, Young vowed to re-open Underground. In June 1989, Underground re-opened to major fanfare in a new guise as a combination shopping mall / nightlife district. But as the '90s wore on and the 2000s dawned, Underground still found itself struggling to draw visitors and produce revenue.

1 / 10

Dante's Down The Hatch restaurant and bar was among the most popular Underground nightlife venues of the '70s and '80s.

Today's Gallery Headlines

Dream-Valkyries battle for winner-take-all Game 7 in WNBA Finals

PHOTOS: Georgia defeats Florida in Atlanta

PHOTOS: Pregame scenes before Florida vs. Georgia in Atlanta

PHOTOS: Famous faces from the WNBA Finals Game 6 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta

More Galleries

PHOTOS: Renderings show planned residential remake of Spaghetti Junction eyesore

PHOTOS: Take a look at how the Stitch would transform Atlanta's Downtown Connector

PHOTOS: Atlanta Pride Parade 2026

PHOTOS: Isaias rolls through metro Atlanta