Q: Can you tell me about Tannery Row in Buford?
A: The former Bona Allen Tannery, across from the train tracks on Main Street, was founded in 1873. The complex is now called Tannery Row and houses the Tannery Row Ale House and Tannery Row Artist's Colony.
The business put Buford on the map as a key provider of hand-tooled saddles, bridles and other leather goods for Hollywood stars such as Rogers, Gene Autry and the cast of Bonanza, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported in 2015. Across the street from Tannery Row is the statue of Roy Rogers and his horse Trigger.
In the 1920s, the tannery created a semi-pro baseball team called The Shoemakers. The Shoemakers won the National Semi-Pro Championship in 1938.
“The shoe factory closed in 1942, but reopened at the request of the government to produce shoes for the men fighting in World War II until 1945,” according to www.aboutnorthgeorgia.com.
The tannery has been the site of several fires dating back to 1903 and as recently as 2015 as reported by the AJC.
Part of the old tannery survived and was been repurposed into the Tannery Row Artist Colony, which is a collection of 21 individual studio spaces where artists work in a variety of mediums and genres.
Today, the former shoe factory is home to several businesses on second, third and fourth floors. Tannery Row Ale House occupies the first floor.
“When we had the vision we wanted to be in a historic place in one of our hometowns and we (the four owners) are all from this area,” said Sandy Zimmerman, the managing partner of the Tannery Row Ale House.
“In this town, half the people that work for us, their great grandfathers and grandmothers worked in the tannery and a lot of our friends had relatives who worked there as well so being in this space means a lot to us,” Zimmerman said.
In the enclosed pavilion area, you can’t miss the big screen. On a recent Sunday, families were gathering for a birthday party and to watch football. The space is huge showcasing exposed brick walls, wood floors and high ceilings. The restaurant/bar hosts music, as well as public and private events.
A 1940’s Dodge pickup truck is the focal point in the pavilion. Coming across it at an auction, Zimmerman said, “We loved it and thought it went really well with the ambience.”
Tannery Row is located at 554 West Main Street in Buford.
New to town or simply have a question about this place we call home? Email us your requests to atlactualfact@gmail.com.
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