Fur Bus, Albatross of Buckhead Creep
What is the Fur Bus doing in Virginia Highlands? The Fur Bus was a Buckhead fixture, but now, pub crawls and the bus are appearing all to often in the Highlands. Virginia Highlands is changing and not necessarily for the better. First, chain stores are creeping in and pushing out anchors such as 20th Century Antiques. The CD store that used to be there and long supported local artists has already gone bust. Instead, we get Chicos.
Now, crowds who don’t know what they’re doing are hurting the nightlife. You cannot imagine the frustration of the locals at an Irish pub when no one knows ‘The Wild Rover’ but the Fur Bus crowd insists on hearing ‘Rocky Top’… again. So too with Blind Willies. Much of the client base there now thinks that 12 bar refers not to the music but to the number of times they’ll be getting drinks. It’s unlikely a jazz club would survive. Even worse, it’s getting harder
Why is this happening? First, there are fewer nightclubs in Central Buckhead and there is a backlash against the all out party atmosphere that used to run the place. That’s sent the dancers to midtown and the drinkers to the Highlands.
What can be done? A few things. First, Owners can make sure that the locals get well treated. Make sure they get good service and that your employees tell the difference. Second, make sure that the visitors have to obey the same rules as everyone else. Lastly, if there are going to be large groups, let them buy the place out. Proprietors can make more money, groups will feel as though their getting something special, and then the locals can go somewhere else that night, rather than finding somewhere else to go.
February 27th, 2006 at 12:13 am
I tired of the Highlands long ago, and it seems that the factors that turned me off are reaching a fever pitch. Come by the Local, I’ll raise a glass with you. The locals there are still zealous in their particpation of the weekend rituals.
February 27th, 2006 at 3:36 am
Buckhead refugees have decended on Midtown and Highland areas since Ray Lewis Got Away With It. Generally, they still pack in between Blind Willie’s and Ponce, especially on weekends. I still haven’t had a bad time north of there.
How long have Limerick Junction, Blind Willie’s, Moe’s, and whatever sits next to Moe’s this week been under the same ownership? That seems new, and unsettling.
I had to restrain myself from peeing on Chico’s, though. It’s an abomination.
February 27th, 2006 at 5:46 am
“You cannot imagine the frustration of the locals at an Irish pub…”
If you’re frustrated you’re not drinking enough. Bring on the bachelorette parties and raucous young people!
Yes I live in 30306.
February 27th, 2006 at 6:51 am
The Local…I passed by there a few weeks ago, if I wasn’t driving I’d have stopped in for beer or five^H^H^H^Hthree. Next time I’m over there on a weekend I’ll stop by.
In other news for Highland, there’s a recent (IIRC) art gallery behind The Diner/Grill Whose Name I Can Never Remember, near Osteria 832. Their collection seems to carry 1/3-1/2 lower prices than I’d expect for a usual gallery around here.
While I’m completely disgusted by the “country store” gimmick that currently occupies the old pharmacy, I spent part of a Sunday in front of the store with one of their bagels and a coke, and it was wonderful.
February 27th, 2006 at 8:31 pm
I gave up on vi-hi in the mid/late ninties, sometime between the demise of the desert place and the death of Tommy Maloof.
Please, oh please, nobody tell these northside/tourist idiots about Decatur. We like our drinking binges to be a private, locals only, affair. Maybe we can send the butthead kids straight to East Atlanta–there gonna end up there eventually, anyway…
February 28th, 2006 at 10:26 am
You’re absolutely right! We should set up roadblocks and screen the drivers and their passengers so that only the right people get in.
February 28th, 2006 at 3:13 pm
Please repeat after me: Highland, not ‘Highlands’ or ‘the Highlands.’
Highland, as in Avenue. There are no kilts here.
It’s Virginia Highland. Ask for it by name.
By the way, it’s also NOT ‘Krogers’ or ‘Kmarts.’
April 2nd, 2006 at 4:14 pm
Time to build I-485.