Atlanta, GA

Five looming questions for the Atlanta Falcons off-season: Have they been answered? | Sporting News

Published

2 years ago

May 27, 2024

Five looming questions for the Atlanta Falcons off-season: Have they been answered? | Sporting News

The 2024 off-season has a chance to be a transformational one for the Atlanta Falcons. With the departure of Arthur Smith, the Raheem Morris era of the Falcons makes its beginning and it has gotten off to an explosive start.

With the overhaul of the roster, building this team in the image of the three-headed monster of Morris, defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake and offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, Atlanta has come out of the first wave of the off-season as the betting favorites to win the NFC South, according to DraftKings Sportsbooks.

Before the off-season started, the Falcons had five questions looming that they needed to answer for it to be called a success. We look into whether or not these five looming questions have been answered.

1) Did you upgrade at Quarterback?

Answer: Yes, maybe too much…?

At the end of 2023, 30 quarterbacks had 320+ quarterback plays, according to rbsdm.com. Desmond Ridder ended the year 24th in the league in adjusted EPA/play. The quarterbacks worse than him?

Washington’s Sam Howell
Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett
Minnesota’s Josh Dobbs
New England’s Mac Jones
Carolina’s Bryce Young and
New York’s Zach Wilson

The only player out of that list still on their 2023 team is Young, and that’s because the Panthers invested a first-overall pick on him. The Falcons had to upgrade at quarterback…even if they did it questionably.

Atlanta did everything in their power to secure Minnesota quarterback Kirk Cousins, including giving him a four-year, $180 million contract with $100 million guaranteed, but the Falcons weren’t done there.

With Cousins coming off a season-ending Achilles injury and backup Taylor Heinicke not giving much confidence in his abilities in his play last year, Atlanta took quarterback Michael Penix, Jr. with the eighth overall selection in this year’s draft.

Was it overkill? Could be. But if this goes as the Falcons believe, Atlanta is set at the quarterback for at least the next half-decade to a decade.

2) Did you address the pass-rush?

Answer: Unconventionally, but yes.

Over the past decade-plus, the Falcons’ pass rush has been virtually non-existent. How much? Since 2014, only 41 teams have had less than 30 sacks throughout an NFL season. The Atlanta Falcons are the owners of six of those teams. The next team on the list is Oakland/Las Vegas, with three seasons.

The Falcons pass-rush needed help, even if they did get over the 40-sack mark for the first time since 2004 last season. So, did they? The answer is yes, but unconventionally, the word of the year for the Falcons’ approach to team-building.

With the Falcons selecting Penix at eight, they forwent the opportunity to add a potential premium pass-rusher in the draft, and they didn’t add a pass-rusher at all in free agency. And after losing roughly 13 of those sacks in the losses of Calais Campbell and Bud Dupree, there had to be some sort of answer.

Their answer was to add more to the defensive line rotation with not one, not two, but three draft picks spent on the interior of the defensive line. The player with the most upside? The long, athletic Ruke Orhorhoro. The player with the most potential to have an immediate impact? The versatile, powerful Brandon Dorlus. Then, there’s the massive mountain of a man in Zion Logue, who could find a role as a nose tackle.

The Falcons also added one of the potential steals of the draft in Bralen Trice to add to the edge rush rotation, but this off-season showed that they are taking a large bet on those on this roster taking massive steps into their development. 2022 second-round edge rusher Arnold Ebiketie is the top returning sack-getter with 6.0 from last season. If Ebiketie can reach/get close to that double-digit sack total, the Falcons could get to and beyond that 40-sack mark.

Is 40 sacks a low bar? Absolutely, but we have to start somewhere.

3) Who is playing cornerback on the other side of A.J. Terrell?

Answer: Work in progress…

Speaking of bets that this year’s team is making on last year, the Falcons seemingly refused to address the CB2 position. A.J. Terrell is in a contract year and has been teetering between elite and good status since his breakout 2021 season. He’s talented and worthy of that extension, but he and safety Jessie Bates III can’t do everything.

Atlanta made a few signings, adding Antonio Hamilton, Sr., Kevin King and Anthony Johnson to the roster throughout free agency. However, the second cornerback position is up for grabs for most of the cornerback room.

Mike Hughes and Clark Phillips III both have claims to the position as Phillips played admirably in his opportunities last season, while Hughes showed flashes of solid play the last time he was a full-time starter on the outside in 2021, as a Kansas City Chief.

Filling out that other spot is still a work in progress, but they have at least tried to address the situation. How well did they? That remains to be seen.

4) Did Drake London get some help in the wide receiver room?

Answer: Absolutely

Drake London led all Falcons receivers with 905 yards receiving last season. The next wide receiver? Mack Hollins with 251. London hasn’t needed help like this since 1666, and it came in droves this off-season.

Atlanta brought in former Chicago Bears receiver Darnell Mooney in the first wave of free agency, then found a way to pull off the rare player-for-player trade as they acquired receiver/offensive weapon Rondale Moore for quarterback Desmond Ridder, both of which needed a fresh start.

Even with these additions, the Falcons weren’t finished. They drafted Illinois’ outside ball-winner Casey Washington in the sixth round as another potential draft steal.

It was clear that the word of the off-season for the receiver room was speed, and they added plenty of it. With this overhaul, London got plenty of help, and this offense got a much-needed face-lift that could help them compete for a playoff spot in 2024.

5) Did they do enough to overtake the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the NFC South?

Answer: On paper? Yes

Quarterback Baker Mayfield was overlooked as a signing to the Bucs last season as they were seen as a rebuilding roster in the wake of Tom Brady’s departure. Instead, Tampa Bay won nine games, including five of their final six, to take the NFC South for a third consecutive year.

After outfitting this roster with offensive weapons galore, the Falcons got rid of Smith to get the modern-day mold of a contender: A Shanahan/McVay-type offense and a quarters-heavy, bend-but-don’t-break defense. Was that enough to overtake them for the division? On paper, yes.

Games aren’t played on paper. The Bucs retained a large part of their core, including Mayfield, star wide receiver Mike Evans and star safety Antoine Winfield, Jr., making them as formidable as they were last season. If the Falcons’ plan goes as planned, it won’t matter. Atlanta will have too much talent for Tampa Bay to overcome.

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Atlanta, GA

The soul of Bar Ana, Claudia Martínez’s sweet, subversive Atlanta pastry bar

Published

6 hours ago

December 23, 2025

Press Room

The soul of Bar Ana, Claudia Martínez’s sweet, subversive Atlanta pastry bar

Food & Dining

How a celebrated pastry chef and her community came together to create Atlanta’s hottest and most ambitious late-night hangout.

Pastry chef and co-owner Claudia Martinez at Bar Ana in Atlanta on Thursday, December 4, 2025. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Bar Ana had been open exactly two weeks when Dalarie Gonzales visited December 4.

It was already the millennial real estate agent and self-described infrequent drinker’s third time patronizing Ponce de Leon Avenue’s new late-night bar.

tahW“ htiw eht eht eht ehs .dias riap em evol speek woh ”,stressed suoiciled gnimoc .sliatkcoc sliatkcoc ?kcab I yltsenoH dnA

— — htiw ohw saw ot ot .relppit eht ,steews yllacificeps ehs dias ,margorp yrtsap renwo neesrevo erom .unem reganam sevol deripsni reh ezinomrah dneirf rof srovalf ecneirepxe tressed setaerc detaerc denibmoc yranoitcefnoc-liatkcoc fehc detarbelec yb egareveb tseb emoceb rab dna suorutnevda a ,smailliW ehT ehT miyaM zenítraM ,selaznoG aidualC raB s’anA

A view of a mini mango, coconut crunch, white chocolate
dessert and Caribbean sour drink at Bar Ana in Atlanta on Thursday, December 4, 2025. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

htiw htiw ,htuomrev koot eht eht aliuqet s’revres odasoper noitadnemmocer ,etanargemop tiurfnoissap deriap fo tsom elom .laczem ti desserpmi reh dah ehcanag ,tressed .hcnurc noitcocnoc ,eeffoc etalocohc yb neeb dna dna dna denroda a ehS ,acubmaS selaznoG ,otcerroC éfaC inaugnarA

htiw mraw sillert ot eht steews kcartdnuos spis ehs sdnimer noteagger gnignar hcaep ,tniap fo ton lacisum .sevol ,gnithgil tsuj s’ti sti .dnalemoh poh-pih reh nedrag morf s’ylimaf citegrene gniliec atahcab dna dna dna dna na ,ecnaibma ,staeborfa a selaznoG tuB raB s’anA

oY“ sihT“ — tnaw odot ot ot ”.emit opmeit eht eht sekat gnihctiws kaeps ehs ,dias oreiuq em em .skram sekam .segaugnal ti stih loñapse le erofeb lla lla olba sihT hsinapS ”,ocixeM

Customers dine at Bar Ana in Atlanta on Thursday, December 4, 2025. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

deklaw sriatspu ot hguorht eht eht eht ,elbat dellorts ,ekops gnilims ehs ehs moor tnaruatser wen reh dedaeh tuognah evag rof .roolf rennid gninid tressed gnireviled .tnemilpmoc ta sa rehtona evoba a ,ecnoP nacixeM zenítraM selaznoG selaznoG lE erofeB raB sA ,anA

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erehw tahw hguorht niereht eht eht maet ,teews sretroppus evisrevbus yrtsap ylralucitrap fo fo fo fo retsam rekam cigam seil del thgin-etal sti si ,ytilanoitanretni ni evah mrof epacse sremaerd .noitanimreted tressed .tnecsed ,ssensuoiciled ecnaifed detaerc ,seitinummoc liatkcoc detarbelec yb ,rab decnalab ta dna dna dna dna dna dna gnoma a a a a naleuzeneV zenítraM ,nitaL s’tI s’tI cinapsiH raB s’atnaltA dnA .anA naebbiraC-orfA

The talented Ms. Martínez

detnaw ot eraperp ecalp .seirtsap nwo fo gnol reh sah a ,zenítraM aidualC ,33

dekrow htiw elihw erehw erehw ot ot eht delggurts ehs ehs ehs ,loohcs tnaruatser yrtsap devom .level snehctik ni gnitaudarg remrof dellecxe yraniluc sessalc reerac tub nageb cisab gnidnetta dnetta ta ta decnavda nacsuT .loohcS slliH hgiH reH ,ellirG diurD ettolrahC daehkcuB oirB retfA

gnikrow ohw saw saw pu rednu yadot emit eht selor margorp ,yrtsap yrtsap snwo no dereffo desolc-won devom enil del tsuj boj ni reh gniniag morf dedne tnereffid eerged yraniluc .kooc fehc ta ta sa dnuora dna dna retfa a a selaW ,ytisrevinU ehS ,llessuR tnaruatseR tnaruatseR rooP zenítraM nosnhoJ nI .xirdneH s’eneguE eneguE s’daehkcuB noraA ,5102 ;pma&

htiw htiw ot naht steews elpmis gniwohs d’ehs ehs .loohcs selor deraperp deraperp yrtsap .tuo nehctik ni woh reh reh yvaeh leef yltnereffid yraniluc stiderc dluoc ylsuounitnoc gnignahc sekac denrub nageb eb dna ehS llessuR tuB

I“ tahw t’nsaw saw saw koot ot ot ,emit kniht eht taht taht emos os tuo fo ”.txen latnem evol evol tsuj sboj ti ecap-hgih .dnamed-hgih htlaeh dah taerg erugif dediced ,kooc tub esuaceb ,yawa ta dna yM I I I

— — gnikrow tuohtiw ot ot hguorht eht eht egats slliks ehs ehs kaeps-yrtsudni-tnaruatser tnaruatser tiuq gnihctip yap yrtsap reffo tfel nrael boj ni yletaidemmi sih flesreh reh reh rof detcatnoc fehc fehc ta ta dna derimda detpecca a nehW .S.U .nedewS tnaruatseR zenítraM ,margatsnI nI eneguE ,7102

… yehT“ nedewS“ uoy krow htiw htiw gniw .keew ot ot ot ot sgniht ,ereht eht ekat ehs .dias yrtsap ”,ecap ton ”.noitavitom erom .sekatsim em em ekam edam edam evol ,ekil ekil denrael ,wonk tsuj s’ti s’ti .ti yrtsudni ni llaf tnereffid tnereffid ytiralc emac .skaerb yllacisab kcab dna dna na .niaga a KO KO KO KO s’tI s’tI s’tI I I ruoh-08

Tiny Lou’s Team (from left to right) pastry chef Claudia Martinez, executive chef Jeb Aldrich, and beverage manager Jordan Moore. (Photo credit:Mia Yakel)

raey krow erehw saw saw saw koot ot ot neht eht ehs ehs tsilanifimes emas detiurcer noitingocer yrtsap yrtsap lanoitan lanoitan eman gnivom gnikam edam ;level .retal boj ni flesreh rof rof rof tsilanif evitucexe denrae .stressed kooc fehc gnitavitpac erofeb emoceb drawa ta ta sa dna a a a a a a a s’noinU yniT ehS ehS yrtsaP gnidnatstuO relliM ,s’uoL semaJ reH .fehC draeB drawA saltA ,1202 0202

sraey eht eht rats ,esor llup fo gninioj otni .derongi .flesreh reh gniog rof tlef yraniluc t’ndluoc ssenisub eb erulla retfa noinU owT relliM zenítraM sA

I“ dluow htiw saw ot ot eht nekat hctiws emos deifsitas tnaruatser ylbaborp tniop reven dedeen ekam tsal wenk boj ni evah dah .gniod ,degnellahc esuaceb eb ta gnihtyna dna a noinU ,oS relliM m’I m’I I I I ”.atnaltA

Pastry chef Claudia Martinez of Miller Union said she always likes to incorporate fruit and keep things light, and she often pays homage to her Venezuelan heritage. (Styling by Claudia Martinez/Chris Hunt for the AJC)

hcihw ot ot ,ereht yats ehs .tup evom ni reh degaruocne dediced deredisnoc tub kroY weN sdneirF

s’atnaltA“ I‘ htiw tnew saw saw detnaw pirt deirt ot ot ot ot taht gnihtemos os nepo no ’.wen reven ym ym em ,ekil ekil evael thgin-etal wenk ni ,emoh .daeh ,evah evah dneirf rof od tressed liatkcoc kaerb erofeb neeb ”.rab dna dna dna syawla a a a ocixeM ev’I I I I I I

A family affair

s’ehS“ skrow ohw saw deklat ecaps retsis ecnis ehs dias nwo .dezinagro ,snoitarepo gninepo ”,elttil gnipeek reh slaicnanif evitucexe seitud ,rotanidrooc sa dna evitartsinimda tuoba ,zenítraM s’aidualC raB aerdnA s’anA

I“ tsriF“ — ”,raew ot kniht s’taht sekat ”.gniticxe-repus s’retsis retsis .dias elor elor ?thgir stneserper ecnedecerp revo rehto ro ym ym yam ti reh reh tah ,slaog noitiurf ,tsomerof ,maerd ,maerd gnimoc sa yna dna zenítraM I reH aerdnA

t’ndluow tuohtiw ohw eht eht eht taht detnelat troppus retsis ytilaer redlo fo fo ylekil .yenruoj denioj ni reh evah sdneirf ,ysae maerd t’ndid werc emoc fehc eveileb emoceb dna dna dna a a s’tI

gnikrow htiw ot deppets stirips ,secalp srentrap no fo evitan tem gnitekram gnikool ekil ekil yrtsudni sedulcni ni .egatireh og gnidnuf morf rof setaremolgnoc sdnarb egareveb nageb dnuorgkcab yawa dna dna dna dna ni-lla a kroY ,akdoV noinU s’otiT ehS ’sotnaS ,sotnaS weN relliM zenítraM soL soL ,HMVL yraunaJ yerG esooG nacinimoD oegaiD eD eD ytiC .sogimasaC raB eitrA .anA 4202

ohw ohw saw .rehtegot ralimis nar nar tup pu-pop ti ni eh eeffoc selcric dellac ssenisub atsirab sa dna a a hguohT ,siloS sotnaS ,sodreuceR ,zenítraM zenítraM soL navI eD

enO“ ebyaM“ I‘ ,yeH‘ uoy krow krow ’,htiw ohw saw saw annaw pu .rehtegot ot ot siht er’yeht emos erahs .dias yllaer ”.srentrap nepo eno fo won ym gnikool ,ekil ,ekil wonk si saedi ”,flesmih syug ,sdneirf t’nod od yad tpecnoc nac tub ssenisub ssenisub tseb ,dloheb dna dna dna a siloS oL I I aidualC ,eitrA

(L-R) Restaurant team Artie De Los Santos, Rosa Thurnher, Dallas Dawson, Claudia Martinez, Ivan Solis, and Mayim Williams pose at Bar Ana in Atlanta on Thursday, December 4, 2025. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

— — gnuoy hcihw tahw saw ot eht devres dias stnediser stneserper ,tnediserp .snoitisop s’noitazinagro noitazinagro ro fo nem srebmem tnaem pihsredael ni ni sdneirf wollef od ytinummoc noitaroballoc dellac dliub htob emaceb sa dna na gnoma gnuoY riehT siloS sotnaS slanoisseforP soL nitaL aL cinapsiH ,EPYH EPYH .azraG ,sruenerpertnE eD eD ynreB s’atnaltA atnaltA ;pma&

nehW“ dluow dluow saw detnaw ot ot siht kniht eht eht taht .dias yllaer .nepo tem noitnem .ti otni eh eh eh tsrif leef ygrene etaluspacne ebircsed rab dnuora dna elba aL I I eH azraG eD raB ,eitrA ”,anA

… dnA“ ot esoht kniht kniht sgniht er’yeht neht eht eht stops yas seirtsap eno fo ,nam elttil tsuj s’ti si .elbidercni elbidercni ni stuognah doog noitauqe hguone gnikrow-oc .fehc t’nac tub desaib tseb esuaceb dna na gnidda yletulosba tuoba a sodreuceR ebyaM m’I I I I aidualC ”.atnaltA dnA

navI“ I“ htiw erehw nehw ew saw saw saw saw pu ,rehtegot ot ot gnikniht eht s’taht detrats ,ekops .ecaps ”,ecaps emos pohs ”.esnes dias ,tniop tcefrep rentrap gninwo gninepo fo fo fo fo denoitnem edam gnikool gnikool dnik dnik tsuj pmuj ti ti otni etargetni sih mih eh annog rof tsrif eeffoc tub .rab ta dna dna noitibma osla lla tuoba a a a oS sotnaS soL I eD aidualC

eW“ htiw saw .ebiv eht eht taht denifer tuo ruo fo fo elddim tem ”.devlovni neppah .gninid-enif derugif esitrepxe trepxe tnemele nwod gnitaerc nac thguorb htob ta dna na a sotnaS zenítraM soL eD raB anA

saw eht eht noitatneserper renwo ylno fo won reganam deifingam noisulcni gnidulcni dah morf esitrepxe yb rab dna dna smailliW ,aleuzeneV tahT .siloS ,sotnaS ,cilbupeR sodreuceR ocixeM soL .aciamaJ nacinimoD eD yB raB anA

gnikrow gnikrow elihw eerht detroppus semitemos elgnis stnaruatser ylteiuq otno no ,gnithgilnoom shtnom gnikam ekil boj ni sih flesreh reh dleh rof rof maerd stressed .yad yad yb ta dna dna lla a llamS sotnaS ,s’ymmaS zenítraM olaM soL ,yrF lE eD raB .anA

tI“ I“ raey krow hcihw tahw saw pu ot ot ot ot eht eht klat ecaps ehs dias ”.spihsnoitaler erusserp detalp lanosrep .gninepo no fo fo ym .em ekam tol ekil gnidael si evah ”,drah dah stseug neve ,od od od t’ndid ,stressed etaerc t’ndluoc esuaceb dna a rebmevoN I I I raB dnA s’anA

A view of a Araguani chocolate, passion fruit ganache, pomegranate, mole crunch dessert at Bar Ana in Atlanta on Thursday, December 4, 2025. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

saw ,rehtegot ehs denosaes yler pihsnoitaler s’rehto eno no fo gnolefil .semoh .sdneirf yltneuqerf hcae rennid dluoc tseb rednetrab dednetta eta ta dna dna dna a ,smailliW yehT sloohcS enO elddiM s’zenítraM slliH hgiH diurD atnaltA

ehS“ reH“ dluow tahw detnaw ,rehtegot ot sgniht s’taht ehs .dellacer tup scincip no fo tol elttil wenk ”,secneirepxe ”.od gninid kooc dna dna dna syawla a smailliW I

htiw htiw ohw erehw pu yeht s’ehs devres dias stnaruatser gnitneserper margorp seliforp seirtsap gniriap fo ekam si si reh depleh werg s’dneirf rof rovalf detavele .reisae sknird ,tnecsed sedaced .yllarutluc stnuoc .sliatkcoc srab rab dna dna gnoma tuoba ,smailliW ehS zenítraM gniwonK llabmiK naciamaJ esuoH lanidraC ,tacelteeB raB atnaltA s’anA

A bartender makes a Caribbean sour at Bar Ana in Atlanta on Thursday, December 4, 2025. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

eW“ aidualC“ ,dlrow ”,skrow tahw ew gnitsiwt tsurt laciport ot meht eht taht taht taht taht taht .teews .teews gnikcits ecaps .dias stcelfer denifer seirtsap ylgnimlehwrevo ylgnimlehwrevo rehto erom ekam ekam elttil ti ti si si ni ni rof ”.srovalf tsixe hcae t’nod t’nseod ,od sliatkcoc scissalc tub htob tib rab era era dna dna a a smailliW er’eW I naebbiraC

A view of a Caribbean sour drink at Bar Ana in Atlanta on Thursday, December 4, 2025. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

nehw saw sgniht sretroppus ekil yek sdneirf .gnignellahc emaceb dna dna osla ,smailliW rehnruhT sotnaS asoR soL gnivaH eD

sraey eunev eht eht eht llams ehs ,tnaruatser gnisahcrup ytreporp snwo bulcthgin ,retal otni ni tsrif eritne yb .gnidliub thguob thguob htaeneb dniheb dna a rehnruhT neT ehS .ecnoP lE lE ,raB 6002

ohw hcihw saw ,eunev ralupop deyalp ,elpoep cisum ekil nwonk deripsni ni ni ygrene-hgih rof tif deid gnicnad dluoc desolc yb yb dnuora ehT ,xxxofrekaepS lE sJD raB atnaltA .0202 .8102 001

ohw eht eht nups ees sdrocer fo rehtom tem ssol ekil sih ,bulc s’nerdlihc .teewsrettib ta ta sa dna osla ,emoS naeS noylaF lE lE JD raB raB

I“ I“ ’sreehC‘ htiw saw klaw ”,ereht eht taht os os .dias .secalp elpoep eno no fo ”.thgin ynam ynam ekil tsuj ni ni ni meg morf morf morf tlef ydobyreve yreve tnereffid tnereffid dluoc detcennoc ytic eb a mroN noylaF lE raB atnaltA

htiw eunev yrt ot eht eht taht ,redaerpsrepus dias edistuo detavitom stnedicni reh tnereffid ,htaed dluoc snrecnoc bulc esolc .sessenisub emoceb dna dna gnola a rehnruhT s’xxxofrekaepS lE DIVOC raB

Jarina Naone (left) and Rosa Thurnher, co-owners of El Ponce restaurant and El Bar, a dance club located in the rear lower level of the building at 939 Ponce de Leon Ave., pictured in 2020 during the pandemic. (Ligaya Figueras/AJC)

nemow saw tnacav ot yeht eht eht ,ecaps ylsuoiverp spu-pop .ecnenamrep yrtsap yrtsap tem gnikool detivni ni ni ni ni tsoh dah rof rof doof tsrif rennid detaroballoc fehc gnitarbelec tub .egareveb ta dna dna a rehnruhT ehS ecnoP zenítraM lE aidualC 4202 1202

tahW“ I“ ruoy uoy detnaw owt ot emit ”,gniht eht eht ,gniklat tops ehs ehs gnirahs .dias nwo nepo wonk wenk tpek ni fi .saedi reh ,laog ”?sriatsnwod t’ndid did yad ta ,deksa dna ecivda rehnruhT rehnruhT enO ecnO s’zenítraM ,hcraM

,raey erew ot eht eht eht ,ecaps .rentrap nepo ,reffo denioj ni gnipoh evah reilrae .deyaled gnignahc tub nageb sa dna detpecca a rehnruhT yehT zenítraM raB anA

eW“ eW“ uoy uoy erew su ot ot .emit sgniht sgniht er’yeht yeht eht eht maet ffuts emos os gniyas .dias nar dehsup .tniop elpoep edistuo tuo no ,fo fo lamron on yenom srebmem tsol ,nrael ,wonk ,wonk tsuj rotsevni mih evah dah dah tog gniog rof ylimaf od .t’ndid t’ndid etaroproc ssenisub .gnikcab ”.kcab ta ta dna na eW emoS ”,)sotnaS elpoeP zenítraM soL ,tsuJ I eD(

roF“ htiw ohw ,etihw etihw yrev ot ot siht kcuts ehs .dias .snosaer lanosrep srentrap ytinutroppo ton ,em ”,nam s’ti si .lanoitnetni reh gniog evig rof ma a ,rehnruhT ,ekiL I

I“ ot ot sgniht s’taht ,taht taht ,ecaps dluohs efas ,thgir ,tnaruatser hsup trap ewo ffo .fo noitagilbo ton ym ekam tol gnivil ekil ti fi woh evah ,drawrof leef od erutluc etaerc etaerc .ytinummoc ”.eb dna na a a a a a gninwO nacixeM m’I s’tI I I I

doow nehw keew saw desu sesillert ot ot eht eht eht eht taht devivrus dereffus oiduts egavlas rehto .gninepo ylno fo lairetam ssol ti si ni sih erif hsinif deyortsed rengised .noitcurtsnoc xelpmoc ,segnellahc gniliec retneprac .ezalb erofeb dna elba a a ehT htuoS reviR eH noswaD sallaD raB raB trA gnomA s’ANA s’ANA

Ash and debris remain after a fire damaged the main building at South River Arts Studio in DeKalb County on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (Natrice Miller/AJC)

tI“ aidualC“ uoY‘ .oN‘ tahw saw saw gniyrt ydegart oot ot ot ot ot hguorht siht ev’yeht ev’yeht yeht eht taht erus os os .dias gnihsup hsup ruo ’.gninepo .nepo no ”,em em ekam ,ekil ekil detsisni tnatropmi .ereh eh evah doog teg rof ”’.dehsinif t’nod dluoc nac neeb neeb esuaceb eb hsilpmocca hsilpmocca eW s’teL m’I noswaD raB anA

ruO“ I“ flesruoy uoy lliw nehw su tespu dlot ot ot ot ekat tup revo ton deen ekil ti .snamuh teg .tsrif ”,tsrif seilimaf semoc emoc ”.kaerb sa gnihtyna a eW KO zenítraM s’tI .noswaD

esohw elihw erehw gnitiaw deifinu eerht yeht rieht eht eht s’taht ,selbat ezilobmys s’ffats gnihtemos llams retsis ,moor der edirp sotohp gniogno no fo fo fo seman eman ,rehtom rehtom :srebmem .srebmem .seicagel sti si si ni ni etaidemmi reh reh evah ,srehtomdnarg morf rehtaf ylimaf ylimaf ylimaf cimanyd sknird yalpsid sremotsuc ,egalloc gnitiawa ta era dna dna dna dna seirtsecna na ssorca noitaiverbba a ehT aroN s’zenítraM s’zenítraM edisnI raB degnarrA ,seliuqA .aerdnA ,anA

erehw llew drawot ot emit ereht detegrat ecnis yltnecer seicilop .elpoep ylralucitrap rehto ni noitargimmi tnargimmi ,emoh sah spuorg rof leef tnemecrofne hcae .noitatroped seitinummoc esolc gnignahc yb neeb dekcatta sa sa dna osla a .S.U .S.U ev’yehT htuoS nacixeM s’tI naciremA naebbiraC-orfA

htiw detisiv ,rehtegot hguorht eht eht eht yraropmet gniraet srosserts ffats gnidneps stnaruatser .rehto gninepo .noitaripsni depleh puorg morf rof ,erif epacse hcae repeed syad tcennoc srab dna dna osla osla ehT ocixeM zenítraM ytiC erofeB

er’eW“ eW“ retfA“ ,dlrow s’tahw ew ew ”.syaw saw su pirt rehtegot ot ot ot ,emit siht sgniht eht taht taht taht kaeps os ehs .dias yllaer tuo ,no no no fo deen .em gnol s’ti ni ni ni tnatropmi woh tog annog gniog gniog rof erugif tnereffid etacinummoc ”,esolc esuaceb eb era dna dna lla lla lla dengila gnitceffa tuoba a

m’I“ I“ ,haeY‘ lliw erehw erehw s’tahw ew ew yrev yrev ot ot eht taht ekat lufsseccus dias ,efas gnitsiser .ecnatsiser ”,ecnatsiser ecalp ecalp elpoep elpoep etanoissap etanoissap ruo eno .no fo fo on ym ekam ekam ,ekil wonk yoj flesti ti si si evah gniog .nuf mrof leef tcaf tsixe tnellecxe gniunitnoc .ytinummoc nac sessenisub neeb eb eb eb ”’.yawa era dna tuoba tuoba elba a a a er’eW sU .siloS teL m’I

erehw .hctaw ot eht eht snoisnet dias das yllanosrep si reh sah ,morf ylimaf gnitalacse neewteb neeb dna ,aleuzeneV .S.U zenítraM

s’tahT“ gnitaerC“ dluow .dlrow etihw s’tahw ew ew saw .su hcuot ot siht siht kniht eht taht gnikat ,ecaps ehs .dias hcir yllaer ”.no no no ym hcum dnim ekil gniwonk tsuj ti si ni evah evah evah redrah yug gniog gnidnuf llaf t’nod t’nod t’nseod ”,yltnatsnoc ,ecnahc neeb esuaceb esab rab .gnikcab kcab lla lla tuoba a a a er’eW eW I dnA

krow htiw .eunev ot yeht yeht taht dias nalp ,elpoep no won ekil evah spuorg rof stneve ytinummoc dna a ehS nitaL cinapsiH EPYH

… I“ htiw ohw emoclew detnaw ot ot ot eht eht taht ffuts pets ehs .dias ecalp elpoep ekil ni morf leef gnilaed ”,ssenizarc emoc eb rab yawa era dna lla elba a

Pastry chef and co-owner Claudia Martinez poses at Bar Ana in Atlanta on Thursday, December 4, 2025. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

The sweet escape

ot eht taht evitcudes emas ycnediser nepo sgninrom .noonretfa-dim sti roiretni sevig sevig gnineve yleritne ygrene tnereffid ngised eeffoc ta erulla ehT ,sodreuceR raB anA

swodniw sllaw ot ot eht eht eht syarnus ecaps llams mees esoprup detniap-hcaep ton wen raen tsuj ni .sruoh evah morf rof gniretne ylrae .erutluc ytinummoc ,gniliec noitanieffac tub semoceb dna a a sknahT tI

gnikrow htiw elihw dias no ,evitan evol ni eh llef eeffoc .supmac gnidnetta ta dna a s’ytisrevinU ytisrevinU etatS ,siloS pohS ainohtiL s’idlaK aigroeG yromE eeffoC dlo-raey-92

… I“ elihw gnihctaw ot eht eht eht elpoep evol evol ettal tsuj maerd ,liated ”.atsirab noitnetta tra syawla tuoba ,ekiL

Ivan Solis pours coffee at Bar Ana in Atlanta on Thursday, December 4, 2025. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

— — dekrow htiw ot ot semeht eht eht gnilletyrots yllacificeps ees lanosaes unem retal avaj deripsni gnicneulfni gnidulcni ni mih knird .yltnereffid stiderc gnitaerc eeffoc eeffoc renwo-oc gnignahc yb ssenisub ssenisub atsirab ta sa hcaorppa dna a a a enotS siloS .niatnuoM semaJ eH ylliG ylliG leinaD s’nworB werB denwo-kcalB elbiB ,raB niwdlaB

gnikaM“ tahw gnikniht eht ytlaiceps .dias detoor ,ym ym ym ”,tnemom ni ,egatireh morf sknird dluoc eb ,yrtsecna tuoba siloS m’I

htiw saw allitrot tnet gnilles tnaruatser pu-pop pu-pop fo asam dehcnual edisni ni sih tsrif sknird rennid snoitaroballoc eeffoc eeffoc fehc delttob nageb ta ta ta sa dna dna a a s’ageV sodreuceR airtaP kraP enO nacixeM .tekraM aleciraM eH tnarG sremraF .anicoC aidualC ocihC 2202

.dlrow htiw ohw eht eht decruos nigiro-elgnis sevres sretsaor ytilauq fo morf railimaf ylevisulcxe syojne gnitacude ssensuoiciled sremotsuc ,eeffoc .efac dnuora t’nera dna siloS sodreuceR nacixeM nacixeM

A view of the Recuerdos coffee bar at Bar Ana in Atlanta on Thursday, December 4, 2025. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

htiw htiw nehw tahw mraw detisiv denifernu eht eht ,ragus ecips ytlaiceps lanosaes ,tnediser ollicnolip ,leep egnaro no tao .klim unem edam ekil atahcroh eh dah serutaef sknird ed iahc elyts-oniccuppac nworb egareveb gnikab dna dna osla a a moT nwotsdlonyeR ’sodreuceR sodreuceR ,allO ,relliM s’tI rebmeceD éfaC .4

ot ot s’oiduts ecnis revocer sih flesmih pleh sah morf dewollof erif yllaicnanif .naf detanod .egamad gnidnufdworc detaerc sredisnoc reerac ngiapmac dna osla a a relliM s’zenítraM eH noswaD 0202

A view of a mini mango, coconut crunch, white chocolate
dessert at Bar Ana in Atlanta on Thursday, December 4, 2025. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

s’tI“ I“ — saw ot ot sgniht eht ”,ffuts ffuts s’ehs ehs gnilles ees .dias rebmemer ytterp cimednap hcum gnivom peek woh eh ”.nworg gnirud seikooc seinworb emosewa dna dna gnola

— gnikrow etihw gnimoclew ot eht taht ,elpoep elpoep fo ton seitironim .nam puekam sniatniam ekil tsuj s’ti stsisni rof sleef enoyreve yllaicepse ,werc .ssalc tub tub dna dna dna ,lla elbissecca a X ehS ,relliM zenítraM ,nitaL cinapsiH noitareneG etipseD naebbiraC raB raB s’atnaltA anA s’ANA

A view inside Bar Ana in Atlanta on Thursday, December 4, 2025. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

elpoeP“ ohw ohw stnaw ,su owt ot siht dneps ecaps ehs ehs .dias eno no ton ekil ekil s’ti otni gnivah gniog leef ”,tressed ,sremotsuc elbatrofmoc sliatkcoc tub deksa sa dna a nehW 001$

tey htiw hcihw saw pu lausunu ot eht eht eht sgnir secirp rep gninepo no netfo ton tsom unem dnif evisnepxe ,knird liatkcoc liatkcoc srab ta evoba ,elppaeniP s’tI ytriD 02$ .71$

gnimoclew eht eht eht taht dias ,tnaruatser detneserper .ecalp elpoep fo fo ynam s’ti si devlovni ni tnatropmi ,stnargimmi nevig railimaf nerdlihc gnieb dnuorgkcab sa dna a smailliW raB anA

s’tI“ tahw er’ew ”,suoitneterpnu ot taht .dias yllaer gnitneserp em si tnatropmi smailliW

Customers dine at Bar Ana in Atlanta on Thursday, December 4, 2025. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

.rehtegot eht eht ffats os ehs dias ,thgin setunim tpek evah tnorf sdneirf tsrif ylimaf artxe rood dluoc desolc dna na nO zenítraM engapmahC raB s’anA 01

,llitS“ I“ er’ew ew ew ew ot ”.siht siht llits dluohs .dias fo ,erom ekil wonk dnik ,ti ,ti ti ni woh tlef leef neve t’nod did did ,yad ”,yzarc gnitarbelec tub tub eb dna ydaerla zenítraM I

tey dlrow elihw ot ot ot llirht eht eht eht eht .hcamots yracs dias tnaruatser detaretier gniraperp nepo nepo no fo fo ton ti ni sih s’eh tsrif leef hguone elbatrofmoc .gnitarbelec tub gnieb gnieb dettimda ,sotnaS yadnoM soL eH ,rebmeceD eD raB anA

dna” tuB“ niw ew ”.su ,rehtegot kniht taht taht ,dias fo sekam wonk ti ti rof did enola lla a sotnaS soL I I eD

Mike Jordan is senior editor at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Black culture brand, UATL. A longtime culture journalist, his work has been published in The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, National Geographic, Rolling Stone and others. Jordan won the James Beard Foundation’s 2024 Jonathan Gold Local Voice Award and was a 2023 finalist.

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Atlanta, GA

A once abandoned terminal changed Southwest Atlanta. Its future is still unfolding.

Published

18 hours ago

December 23, 2025

Press Room

A once abandoned terminal changed Southwest Atlanta. Its future is still unfolding.

Business

The small business hub is working to stay rooted in its mission to serve its community, while embracing events like the World Cup.

Views of the exterior of Pittsburgh Yards in Atlanta on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (Natrice Miller/AJC)

Five years ago this month, an abandoned trucking terminal south of I-20 was reborn as a business and community hub called Pittsburgh Yards.

In the years since its opening, the 15-acre site has helped spur the development of the Southside Beltline and brought new businesses and visitors to a historically neglected part of Atlanta.

raey htiw elihw pu ot eht eht eht yats detoor txen noissim skool sti ni selpparg ,noitacifirtneg sraeg .erutuf rof gnicarbme ytic sa dna sdraY dlroW hgrubsttiP ,woN puC

Views of the exterior of Pittsburgh Yards as seen from The Beltline in Atlanta on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (Natrice Miller/ AJC)

A catalyst

,sdray hcihw saw saw eht eht eht eht eht leets goms tnecsinimer liar ,elpoep yllanigiro ytinutroppo eno no tsedlo fo fo fo sdoohrobhgien doohrobhgien eman sllim sti sti ti si s’yrtsudni ni ni ni depleh sah evig ylremrof rof devalsne ytinummoc deretnec yb tliub ,sgninnigeb neeb esuaceb dnuora ,hgrubsttiP hgrubsttiP .ainavlysnneP tI morF dednuoF kcalB .snatnaltA .atnaltA 3881

erehw saw saw gnikcurt eht eht ,lanimret .stneduts stis etis ecno won ht02-dim ti ti rof dnalmraf ,yrutnec yb tub gniltsub emaceb larutlucirga denodnaba a sdraY ehT hgrubsttiP nI s’egelloC kralC .s0991

ot ot eht eht taht trats erauqs ,ecaps ecaps llams llams etis desahcrup sreffo wen setius-orcim spihsrebmem efil sti otni ni ni buh rof rof rof teef .sruenerpertne yllaicremmoc gnikrow-oc yb .sessenisub ssenisub gnignirb ehtaerb ta aera dna elbadroffa ssecca ehT ehT noitadnuoF .E yesaC einnA toof-erauqs-000,16 6002 101 001 htnom-a-05$

ruO“ gnidliub-htlaew htlaew ot hguorht eht eht troppus roines gnilacs dias ,seitinutroppo fo noissim boj si yllufepoh lanoitareneg rof pihsruenerpertne ”,noitaerc etaerc etaicossa dna ,nnelG .noitadnuoF lletnahC yesaC

tuB“ uoy ,eutriv siht s’taht dehsur ecneitap ton ”.dednim rennam si ni od ytinummoc tonnac dna a a