Iconic gay bar Atlanta Eagle reopening in Midtown – WABE

One of many metropolis’s oldest LGBTQ bars is coming again in a brand new location after an almost two-year hiatus — and taking the place of a unique LGBTQ bar within the course of.

The Atlanta Eagle will take over the area at present occupied by Midtown Moon within the Ansley Sq. purchasing heart in Midtown, based on Eagle proprietor Richard Ramey. 

“We’re very excited to welcome everybody to the Atlanta Eagle — our Midtown Moon household, our Atlanta Eagle household,” he advised WABE. “The Atlanta Eagle is a household bar and we’re wanting ahead to bringing the group collectively.”

Midtown Moon’s last day in that area will probably be on Sept. 24 and Ramey mentioned the brand new Atlanta Eagle will probably be open for enterprise in time for Atlanta Delight, which kicks off on Oct. 7. 

The Eagle ended its 33-year run on the Kodak Constructing on Ponce de Leon Avenue in November 2020, with Ramey citing a nosedive in enterprise brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic as the rationale. The bar catered to leather-based, bear and fetish teams specifically and was the longtime dwelling of the annual Atlanta Leather-based Delight.

It was additionally the location of a botched raid by the Atlanta Police Division in 2009 that resulted in a number of firings and town of Atlanta paying out over $1 million to victims to settle the lawsuits. 

Ramey mentioned the seek for a brand new dwelling for the Eagle was “very intense.”

“We checked out a number of areas and we simply had not been capable of finding a spot that might work completely for us and our wants,” he mentioned.

A Texas-based group referred to as HV Leisure took over majority possession of Midtown Moon earlier this yr, based on Mission Q Atlanta. HV Leisure quickly reached out to Ramey about beginning a partnership and changing Midtown Moon with the Eagle. 

“I’m actually excited to be extra part of the gayborhood over right here with Ansley Sq. and Ansley Mall,” Ramey mentioned. “And I’m actually excited that we’re not too removed from our unique location. This offers us a possibility to do extra issues.”

The brand new Atlanta Eagle will nonetheless cater to leather-based, bear and fetish teams, and usher in DJs. However they’ll add a cabaret and serve meals. Extra modifications will roll out in phases over the approaching months. 

“One of many highlights of the Eagle was our dancefloor on the weekends and we’re excited to welcome new clientele that’s by no means been to the Eagle and convey again our Eagle household and convey our group collectively and have a really thriving and hopping nightlife spot for everybody to take pleasure in,” Ramey mentioned. 

Ramey and HV Leisure additionally plan on holding the brand new Atlanta Eagle in place for the lengthy haul. They signed a 15-year lease. 

“We’ve received some new and thrilling modifications coming,” Ramey mentioned. “Everyone simply keep tuned and are available test us out. We’ve received some massive plans.”