Manuel’s Tavern hasn’t missed hosting an election night watch party since current owner Brian Maloof’s father, Manuel Maloof, began the tradition in 1970. The elder Maloof, who founded the Poncey-Highland restaurant and bar, went on to chair the DeKalb County Commission and later became the county’s first CEO. Many considered him the “godfather of Georgia Democrats.”
Manuel’s soon became a regular stop for presidents such as Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama, who popped in for a beer, a round of darts, and a chat with everyday citizens. A symbiotic relationship formed at Manuel’s between journalists hanging out at the bar sniffing around for stories and politicians conspicuously grabbing a meal or rolling up their shirt sleeves to casually stump for votes.
After 70 years in business, the Poncey-Highland watering hole is now considered Atlanta’s unofficial Election Day hub. It is a civic institution where hundreds gather throughout the year for political debates, low-key campaign rallies, or to watch the returns roll in on election night.
Election night sees Manuel’s Tavern doing four to five times the business it typically does on an average Tuesday, especially during a presidential or midterm election cycle. General manager Steve Pitts has worked at Manuel’s Tavern on and off for more than 30 years and equates Election Day sales to those of three weekend days.
“We consider Manuel’s Tavern as sort of a civic institution, more than a business. Someone once called us ‘a town hall with beer,’” Pitts said.
Until the early aughts, crowds gathering to watch election night results at Manuel’s could mostly be contained inside. That changed following the 2000 presidential election between Al Gore (D) and George W. Bush (R).
The race was too close to call in Florida, triggering an automatic recount. Multiple recounts ensued over the coming weeks and court battles commenced. The nation learned about “hanging chads” (particles of paper precariously dangling from manually punched paper ballots). It took five weeks and a Supreme Court ruling to settle Florida.
In 2008, close to 700 people gathered at Manuel’s to watch a historic election night in America. Barack Obama would become the country’s first Black president. Despite taking over the entire parking lot behind the building and ordering more than a dozen large folding tables and 150 chairs, people just kept coming that night. Seating was at a premium.
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“The crowd in the parking lot was enormous. I took a picture from the roof and it really surprised me how big the turnout was. Unforgettable,” Brian Maloof said of the 2008 election night. “It was so packed, people were sitting on empty kegs and on the ground.”
“Suddenly a huge truck showed up and dropped off more chairs and tables,” he recalled. “An anonymous customer had rented them for us. To this day, I still have no idea who did it.”
Maloof believes the 2008 election night party still holds the record for the single biggest sales day in the history of Manuel’s Tavern.
Even after losing 2,000 square feet during a 2016 renovation, which transformed the eastern corner of Manuel’s Tavern into a space now home to Elemental Spirits Co. bottle shop, the party continued on election night without skipping a beat.
But in 2020, Atlanta almost lost Manuel’s to the pandemic. Sales were down over 60% and the bar was losing an average of $25,000 a month. Costs were piling up, staff numbers were dwindling, and Maloof was losing hope of saving the tavern.
Regulars stepped up on behalf of Maloof and his staff, including longtime patron Angelo Fuster, who launched a “Save Manuel’s Tavern” GoFundMe campaign. The online fundraiser netted just over $187,000.
“Manuel’s is a wonderful, comfortable, homey place. It’s very humble,” Maloof said of why Manuel’s Tavern means so much to people. “On election night, we take a lot of pride in being the common man’s watch party spot.”
Pitts said preparations for Election Day often begin a year in advance. Chairs, tables and large-screen televisions are rented for the outdoor portion of the party in the parking lot, along with extra ingredients, beer and booze. Staff pare down the menu to keep the kitchen running fast and efficiently. That means no multi-station food items like the half-pound Dogzilla hot dog and loaded nachos.
Outside, cooks man a large portable grill, and bartenders serve canned beer and cocktails from the parking lot bar. For 2024, Maloof decided to show results outside on flat-panel TVs with amplified sound, rather than huge inflatable projection televisions that in the past proved no match for the bright lights surrounding the parking lot.
An Election Day first for Maloof in 2024 included a television interview and fielding calls from journalists from countries like Japan, Australia and Sweden asking him how to procure press credentials for the election night party. Georgia’s swing-state status now demands worldwide media attention. He politely told each news outlet that the party is very laid-back and to “just come and enjoy yourself.”
People start showing up to scoop up seats at the bar and at tables inside well before the polls close on Election Day. The crowd begins to swell around 7 p.m., spilling out into the parking lot. For people coming to Manuel’s Tavern later in the evening, Maloof advises bringing a lawn chair to ensure having a place to sit outside. Otherwise, it’s standing room only.
“So many people have passed through these doors through the years, including John Lewis and Jimmy Carter,” Pitts said. “On the one hand, you can call election night at Manuel’s Tavern just business. But to us, it’s an important civic event for the community and we’re so proud of that.”
Manuel’s Tavern, 602 North Highland Avenue, Poncey-Highland. Open for lunch and dinner. Election results begin rolling in at 7 p.m. with all TVs tuned to national and local coverage. Expect a large crowd and standing room only at times on election night.
