In 1998, heading to East Atlanta Village (EAV) meant finding takeout lunch counter Hungry Rush-In located at 1287 Glenwood Ave. The queer-owned restaurant was only open for about a year before the owners pivoted and transformed the space into Mary’s, EAV’s first gay bar.
Nearly 30 years later, Mary’s is still holding it down on Glenwood, as one of Atlanta’s most beloved LGBTQ+ nightlife spots.
Today, Atlanta’s LGBTQ+ nightlife is spread across the city, with places like Lore on Edgewood Avenue, My Sister’s Room (MSR) in Midtown, and the Atlanta Eagle on the edge of Ansley Park. But three decades ago, Atlanta’s queer nightlife scene was centered in Midtown, making Mary’s an outlier on the city’s east side. Its location, however, allowed Mary’s to attract a mixed crowd of gay men, lesbians, queer people, and even some straight patrons with its easy-going, dive-bar atmosphere.
“We were kind of on the outskirts doing our own thing, getting to do whatever we want,” co-owner Ben Cheaves told Georgia Voice. “A lot of like-minded, alternative people really love coming to the bar. We keep things pretty easy here. We don’t take ourselves too seriously.”
Cheaves and Bill Overall took over ownership of Mary’s in 2005. As longtime regulars and DJs at Mary’s, Cheaves and Overall had come to see the bar as more than just a place to hang out.
“[Mary’s] was one of the first gay bars I went to and really felt at home,” Cheaves said.
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Cheaves and Overall launched now popular weekly events like “Mary-oke” karaoke on Wednesdays, drag on Thursdays, gay video night on Fridays, and DJs on Saturdays.
Annual fall events like East Atlanta Strut, “Hall-O-Weenie” dance party and costume contest, and the lighting of the baby Jesus at Christmas time continue to pack the bar.
Two years after assuming ownership of Mary’s in 2005, Out magazine named it one of the 50 best gay bars in the world. From 2010 to 2018, Creative Loafing consistently named Mary’s the best gay bar in Atlanta. And in 2019, Mary’s landed at number five on Atlanta magazine‘s best bars in the city. While Atlanta magazine did away with its rankings, Mary’s is still a constant on its “best bars” list.
Related story: LGBTQ+ nightclub Lore is ‘barely getting by,’ says owner
With increasing rents and development forcing bars like MSR, the Eagle, and Joystick to relocate, and other bars like the Basement and Backstreet to close altogether, Mary’s perseverance in EAV feels especially significant.
When asked about the secret behind Mary’s success, Cheaves said he wasn’t sure. He just knows that, like him, people feel at home at the East Atlanta Village bar.
“I hear a lot from customers who come in and say it’s their favorite place, that they instantly felt at home and welcomed [at Mary’s],” Cheaves said. “It’s a bit of a bar for misfits.”
Mary’s, 1287 Glenwood Ave., East Atlanta Village. Open Monday-Saturday at 4 p.m. Follow on Instagram for updates on weekly events.
