Beloved Southern restaurant The Colonnade received a 100th anniversary proclamation during the Nov. 2 Atlanta City Council meeting.
City Councilmember Alex Wan presented the proclamation calling the Cheshire Bridge Road restaurant “a legend, an institution, and a City of Atlanta treasure.”
“The Colonnade is known for its clientele of the gays and the grays,” Wan said about the restaurant’s popularity with the LGBTQ+ community and senior citizens. “I overlap on both, so I’m the perfect person to give this proclamation.”
Wan described The Colonnade as a gathering spot for the community, with “incredible comfort food.” He also pointed out that it was rare for a restaurant to stay in business for a century.
Longtime regulars Lewis Jeffries and Paul Donahue purchased The Colonnade in 2024, making them only the third owners. The restaurant originally opened on Piedmont Road in 1927 before relocating to Cheshire Bridge in 1962.
Co-owner Paul Donhue thanked the city for the honor and said a book about the restaurant was forthcoming in 2027, as well as “100 acts of giving back” throughout the year.
RELATED STORY: Longtime regulars purchase The Colonnade, vowing to preserve its legacy
