Ramey said that the pandemic is still impacting business, but he expects that to turn around soon. Some of the Eagle gay bars in the world have become fairly standard cruise bars over the years, but the Atlanta Eagle remains true to its rootsan authentic leather-and-Levis bar, in a city that still has a loyal following for this sort of a hangout. “He said, ‘Of course!’ So I’m very proud of that.”
“I talked with the current owner of the building when I heard this all might take place, and asked, ‘Would I have a pathway back home?’” Ramey said. According to Historic Atlanta, its 1987 opening 'marked Atlanta’s place in the family of independently owned gay bars that operate under the Eagle name.
But the new historic designation opens a door for the bar to stay reopen. “We met with the landlord and due to COVID and everything going on, and we had decided to close temporarily,” Ramey said.ĭuring the closure, Ramey said he looked for a new location for the bar. “It was a very special moment for me and the community and it’s never been done in the deep south.”Ī few months ago, Ramey said times got tough due to the pandemic and he decided to close. “It has a lot of history, a lot of gay history that means something to our community,” Ramey said. Located in Midtown area, close to all the other gay venues. EAGLE has karaoke, themed events and dance parties. The paramilitary-style unit had come under scrutiny for its supporting role in the 2009 police raid on the Atlanta Eagle, a gay bar on Ponce de Leon Avenue, and recent complaints from two men. note 1 According to a 2020 report by the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation, the bar had become 'a place of prominence in the LGBTQ community, significant as a site for public social interaction'. Report: Talk show host Larry King hospitalized for COVID-19 Atlanta EAGLE is popular with daddies, bears, cubs and leather-clad men from miles around. The Atlanta Police Department will disband its controversial Red Dog Unit in 60 days, Chief George Turner announced at a press conference this morning. The Atlanta Eagle is a gay bar that was established in Atlanta in the mid-1980s. Tennessee woman arrested after leaving 1-year-old daughter in car while celebrating New Year’s Eve, police say On Thursdays, the back bar is turned into a dark room, making it an ideal night for cruising. Now, owner Richard Ramey said the bar will stay.Įmory professor says early vote demographics paint clear picture for Senate runoff The bar is more than 30 years old and has hosted a number of celebrity acts including Ru Paul - but because of the pandemic, the owner said he was prepared to close up and move.