Underground Atlanta — Attraction in Atlanta

Dec, 2016. I wish I could give Underground Atlanta a better review. I live within easy walking distance. It has great name recognition and is within a few blocks of a number of major Atlanta attractions. It's also adjacent to the intersection of MARTA's two lines

What is Underground? In the 1800's the area was on a level street grid with the railroads that built Atlanta running through it. Over time sections of street were elevated over the tracks and the streets on the lower level were abandoned. What had been the first floor of building essentially became the basement and the area was vacant. As a result there was an "Upper Alabama St" with a "Lower Alabama St" running under it. "Lower Alabama" eventually became Underground's main concourse and the original storefronts from the 1800's became the new shops.

In the mall's first iteration, from the late 1960's through about 1980, it was primarily a nightclub destination. Atlanta had more lax alcohol laws than the surrounding area so it was the regions premier nightlife destination. As laws changed people stopped coming and it shut down in the early 1980's.

It was redeveloped as a "festival marketplace" / mall and reopened about 1989. It had a variety of souvenir stores along with mainline stores like the Gap, Champs and Sam Goody. With Rich's and Kessler's Department stores and the World of Coke nearby, it initially did well.

Unfortunately the department stores and the original World of Coke closed and it's no longer anyplace I would take my family or in-laws when they visit from the Upper Midwest. Nor is it anywhere I would recommend single women or children visit alone or anyone visit at night. I don't know that it's actually unsafe, but it absolutely has the feeling of a place where petty crime could occur. Particularly on the section of Peachtree that runs beside it. If you've ever exited customs in a third world airport it has that element of "watch your luggage " to it - particularly outside

What's left today is mostly on the Lower Alabama St side - the "Underground" area. It's a collection of athletic shoe and urban wear shops, with a few jewelry and tourist stores thrown in. It's probably 60% occupied. There is also a large, mostly vacant food court with "Chinese" restaurants selling deep fried chicken bits covered in goo, a mostly vacant "Upper Alabama Street" area (the above ground and outside stores) and an entertainment street that is empty with one notable exception: "The Masquerade" - a notable live music venue - has moved in on a temporary basis after it lost its longtime home to condos.

Although it has been years since it was a genuine tourist attraction (its irreversible decline began when the World of Coke moved to Centennial Park and Underground lost its last anchor), when I first moved downtown it served the purpose of a legitimate urban shopping center with shops for the less affluent. However, in the last few years many of those have closed. It was probably as a result of a pending redevelopment and a desire to keep the spaces vacant for whatever comes next.

And that's likely the future of the complex. A developer from SC is expected to close on a deal to buy Underground in Jan, 2017 which will include adjacent parking and the cross streets within the complex. A couple blocks of Alabama and Pryor street were recently"abandoned" by the City so they can be added to the package. That gives the next project about four city blocks of private land to play with, and combined with a related developer who has acquired most of the adjacent properties along Peachtree St, it seems the area is likely to gentrify. The project is expected to include a grocery store, student housing, apartments, and possibly even retail. That makes Underground's future as a tourist attraction seem unlikely. The latest proposal I've seen has even included removing Upper Alabama St and exposing the lower lever to daylight again.

Time will tell, but Underground's days in it's current layout seem...

Don't visit Here. It is no longer a Thriving place to Visit, Eat, or Shop. 99% of the Retail Stores, Souvenir Stores, Food Court, Bars, and Clubs are GONE/CLOSED. UNDERGROUND ATLANTA is now a Ghost Town. This used to be an amazing place to Eat, Shop, and more. Now, all the stores that were located down inside Underground Atlanta are CLOSED. Down inside Underground Atlanta only 2 business are open. One is a very small space where Punk Rock or Heavy Metal bands perform (standing room ONLY). It looks like a scene from the Movie Blade 🎬 🧛🏾‍♂️ 🩸. I like the Movie Blade, but not in real life. The other business is a equally weird looking place. I didn't even bother to go inside there. My instincts told me don't go inside. The Bathrooms that were located near the Escalotor/Elevator/Stairs was open but pitch black inside and gutted. I wouldn't recommend going in there either. You'll never been seen again. I had to use the bathroom really bad. So, someone pointed out another set of restrooms a lil further in. I went in there at my own risk. Very UNCLEAN. It was more nasty and potentially dangerous than any Subway/Train Station Bathroom in New York or Chicago. They also have the majority of Underground Atlanta (down below) Fenced/Sealed Off. The entrance that once gave everyone direct access to MARTA Five points Station is also Closed/Fenced/Sealed off. Outside was once very clean and beautiful. NOT ANY MORE. The Water which used to cascade around the sides of the Underground Atlanta sign is permanently turned Off including the Fountains below. The water is now full of Green Mold, Rust, and waste. Atlanta's Homeless (God watch over them) are all around Underground Atlanta. There used to be alot of Students, Business Men and Women, Regular Passersby, Working Class Men and Women, Families, Tourists, Stores, and more Topside (Upper Level). Those Business are GONE too. A few business are located on the street level. But, if things dont improve soon, they might have to Close and relocate. Now, if you're from the streets, and you've got your head on the Swivel, you can spot multiple Hand-2-Hand Drug transactions. This place is NOT SAFE at ALL. DO NOT GO HERE. DO NOT BRING CHILDREN HERE. Atlanta Police DO NOT patrol this area. If you visit Underground Atlanta, it will be at...

Haven't been downtown underground 5 points area in a decade. Looks great as far as ascetic improvements. What surprised and sort of made me uneasy was the number of disenfranchize men and women saturating every area. Like literally hundreds of seeming homeless, mentally challenged ppl all compiled around Georia State, the Underground area, MLK area... asking for money, sleeping on sidewalks, or circled fellowshipping. I also saw two different groups passing out food and toiletries, which gave me hope. Sadly, much of the packaging from the donations became trash thrown onto the landscape.... empty lunch bags, drink bottles just discarded on the ground when a garbage can was less than a few feet away. I realize life is tough for many right now; me included. I also realize that homelessness nor pandering equates to delinquency or criminality. Yet, and I questioned myself about this even as my antenna went up several times when I was approached, hollered at complimentary, I felt unsafe. I felt unable to feast on the beauty of the hard work the city has undertaken to make our downtown 2nd to none because of the need to watch my back. I recognize that those fears were not due to a real present danger but background indoctrination. That doesn't change that my internal instincts said, "Be on guard." I left from downtown feeling very sad for the ppl both who slept on cement, begged for food, walked around talking to invisible faces AND Atlantians and tourist who in order to experience our city, have to navigate through a maze of underserved souls, some of whom see them as an avenue to resources to survive the day. Again, the enhancements and renovations were impressive. There is so much to do, see in the downtown area. Do so, please....with...