Little Five Points – Another Atlanta Treasure
By Thad
If you have been following our stories about Atlanta’s in-town neighborhoods, you know that we explored Inman Park a while ago. If Inman Park is the Grand Dame of in-town living, Little Five Points is definitely her eccentric cousin.
Located just 2-1/2 miles east of downtown, Little Five Points (L5P) was established in the early 1900s as one of the first major shopping areas, serving Inman Park and Candler Park.
The name derives from downtown Atlanta’s famous “Five Points” intersection. Originally Little Five Points was comprised of the intersection of Moreland Avenue which runs north and south with Euclid Avenue which runs northeast/southwest. There was a fifth point which was Seminole Avenue. Seminole has been closed off and is now a plaza at that point.
When the proposed highway drove residents away during the 1960s and early ’70s, Little Five Points became our Greenwich Village/Haight-Ashbury. It was not unusual to see musicians playing in the little park at the intersection or hippies selling “The Great Speckled Bird” on the corner.
While mid-town Atlanta had its “Strip” area between 10th and 14th Streets, L5P took to the bohemian, hippie lifestyle and dug in. There are still remnants of the vibe in the area long after “the Strip” has evolved into an upscale commercial and residential area.
During your visit to Little Five Points, be sure to stop in at the Vortex Bar and Grill for a great hamburger. Go to one of the newer venues like the Front Page News or the Wrecking Bar Brewpub which is located in a 20th Century Victorian home that once housed a Methodist church.
If you are looking for that vinyl or CD that is missing from your collection, you will want to visit Wax ‘n Facts. Wax ‘n Facts buys and sells used LPs and CDs as well as offering newly released and reissued vinyl. There is also Criminal Records and Moods Music in the area.
Looking for something to read? You will find Charis Books and A Cappella Books. Do you want live music? How about the Variety Playhouse where you will find many national as well as local names making a stop.
Along with neighborhood festivals and parades, the eclectic mix of indie-bookstores, record shops, new and vintage clothing stores, a natural foods store and a collection of community theatres and music venues keep the vibe alive, ensuring L5P’s position as a true alternative community.
Next: Inman Park, Atlanta's First Suburb