Donors Exceed Goal To Help Save Beloved Manuel's Tavern In Less Than A Day (Atlanta)

[klook]

No doubt many if not most Atlanta-area DUers are familiar with Manuel's Tavern, the iconic watering hole and progressive-friendly oasis at the corner of North and Highland, where portraits of John F. Kennedy and FDR hang on the wall. Faced with oblivion due to the stresses of COVID-19, the bar appears to have been rescued by an influx of cash from habitues and fans.

WABE Radio, Atlanta, 12/3/2020 - On Wednesday, when news broke that the much-loved Atlanta bar and meetup spot Manuel’s Tavern was in danger of closing its doors due to the pandemic, Atlanta residents said “not so fast.”

A GoFundMe, set up by Manuel’s regular Angelo Fuster, exceeded its $75,000 goal on Thursday after being active for less than 24 hours.

More than 1,000 people have donated thus far and commenting things like, “That bar is sacred ground. Hang in there, Manny’s,” and, “I plan to celebrate election night 2022 at Manuel’s.”

According to the Saporta Report, the tavern, which has been an Atlanta institution and meet-up spot for everyone from blue-collar workers and policemen to politicians and the press for over 64 years, has seen business drop an average of 62% and is losing $25,000 a month despite pivoting their business model to take-away options.

The report went on to say that Manuel’s has been able to keep its doors open in part due to funds received from the Paycheck Protect Program, but that the aid was running out.

More at link: https://www.wabe.org/atlanta-exceeds-goal-to-help-save-beloved-manuels-tavern/

[AllaN01Bear]

1. jolly good show . most eggscllent.

[gademocrat7]

2. Great news!

[klook]

3. Is it ever! I've had a lot of great times in Manuel's.

Some of them I even remember!

[SCantiGOP]

4. Thanks for the memory!

I joined DU in 2000, and we had a S.C./GA meet-up in Atlanta in 2001 (took place between W’s inauguration and 9-11), and the event was at Manuel’s.
Mike Malloy was there, and we had about 40 people. The after event then moved to (screen name) Ulysses’ house, where liquor was drunk, weed was smoked, hook-ups did occur and everyone had a great time.

[CottonBear]

5. I attended my first GA DU meetup at Manuel's.

Last edited Fri Dec 4, 2020, 11:04 AM - Edit history (2)

I met Ulysses, Mike and Kathy Malloy there, along with many other GA DUers.

Good times.

We used to meet up at a pub in East Atlanta too. RubyDubyinGA with her husband and their baby, Mike and Kathy Malloy, burythehatchet, MGKrebs, CatWoman, and many others. I last met up with my fellow DUers in March of 2008. Maybe, we can get together again after the pandemic.

[SCantiGOP]

6. Good idea.

It would be like crawling out of the bunker after a nuclear war had ended, to get to sit, drink and talk with other DUers after the Trump plague was over ( as in over, both in reality and metaphorically ).

[CottonBear]

7. We should make plans, although it may not be possible to meet up until 2022!

It would be like crawling out of a bunker into a whole new world!
We’ll probably still need to meet up when we can sit outside. I haven’t been to a restaurant, bar, or club since February 2020. It will be strange to meet up to socialize with friends in real life.

Stay safe and be well, so that we can all get together in the future!

[SCantiGOP]

8. I'll buy the first round