Do you live in Poncey Highland?
Do you want an art space in your neighborhood?
(Update 11/13/23): We are seeking a distant exemption in the alcohol code so we can apply for an alcohol license in our new space, The Supermarket, opening in 2024. As with any arts and entertainment space, concessions will be a vital income stream.This issue is inherently complex - like all things in our beautiful City of Atlanta - and there is no defined course of action for distance exemption legislation. Our business model doesn’t exist in Atlanta and, you guessed it, doing anything new in this city is HARD. To put it as simply as we can, here is the path we’ve been instructed to go down and are currently working through:
Draft legislation that will provide a distance exemption in the city alcohol code
Get support for the legislation from the Poncey-Highland Neighborhood
Bring that supported legislation to the Councilmember’s office
Councilmember will present the legislation (called an ordinance) to the City Council
Ordinance is voted into law - it’s likely that city council will vote in support *if* the issue is being presented by the representative of that District
Then, the legislation will land on the Mayor’s desk. From there, it will (most likely) be signed into law
Finally, we can apply for an alcohol license
This is a long journey and we have been stuck at step #2 for months. When we first started this process, we didn’t know much. Now, 9 months later, consider us experts. We have hired a liquor license attorney, consulted with other attorneys, and have personally read through the City of Atlanta’s Alcohol Code. Yes, unfortunately, the status we are seeking sounds big and scary: “Convention Center Liquor License.” Yet, it is the only category in the Alcohol Code that fits our business model of being, essentially, an event space. Atlanta doesn’t make a lot of things easy and this is one of them. We’ve learned a lot throughout this process and, as we ask for your support, we also want to answer your questions.
Here is a timeline of this journey so far, this doesn’t even mention lease negotiations, architects, etc., is just our efforts in trying to get alcohol. You can read the presentation that we gave during the PHNA meeting in August 2023 - it’s at the bottom of this webpage. This presentation answers anticipated neighbor concerns like parking, noise, capacity, etc. It also explains why we are asking for a distance exemption in the alcohol code and why we will be seeking a convention center license.
We hope that sharing this information helps our community better understand our ask and lets you know how much work it takes to try to open an art space! #AtlantaNeedsTheBakery
Update (11/6/23): BIG NEWS!! The lease has been signed 💥 The Bakery Atlanta is officially moving into a new space in Poncey-Highland. The exact timeline is TBD but we are planning for a grand opening in 2024!
The Bakery Atlanta and Two Tree Studios are excited to announce a new art space called The Supermarket. The Bakery Atlanta will be the anchor tenant and programming partner at The Supermarket, a 12,500 SF multi-use arts complex specializing in exhibitions, education, and entrepreneurship intended to spark curiosity, learning, and community.
Our team has put a ton of work into this project throughout 2023. Now, as the year comes to a close, we need your help to ensure we stay on track for a 2024 opening! Here’s how you can help:
🌟 Donate to our GoFundMe Campaign - help us reach our $100k goal!
🏆 Make an in-kind donation or donate a raffle item for our spring fundraiser.
💪 Giveback by lending a hand and offering a skill. We’ll be putting out a call for skilled volunteers in early 2024.
💰 Invest in The Supermarket and Two Tree Studios, LLC.
🗣️ Share! Share! Share! Share our ask with others who can help.
Lastly, do you live in the Poncey-Highland neighborhood? Help us get a distance exemption in the alcohol code so we can apply for an liquor license. As with any arts and entertainment space, concessions will be a vital income stream. Email us if you live in the area and we’ll send you information and updates on this issue as we have them ❤️
Update (9/18/23): We are deeply disappointed at the continued deferral of this project. Thank you to our friends for rallying on such short notice, we really appreciate you all. We have included the agenda for anyone interested in the neighborhood or its association. The Poncey-Highland Neighborhood Association (PHNA) meeting is open to the public and you can also register for PHNA membership - it’s free and available to residents (homeowners and renters) as well as business owners. More information on their website at www.ponceyhighland.org/getting-involved.
If you are a resident of Poncey-Highland and want to support us, please send us an email and we’ll keep you updated on voting information as soon as we receive it. 💕 hello@thebakeryatlanta.com
Attend the upcoming PHNA Monthly Meeting
Wednesday, September 20, 2023
7pm @ The Church or ZooM
What is the vote about?
The Bakery is in negotiations to lease and activate a new space at The Shops at Otto’s. The concept, “The Supermarket,” will be a multifaceted destination for the arts in the heart of the city. The space is the basement of the former Highland Row Antiques located on North Highland Ave.
Willow Goldstein (Owner of Two Tree Studios, LLC d/b/a The Bakery and Executive Director of The Bakery Atlanta), is requesting a permanent change to the city code to allow a specific alcohol permit to be allowed in this space. It is currently not allowed due to the business’s proximity to residential properties, which is 300 ft per city code. The “exemption” to the code we are proposing would allow the business to serve alcoholic drinks under a Convention Center license, which is the only applicable license for the business use.
Willow held an information session with the homeowners directly affected, has been in communication with the Land Use Committee, and attended the general PHNA meeting in August to present the business and propose our new use. Willow is available to talk to any neighbors with questions. Please reach out to her at willow@thebakeryatlanta.com with amanda@thebakeryatlanta.com CC’d.
Willow is set to come before the Poncey Highland Neighborhood Association again on September 20th, at which the general neighborhood will vote in support or no support of this legislation. Without this legislation, The Bakery will not be able to then apply for an alcohol license for this specific convention center use. If the Poncey-Highland neighborhood votes to support this legislation, this exemption would be sponsored by Amir Farokhi and codified into City of Atlanta code, allowing The Bakery to then apply for a convention center liquor license on the property.
See the full neighborhood presentation for more details:
If approved, this legislation exists in perpetuity for the property, therefore, if she vacates the property the convention center liquor license will be available for the next tenant to use. Future tenants would still need to apply for this alcohol license but would be permitted for this use. For context, a Convention Center as defined by the City of Atlanta in the municipal code is as follows:
”Convention center means premises that are operated exclusively for the purpose of providing accommodations for conventions, trade shows and other similar activities, as well as some social events such as wedding receptions, bar mitzvahs, banquets and meetings. The facility must be available to public or private groups of persons for monetary consideration on a rental, fee, percentage or similar basis; be used primarily for special occasions, including but not limited to the events mentioned in this definition; be open to or attended by invited or selected guests or paying patrons; and the premises shall contain a minimum occupancy load of 200 persons for each show, event, reception or activity as permitted by the department of fire. The term “convention center” shall not include premises that provide adult entertainment, as that term is defined and used in Part 16 of this Code, either regularly or occasionally, nor shall convention centers licensed to sell alcoholic beverages under this Code provide such adult entertainment on their licensed premises. All convention center licensees holding a valid city license for the sale of alcoholic beverages at the time of the enactment of the ordinance from which this amended definition derives (January 21, 1992) shall be deemed to have complied with all requirements for a convention center.”
