Still standing from the "Glory Days" on Memorial Drive... (Columbus: houses, schools)

[jeoff]

It's hard to believe that during the 70s and 80s that Memorial Drive was a middle class Mecca of sorts. Stretching from the old Treasure Island (Dekalb County DMV) to the current Cynthia McKinney Parkway, folks from all over Dekalb AND Gwinnett would drive there to shop, eat, and play.
So, trying to stay positive (and since there is already a "Gone, but not forgotten" thread), I thought I might mention a handful of iconic places that are still standing (I think!) from Memorial Drive's glory days and see if anyone else has something to add:
Hall's Garden Center--started in Kirkwood in 1946!
Dairy Queen --saw the rise and fall of McDonalds -next door, and Krystal -across-the-street,
The Stone Mountain Animal Hospital (founded in 1972, same owners since1985),
and Applebee's!
Oh, and there is also Georgia Perimeter College (a.k.a "Dekalb College", a.k.a. "University of Memorial Drive").

[Newsboy]

Originally Posted by jeoff

It's hard to believe that during the 70s and 80s that Memorial Drive was a middle class Mecca of sorts. Stretching from the old Treasure Island (Dekalb County DMV) to the current Cynthia McKinney Parkway, folks from all over Dekalb AND Gwinnett would drive there to shop, eat, and play.
So, trying to stay positive (and since there is already a "Gone, but not forgotten" thread), I thought I might mention a handful of iconic places that are still standing (I think!) from Memorial Drive's glory days and see if anyone else has something to add:
Hall's Garden Center--started in Kirkwood in 1946!
Dairy Queen --saw the rise and fall of McDonalds -next door, and Krystal -across-the-street,
The Stone Mountain Animal Hospital (founded in 1972, same owners since1985),
and Applebee's!
Oh, and there is also Georgia Perimeter College (a.k.a "Dekalb College", a.k.a. "University of Memorial Drive").

FYI ... that Treasure Island building has a bigger claim to fame: Site of the first Home Depot, which opened in 1979. That shows you just how desirable and middle class the Memorial Drive area was back then. I had cousins who lived on South Susan Creek Drive off Rockbridge and remember how nice it was. The schools were all good. Stone Mountain, Redan and Avondale were football powerhouses and huge rivals. When my cousin graduated from Clarkston in 1981, it was probably 90 percent white. They moved to Columbus after that, and from what I understood things went south pretty quickly in the 1980s. Sad.

[CashmereEsquire]

Moved to the area in 95, my mother still lives in the area, its sad how bad memorial drive looks now.

[David1502]

How could you forget the Original Pancake House which is still in business - located across the street from the Georgia Perimeter College Clarkston Campus. They've got the best pancakes around!

[JPD]

It's too bad Sgt. Singer's Pizza Circus isn't around any longer.

[jeoff]

Originally Posted by David1502

How could you forget the Original Pancake House which is still in business - located across the street from the Georgia Perimeter College Clarkston Campus. They've got the best pancakes around!

The only time I ever ate there was when it first opened as an A&W resturant--Back then I think it had one of those freestanding "modern" fireplaces in the middle of the restaurant.
How are the pancakes?

[jeoff]

Originally Posted by JPD

It's too bad Sgt. Singer's Pizza Circus isn't around any longer.

Where was that? I can remember Shakey's Pizza, that was near where Bonanza used to be.

[AnsleyPark]

Originally Posted by jeoff

It's hard to believe that during the 70s and 80s that Memorial Drive was a middle class Mecca of sorts. Stretching from the old Treasure Island (Dekalb County DMV) to the current Cynthia McKinney Parkway, folks from all over Dekalb AND Gwinnett would drive there to shop, eat, and play.
So, trying to stay positive (and since there is already a "Gone, but not forgotten" thread), I thought I might mention a handful of iconic places that are still standing (I think!) from Memorial Drive's glory days and see if anyone else has something to add:
Hall's Garden Center--started in Kirkwood in 1946!
Dairy Queen --saw the rise and fall of McDonalds -next door, and Krystal -across-the-street,
The Stone Mountain Animal Hospital (founded in 1972, same owners since1985),
and Applebee's!
Oh, and there is also Georgia Perimeter College (a.k.a "Dekalb College", a.k.a. "University of Memorial Drive").

Wait... We still have a Cynthia McKinney Parkway? Dear heavens, they might as well name it Nut Job Boulevard.

[Newsboy]

Here's a question I've always had about Memorial Drive: When, why and who made the dumb decision to locate all of DeKalb's government offices, courts, that monstrosity of a jail ... RIGHT THERE? I understand it's sorta the "main street" of DeKalb and centrally located. But it ruined any hope of the area ever being desirable.

[JPD]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

Here's a question I've always had about Memorial Drive: When, why and who made the dumb decision to locate all of DeKalb's government offices, courts, that monstrosity of a jail ... RIGHT THERE? I understand it's sorta the "main street" of DeKalb and centrally located. But it ruined any hope of the area ever being desirable.

Actually, many of their government offices and courts are in Downtown Decatur.