From the Show Versus Tell newsletter by Jon Birdsong, CEO of SoDo Atlanta — Volume 2, Month 10 (November 2025)
217 days until the World Cup. Lattes and London fogs replace iced coffees at Spiller Park as autumn arrives in South Downtown.
Safety
Smorgasburg's first weekend drew over 10,000 attendees. Sergeant Franklin, Major Hunt, dedicated APD officers, and the Smorgasburg security team worked strategically for a safe environment across consecutive successful weekends. As winter approaches, the most vulnerable populations seek refuge — SoDo is working with ADID to connect them to services. Partners for Home is in the middle of their campaign to house 400 homeless people.
Community
Village Books — Dr. Key opened a neighborhood bookstore and gathering place on historic Hotel Row, carrying children's books and popular novels. Instagram: @lovevillagebooks.
Glide Pizza — Founded by Rob, who opened his first store out of a one-window shop off the Beltline in 2020 and has since opened in Old Fourth Ward and Decatur. The South Downtown location will feature a DJ booth.
Spiller Park — Added Saturday hours with strong support. Owner Tyde Tate opened additional new locations elsewhere in the city.
Community Tours — Led by Amy and Lisa, Georgia State University History graduate students. One of the best ways to experience the neighborhood and its deep founding history.
Downtown Day — Thanks to Central Atlanta Progress and the City of Atlanta. Mayor Dickens and his team walked the neighborhood and visited all open businesses on Hotel Row.
South Downtown launched a TikTok account: @southdowntownatl.
Wave 1 Phase 1
Jon Birdsong shared a longer article enumerating all tenants opened and signed: "Tenant Wave One of Phase One." Summer lease opportunities (2-3 month leases) are available for creative concepts or corporate World Cup experiences. Contact: [email protected].
Development
Tim Wright of Cushman & Wakefield interviewed team members Jaren (Broad Street projects), Marlowe (Hotel Row), and Bryan (85 Peachtree) for a video tour. Trees selected in September from the Trees Atlanta farm are being planted along Peachtree and Mitchell Streets. Two non-historic buildings between Peachtree and Broad are being hollowed to create a mid-block paseo with additional daylight for second-floor residential units.
Historical Discovery
Bryan Capps found the oldest known photograph of Atlanta: an 1850 daguerreotype of the Richard Peters house, located in the South Downtown neighborhood. The view is from Mitchell Street looking south toward what is now 222 Mitchell. Since daguerreotypes were mirrored images, the front porch appears to face Spring Street but actually faced Forsyth Street, as confirmed by an 1878 Sanborn map.
Source: Show Versus Tell Newsletter
