Artist Nick "Turbo" Benson created a new mural near Centennial Olympic Park, commissioned by Downtown Atlanta Inc. in partnership with the Metro Atlanta Chamber's Downtown Reimagined initiative. The work reimagines Edward Hopper's iconic "Nighthawks" as a lively Waffle House scene.
The mural depicts Big Boi and Andre 3000 from Outkast, employees preparing food, and various patrons including a woman with teal hair reading and a couple laughing together. The three-week project was completed by Benson and assistants Thomas Turner and Alex Koenig.
Benson spent two months planning, visiting multiple Waffle House locations and touring the Waffle House Museum in Avondale Estates for vintage inspiration. He wanted the work to feel "lost in time, like nostalgic."
Easter eggs include a self-portrait inspired by Norman Rockwell's "The Runaway" featuring Benson's younger self with a Godzilla action figure, three creamers referencing Andre 3000's nickname "Three Stacks," and a vintage jukebox instead of the modern touchscreen version.
Where Hopper's original expressed loneliness amid urban settings, Benson inverted the concept to celebrate connection and energy. Nina Dolgin of Downtown Atlanta Inc. said: "Waffle House is not just a diner; it really is such a cultural staple."
Downtown Atlanta Inc. committed to maintaining the mural for five years. Benson reflected: "Everything's changing all the time, and you have to just kind of make peace with that."
Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution