Grant Henry
Grant Henry, aka Sister Louisa, (born 1956) is an American former divinity student, artist, and businessman based in Atlanta, Georgia. He is best known for his artwork and installations created under the auspice of his alter ego "Sister Louisa" and for being the proprietor of the popular Atlanta bar, Sister Louisa's Church of the Living Room and Ping Pong Emporium.[1]
The work of Sister Louisa debuted in November 1996 in an art show at The Telephone Factory, an art deco loft complex in downtown Atlanta. In 2001, Henry opened an Atlanta gallery on St. Charles Ave. in Atlanta called Sister Louisa's Church of the Living Room; Come on in, Precious.[2] At the time, Henry was bartending at a bar called The Local. He was voted "Best Bartender" in the city for 2006 and 2007 by the readership of Creative Loafing (Atlanta).[3]
![](../I/Grant_Henry_at_Pacific_Grove%252C_Hollywood.jpg.webp)
In 2010, Henry opened Sister Louisa's Church of the Living Room and Ping Pong Emporium in Atlanta's Old Fourth Ward district, the neighborhood of Martin Luther King Jr.'s boyhood home. The New York Times described the bar by writing, "Opened in December 2010 by Grant Henry, a former divinity school student, this bar plays with, and spoofs, church culture. Karaoke is performed in choir robes, and walls are decorated with faux-religious pop art."[4]
Earlier life and career
Grant Henry was born in Panama City, Florida, on July 1, 1956. He moved to Acworth, Georgia, in 1972 and graduated from North Cobb High School in 1974. He attended Berry College in Rome, Georgia, Florida State University, Florida International University, where he earned a BS degree in Hotel, Restaurant and Travel, Georgia State University, where he earned a M.Ed in Education, Columbia Theological Seminary and Princeton Theological Seminary, where he pursued a Master of Divinity with a concentration in Pastoral Care.
Sister Louisa's Church in Edgewood Entertainment District
Sister Louisa's Church of The Living Room and Ping Pong Emporium ... Come On In, Precious! was opened in December 2010 on Edgewood Avenue in the Old Fourth Ward section of Atlanta, Georgia. Since opening Church has been named The Best Theme Bar in the World by Buzzfeed and multiple accolades from People Magazine, The New York Times, Huffington Post, Atlanta Magazine, The Atlanta Business Chronicle, and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution[5]
References
- Fleming, Mike (2011-01-19). "Grant Henry opens 'Sister Louisa's Church' bar — Project Q Atlanta". Projectqatlanta.com. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
- Gillespie, Hollis (2001-08-01). "The search for meaning: It's all in how you look at it". Creative Loafing (Atlanta). Retrieved 2013-04-05.
- "Best of Atlanta 2007 - After Dark: Best Bartender". Clatl.com. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
- "Sister Louisa's Church of the Living Room and Ping-Pong Emporium". The New York Times. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
- "[Exclusive] 'Church' Bar Expanding into Adjacent Corner Tavern Space, Will Add Food to Its Offerings | What Now Atlanta".