The EARL

The Earl was opened in 1999 by John Searson, a long-time Atlanta resident but a newcomer to the restaurant and live entertainment business. The building at 488 Flat Shoals Avenue was being used to store mattresses when Searson signed the lease with the intention of transforming the space into a club and lounge. Much of the business was built by hand, with licensed contractors called in when needed. Even now, the interior of the building reflects Searson's bare-knuckled approach to the business. The bar is made out of a tree which fell on his property while he was building the bar.

At the time, the neighborhood was rapidly gentrifying, but wasn't anywhere near as safe as it is now. The front window had two bullet holes from a scuffle in the street. Searson let a friend sleep in the back to protect the property from any local criminals. The restaurant's opening was a source of intrigue in the neighborhood, with residents pestering Searson to learn when it would be opened. The slow pace of the work prompted him to post a sign on the door saying it would be open when it was open.

Opening night came with the bar already teetering on the edge of bankruptcy. A local distributor had donated three kegs of Pabst Blue Ribbon, but Searson says one of those was consumed before the doors were even open. Yet from the beginning, the restaurant was an improbable success.

A partial list of bands and artists that have appeared at the Earl since its opening:

• One of Playboy's 10 best rock clubs in the U.S.[1]
• One of the Wall Street Journal's best hamburgers in the U.S.[2]
• One of Paste Magazine's 40 best music venues in the U.S.[3]
• 2005 Best Place to Hear Local Music/Best Rock Club[4]

• The Earl's website

33.741°N 84.346°W / 33.741; -84.346