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The Busy Bee Café
Restaurant in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Busy Bee Café is a restaurant in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. It is a well-known location in the history of the U.S. civil rights movement. In 2022 it was named one of America's Classics by the James Beard Foundation.
Description
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The restaurant specializes in southern and soul food specialties such as catfish, fried chicken, ham hocks, macaroni and cheese, collard greens, and cornbread.[1] Country Living said it was best known for its fried chicken.[2]
History
The restaurant was opened by Lucy Jackson, a self-taught cook from Carrollton, Georgia, in 1947 on what was at the time called Hunter Street, now Martin Luther King Drive.[1][3] At that time Hunter Street was one of only two streets in Atlanta where Black entrepreneurs were allowed to open businesses and where Black diners were welcome in restaurants.[1][4]
The Busy Bee and Paschal's became meeting places for civil rights leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Hosea Williams.[1][4][5][3][6] According to Unique Eats and Eateries of Atlanta, the restaurant is "as well known for its role in the civil rights movement as it is for its fried chicken."[3]
In 1968 Jackson sold the restaurant to two local businessmen.[3] In 1981 Milton Gates bought it.[3]
As of 2022 the restaurant is owned by Tracy Gates, who took over from her father in 1987.[1][4][7]
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Reception
In 2022 the restaurant was named one of America's Classics by the James Beard Foundation.[1] Roadfood called them "the best Southern restaurant in Atlanta. Period."[8]
See also
References
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