South Downtown Atlanta sprints to open before World Cup

Thomas Wheatley

Split image: left shows a tree-lined construction site with gravel, ladders, and fencing; right shows a brick-walled indoor passage with arches, a wet floor, string lights, and orange caution cones. — South Downtown Atlanta's Founders Green (left) and a new courtyard that will become patio space for adjacent restaurants (right). Photos: Thomas Wheatley/Axios

The FIFA World Cup is 45 days away, and more than 10 contractor crews are working simultaneously against the clock to turn South Downtown Atlanta into a food, retail and activity hub.

Why it matters: South Downtown is undergoing a multi-block construction blitz to rebuild a walkable historic neighborhood with local businesses before the city hosts eight games, including one semifinal match.

Yes, but: Most of the investments — wider sidewalks, new public spaces — and new businesses are meant to last long after the World Cup ends.

Here's where things stand:

🌮 Food: The South Downtown locations of El Tesoro, Glide Pizza and Brewhouse Cafe on South Broad Street will join a growing list of restaurants already open or getting ready to open on Mitchell Street.

Bottle Rocket, which is relocating from Castleberry Hill, is fine-tuning its new Hotel Row location and will soon open for lunch and dinner.
Additional restaurants include Broad Street BBQ by Jason Furst and chef Sam Pinner (Sammy's), chef Todd Ginsberg's Kitchen Counter and Mule Train from Mike and Shyretha Sheats (The Plate Sale).
The popular food festival Smorgasburg will take place every Saturday during the tournament, April Stammel of South Downtown Atlanta told Axios.

🌳 Public space: The development team has turned a half-acre parking lot on South Broad Street into Founders Green, a central gathering space that will include a stage, seating areas, and room for outdoor movie nights, concerts, viewing parties and more.

Some of the spaces will have an expansive patio, a walk-up service window to grab a slice, or other indoor-outdoor features to add street-level energy.

🕺 Pop-ups, including King of Pops, will take over parking lots and other vacant spaces.

More details to come, Stammel said.

Add Axios on Google

South Downtown Atlanta sprints to open before World Cup

More Atlanta stories