Axios Atlanta

September 15, 2022
Happy Thursday. A special shout-out this morning to Hapeville! Hello there.
Today's weather: Another beautiful day. Sunny with a high of 84.
Situational awareness: Mayor Andre Dickens wants the community to help him pick the next chief of the Atlanta Police Department.
Today's newsletter is 969 words — a 3.5-minute read.
1 big thing: The Wildman's question
Photo: Wildman's Civil War Surplus in Kennesaw opened in 1971. Credit: Kristal Dixon/Axios
The Eaton family spent decades running a business in downtown Kennesaw, but the city's decision to allow Wildman's Civil War Surplus, a controversial shop that showcases racist artifacts, to reopen will bring that investment to an end.
Driving the news: Eaton Chiropractic will close its doors on Main Street and relocate outside the city limits. Its owner, Dr. Cris Eaton-Welsh, told Axios she sold the building and will move to a new office off Cobb Parkway near Barrett Parkway.
- Her father, James "Doc" Eaton, who resigned in June from the Kennesaw City Council in protest of Wildman’s opening, launched the practice in 1992.
What they're saying: Father and daughter told Axios that Kennesaw ignored its own building codes that would show Wildman's has serious structural issues.
- "I just got … tired of nothing being done," Doc Eaton said. "And when they renewed the business [license] … I just said screw it. I'm done."
Catch up quick: Wildman's Civil War Surplus opened in 1971 and was owned and operated by Dent Myers.
- The two-story shop sells items commemorating the Civil War, as well as World War I, II and the Korean War.
- Some of the items on display are racist, including dolls featuring Black children with exaggerated stereotypical expressions, Confederate flags, pictures of people posing with Nazi flags, and papers and photos with racial slurs.
- The storefront is adorned with several Confederate flags. One sign that reads "White History Year" is affixed on the brick wall next to the entrance.
- After Myers died in January, the business license under his name expired and the shop closed. Marjorie Lyon, Myers' longtime employee, reopened the business in June.
The other side: Kennesaw leaders refute the claims that it ignored its building code in allowing Wildman's to reopen. City Manager Jeff Drobney said during a press conference in June that Wildman's went through the process like any other business.
City Council member Antonio Jones told Axios that Wildman's isn't a "tasteful" venture, but it's not breaking any laws.
- "I think that corner could be used for something a lot better, but I won't trample upon that person's rights to be there," said Jones, who owns a small business.
The intrigue: Wildman's has a dedicated core of supporters, including about 3,500 followers on Facebook.
Lyon told Axios that critics of the store and its reopening are like "children stomping their feet because they didn’t get their way."
- "I don't wish anybody any harm," she said. "What they bring on themselves for the hate that they have in their heart and what they're doing, that's on them."
2. The road ahead with — or without — Wildman's
The Historic Train Depot in downtown Kennesaw. Credit: Kristal Dixon/Axios
Wildman's existence has been a constant in the once-small railroad town that's seen dramatic change in the years since the business opened. With a population of about 33,000 people, Kennesaw is the third-largest city in Cobb County.
- Aside from Wildman's, and its proximity to Kennesaw State University and Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, the city is mostly known for its ordinance requiring every head of household to own a firearm.
Despite the controversy surrounding Wildman's, downtown Kennesaw is thriving, said Teena Regan, a real estate agent at The Teena Regan Team.
- "I think that this city is such a great city and for anybody to judge a downtown because of one old man that is dead, then it's their problem," she told Axios.
State of play: While many may not like the store's presence, there isn't anything the city can legally do to shut it down, said Mark Allen, owner of Lazy Guy Distillery, which is a few blocks north of Wildman's.
The bottom line: Eaton-Welsh said she and her supporters will continue to press Kennesaw to address the store's presence in the central business district and its "normalization of hate."
- "If I'm 90 years old, I will still fight this," she said. "Just because my business is leaving Main Street doesn't mean I'm going to quit."
3. "Atlanta" returns home for one more season
Photo: Guy D'Alema/FX
FX's and Donald Glover's hit show "Atlanta" returns tonight for its fourth and final season.
State of play: Since it premiered in 2016, the show has deftly represented the city it's named for.
- The first three seasons we've seen a Michael Vick cameo, a creepy story about Lake Lanier, an episode set in Helen and an uncomfortable fraternity scene at Georgia Southern University.
Yes, but: Season three took viewers on a detour through Europe with plenty of commentary on the racial happenings in America.
Go deeper: The top moments of "Atlanta's" third season
Ross' thought bubble: Season three was unique (and important) but it missed the feeling that I was watching a show filmed in my hometown.
- Bring back the episodes that featured easter eggs around the city like Mrs. Winner's, J.R. Crickets and tales about Florida man.
- Considering the trailer opens with the waterboys, it looks like we are headed that way.
You tell us: How do you hope Atlanta wraps up its final season?
- Also, what episode has stuck with you the most? Bonus points if it doesn't involve Teddy Perkins.
4. Five-ish Points: Fish that blocked traffic
Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
💰 Marjorie Taylor Greene and her Democratic opponent Marcus Flowers in the 14th district are two of the top Congressional fundraisers in the country, even though it's a Republican stronghold. And both are raising lots of their money from out of state. (AJC)
A look at the case against former Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill, who has been charged with depriving pretrial detainees in the Clayton County Jail of their civil rights. (Clayton Crescent)
🐟 Killer Mike and T.I. are angling to bring back Bankhead Seafood, which served fish "so darn good it blocked traffic on Fridays." (Atlanta Magazine)
⚡️Poised for the electrification of more buses and trucks, charging company Heliox opens facility in Atlanta where MARTA technicians and others will come learn to use the new chargers. (WABE)
A new career is waiting for you
💼 Check out who's hiring now.
- Membership Associate, Sales at Atlanta Hawks.
- LN Concerts, Director of Premium Sales and Services at Live Nation Entertainment.
- Senior Sales Engineer at Snowflake.
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💡 Thomas thinks Atlanta and Georgia politics are perfect fodder for a clever TV show. Call my agent.
🎨 Emma thinks everyone should go admire her friend Gabi's beautiful new street mural at N. Highland Avenue & Sampson Street!
😊 Kristal is enjoying the cooler mornings.
This newsletter was edited by Jen Ashley and copy edited by Lisa Hornung.
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