Everyone loves an excuse to put on their nostalgia goggles and go back to “the good old days.”
Several spots around Atlanta can help bring back those memories, capturing time in a bottle. From retro revivals to old-fashioned cooking, here are six places sure to remind you of decades past.
The Silver Skillet
When you think old-school diners, you’re apt to picture the ’50s. And when you see a 1950s-themed southern diner on television or in the movies, it’s often The Silver Skillet.
With numerous appearances on film, the restaurant might even bring back nostalgia from its on-screen cameos, which include "Remember the Titans," "Anchorman 2," "The Founder" and the Netflix show "Ozark."
For those who aren’t cinephiles, the classic combo of skillet country ham, sunny-side-up eggs and lemon icebox pie will surely bring your taste buds back a few decades.
6:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m.-2 p.m. on weekends. 200 14th St. NW, Atlanta. 404-874-1388, thesilverskillet.com.
Starlight Drive-In Theatre and Flea Market
Drive-in theatres are mostly a lost relic. With only five left operating in the state, the Starlight Drive-In Theatre remains a bastion in Atlanta, keeping the tradition alive.
The theater was built in 1949, and its four screens still light up several first dates each week. While the venue now boasts a digital projection system, the charm of seeing a movie from your car hasn't been lost.
Movies are only shown on weekdays, and Starlight transforms on the weekends to host a flea market with more than 300 vendors.
Showtimes vary on weekdays, while the flea market is open 6 a.m.-3 p.m. on weekends. 2000 Moreland Ave. SE, Atlanta. 404-627-5786, starlightdrivein.com.
Tipple + Rose Tea Parlor and Apothecary
A place doesn’t need to be historic to bring back memories from decades past. Some can be conceived recently, even within the past five years.
Tipple + Rose Tea Parlor and Apothecary has been offering up Victorian ambiance in its cozy Virginia Highlands location since July 2015. From dainty sandwiches and pastries to 140 types of tea, this cafe is not struggling for variety.
11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Tuesdays through Sundays. Closed on Mondays. 806 North Highland Ave. NE, Atlanta. 678-705-7995, tippleandrose.com.
Cascade Fun Center
Disco is dead? Not if this roller rink has anything to say about it.
Outfitted with disco balls and neon lights, Cascade Fun Center mixes the feel of a ’70s venue with modern music. There isn’t a shortage of four-wheeled rental skates, and the scuffed up wooden floor is proof of the fun times thousands have had.
During the summer, walk-in admission is only $7 until July 26, so it isn’t a tall price to pay to travel back to groovier times.
7-10 p.m. on Tuesdays, 8 p.m.-midnight on Wednesdays, 7:30-11 p.m. on Fridays, 1- 6 p.m. and 7:30-1 p.m. Saturdays, and 3-7 p.m. and 8 p.m.- midnight Sundays. Closed on Mondays and Thursdays. 3335 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. SW, Atlanta. 404-699-9559, cascadeskating.com.
The Comet Pub & Lanes
With all the ’50s flare of a sock hop, this Decatur-based bowling alley manages to stay sleek and modern.
Located in the former home of Suburban Lanes, which was a community staple for nearly 60 years, the Comet Pub & Lanes has been providing entertainment to children and adults alike since 2016. Its menu, which offers made-from-scratch pizzas and draft beer, is the epitome of Atomic Age design, and the Comet theme fits like a glove.
It’s $4 to rent shoes and $2.50-$5 per person for a game, so it’s a cost-efficient way to enjoy the ’50s vision of the future.
5 p.m.-1 a.m. Mondays, 10 a.m.-1 a.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, 10 a.m.-2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 11 a.m.-1 a.m. Sundays. 1458 Church St., Suite E, Decatur. 470-225-1931, cometpubandlanes.com.
Bob Townsend
Bob Townsend
Paris on Ponce
Just like looking through your parents’ attic, antique stores provide plenty of interesting blasts from the past.
One of the most eclectic in Atlanta is Paris on Ponce, which has items ranging from the 18th century to the modern age. It’s effectively a museum, an art gallery, a furniture store and a space for oddities all rolled into one.
With more than 46,000 square feet of real estate, it's inevitable that some odd item will surely capture your imagination.
11 a.m.-6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and noon-6 p.m. Sundays. 716 Ponce De Leon Place NE, Atlanta. 404-249-9965. parisonponce.com.
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