The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
HOW ICONIC MUSIC VENUE HAS FOUND NEW LIFE
Name resurrected for new performance hall ready for 4,000 fans.
Peter Conlon stands in front of a wall at the entrance of the new Coca-Cola Roxy, pointing out highlights in this colorful mishmash of Atlanta rock ‘n’ roll history.
Johnny Cash. Gregg Allman. Leonard Cohen. The Black Crowes.
Concert posters replicated from his personal collection tell the story of hundreds of acts who played at the original Roxy in Buckhead—his joint venture with deceased friend and business partner Alex Cooley—in the 1990s and 2000s.
That building is now the Buckhead Theatre. But on Saturday, a fresh generation of music fans will step into the polished lobby of the nearly 4,000-capacity venue that’s just steps from the Atlanta Braves’ SunTrust Park at The Battery that takes its name from one of the city’s most fondly remembered music havens.
“The name is iconic,” Conlon said. “We’re trying to walk the balance between what it was and what it is. We want to keep the historic feel of the Roxy in a millennial position.”
Conlon is the president of Live Nation Atlanta, the concert behemoth that will book about 40 shows per year in the 53,000-square-foot site, the majority of them on non-game days.
Saturday’s launch was a soldout concert from British indie rockers Glass Animals (for Radio 105.7’s birthday celebration). Upcoming shows include country rocker Corey Smith (April 22); ‘90s alt-gods Bush (May 10); and rappers Lil Wayne (May 8) and T.I. ( June 18).
In front of the stage, the venue floor is flat—unlike the similarly laid-out Tabernacle downtown, which slopes upward–which will provide ample room for fans to congregate during general admission shows and allow for better table placement during private
events.
“This floor makes (The Roxy) different,” Conlon said. “A lot of artists want that general admission space, that’s the appeal.”
The two-tiered venue offers permanent seating for 800 in the balcony; the strips of gray chairs constructed of thick, hard plastic will be general admission for most shows (though, like the Tabernacle, could become reserved seating depending upon the concert), while the front rows of plush red and black seating can be purchased as a premium upgrade. The sides of the balcony are lined with cozy box seating, which have already been sold for the inaugural season.
Downstairs, Conlon gestured to the six massive chandeliers dangling overhead and the red velvet curtains draping the walls, part of the $3 million price tag for interior work at the venue.
“We never had anything that nice at the (old) Roxy,” he said with a laugh. “We would have liked to have this in the original, but we didn’t have the money…It was a different time. We didn’t have the luxury of building the venue we had then, but we created a good vibe. That’s why I wanted the name— to have an identity when it opened.”
Other touches from its famous predecessor will be sprinkled throughout the venue, such as the grinning Elvis head that hung over the bar at the original Roxy. It will now adorn the bar in the swanky VIP room, decorated, as are the four artist dressing rooms, in the burgundy shades affiliated with the Buckhead classic.
In an upstairs office, Conlon excitedly pawed through stacks of professionally bundled memorabilia—also from his personal collection— which he anticipates seeing on the walls throughout the new building.
Not all are Roxy-specific, but if they’re of the same time period—such as Robert Plant’s encased pants from a 1995 show at The Omni (“He left them behind,” Conlon shrugged) or an autographed dressing room sign from Whitney Houston during an early-‘90s Atlanta visit— fans will see them.
There are still a few aesthetic touches to complete, including a wall-length mural on the second floor depicting scenes from the old Roxy (those driving along the The Battery on Windy Ridge Parkway will notice a similarly colorful mural of rock posters outside) and a final menu of concession offerings.
But fans can be assured that most fundamentals are set.
■ Parking is plentiful, but lot location and price will vary by show, said Molly Sandman, marketing manager for the venue. Parking for Saturday’s concert will be $20 in the Red lot across the street from the Coca-Cola Roxy and ridesharing service areas are clearly marked at the end of the Roxy block.
■ Expansive bathrooms— one male, one female—are located on each floor.
■ Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the venue.
■ Four public bars—three downstairs, one upstairs— are large and stylish, with mood lighting that blinks softly behind and under the countertop. A fifth bar is stationed in the VIP room.
■ The lobby is sleekly decorated with red and silver couches, where fans can hang before entering the stage area.
It will, Conlon hopes, compute to an experience that pays homage while still moving forward.
“I wanted to bring the brand back,” Conlon said, “and this was the right building and the right time.”