Old Photo of Clark Music on Decatur Square
Decatur Metro | June 27, 2013 | 11:01 am
In response to conversations about “Clark Music” in another thread, Clark sends in this photo of the old Clark Music store on Decatur Square. Awesome!
Related Posts:
-
April 17, 2015 Hop-N-Shop Owner Considering Redeveloping Site, Adding 2nd Story (24)
-
April 23, 2015 Jeni’s Closing All Ice Cream Shops Temporarily Due to Listeria Risk (18)
-
April 16, 2015 Eye on the Cemetery (6)
Was this a record store or a musical instrument store? And is it in any way related to Clark Music that used to be on Ponce near Boulevard?
Wow–that’s a great old photo!! Any idea what year this was?
That is the current Square Pub space right? Which replaced Birdie’s (maybe there was some other joint in there in between, but Birdie’s was there a while). When did Birdie’s open?
I thought Birdie’s was in the space where Colbeh’s is now? And I thought Sage (?) was in the spot Square Pub now occupies. Maybe I’m remembering wrong.
Square Pub replaced Birdi’s which replaced the Food Business which replaced Clark’s. Colbeh’s replaced that pizza place which, I believe, replaced Santa Fe Southwestern. Sage was in the spot now occupied by the Iberian Pig.
There you go, Scott. Thanks. There was a VERY short-lived “Caribbean” restaurant/bar in there after Birdie’s, for only a couple of months if memory serves. This stretch has changed tremendously just in the past five years – after the MARTA reconfiguration. There was much hand-wringing about that process, but the end result was obviously beautiful and the area is thriving in ways not seen since Mr. B was a boy.
You forgot the Pharm House which followed the Caribbean Place. It was the place opened by Sage’s former chef, and it lasted all of about three months.
Actually Zocalo was in that space before the pizza place.
And Clark’s was a record shop. The Clarks lived on Clifton Road on the curve near the 8th hole.
They also sold popular sheet music. I grew up near Toco Hill, and during my piano lesson days of childhood, my Mom would periodically drive me to Clark’s so I could buy some fun music.
I used to get sheet music there in the mid 60’s (Beatles, etc). They also had a great selection of 45 rpm records.
Always surprised me that Zocalo’s did not make it in Decatur. We ate at the Decatur location several times prior to its closing, and I always liked it.
Wasn’t that closing something to do with their liquor license?
Yes. As I heard it, they forgot to submit the renewal while the owner was out of the country so lost the license and the wait/hassle of getting a new one just wasn’t worth it. Shame. Those were some potent margaritas!
Is that house on the eight hole the one that has been decorated in red, white, and blue?
The Clarks also owned a lot, maybe an ‘ol home place’ where Teds is presently located. It was torn down way back, but they rented the lot to a drive thru bank.
Actually, prior to Birdi’s it was a black womens hair salon.
What wasn’t the space? This post should give Jason and Bob infinite ideas for drink or menu item names…
So I guess the last holdout on that side from the pre-MARTA reconfiguration days is the little convenience store? I was in suburban exile during the mid 90s and early aughts so I don’t recall if it was there then.
Yeah, but the little convenience store is in a space that was actually Shield’s Market (they kept the name), which was basically a fairly high end meat market. The meat market moved over to the Emory area next to the CVS and I guess it’s still there.
Shields is still there and they have fantastic meat. Bring your wallet though!
Bring back Corky Dean’s!
+100
I was just thinking the same thing.
Hells yes.
And the Square Table!
Remember Spyro and family owning the Sq. Table. A true Greek restaurateur.
loved me some Square Table.
after they closed, I’d drive all the way to Buckhead to the White House to get my Greek Southern fix.
Is the White House still there?
yup, still there.
Not only is the White House still there, but I recently noticed there sign now says “Open 24 hours.” Perhaps they are trying to fill the void of the recently departed Buckhead IHOP…
Andryannis is a great little Greek bistro that will soon (if they haven’t already) be serving dinner on weekends.
So glad to know I’m not the only one who fondly remembers Corky Dean’s.
My family loved Cory Dean’s, too . I also miss P-town, the ice cream shop that was near the corner of Clairemont and Ponce. Since P-town closed that space has housed a number of different restaurants . Not sure what it is right now .
Shield’s is definitely better and more high-end than grocery stores, but is strangely ensconced next to the Emory CVS. I am surprised that it has survived since it’s tenure there arises solely from the disenchantment of the neighborhood in losing Kroger. CVS would have been practically burned to the ground otherwise.
Is there a connection between Clark Music and Clark who sent the photo?
Since everyone is reminiscing: Some sad news: Just got a call from my Buddy Garfield – a 60 year Decatur guy. Said Ray Jefferson of Decatur Auto Seat Cover died a week ago. Ray and his brother Jeff had the prominent corner location (now Leons) for years. The business has been running in various Decatur locations for 30 years or more. Present location off college by Avondale Marta. Will miss you Ray.
Nice pic. Brings back a lot of memories, three in particular:
1. To the right is Rice’s Gifts and Novelties. Before going out of business, maybe in the late Eighties, I stopped by to say goodbye and pay my respects to longtime owner, Mr. Rice. I told him that I had spent a great deal of money in the early Sixties on his “novelties”, mostly gag gifts for young boys. He laughed and said that selling those items paid a lot bills over the years. While looking around to buy a final keepsake, a saw ten to fifteen small Confederate battle flags in the back of the store. Mr. Rice said they were all that was leftover from 1961 and the 100 year celebration of the Civil War/War Between the States in Decatur. Mr. Rice told me that he had sold hundreds of these flags right before a big celebration (I assume on the square, hard to believe, in Decatur!). I bought something else but later regretted not buying at least one flag, for historical purposes of course. The next day, I went back only to find that all the flags had been sold to one elderly man. Rats!
2. Many of you (maybe a few of you, OK none of you but I’m going to tell you anyway) have wondered why the Clark building is two stories and so different from most others on the block. As I recall, Mr. Clark or his son told the story that at one time, the space to the right of Clark’s was a parking lot for the bank on the corner. The owner of the Clark building wanted to expand but the bank wouldn’t sell so they added a second story. Later the bank sold the property and the present building to the right was constructed. Mr. Rice later confirmed the story so I guess it’s true.
3. Finally, I will now confess that my real name is not Chris Billingsley. This is an alias I’ve used since 1964 and it all has to do with Clark’s Music. You see, Clark’s not only sold the latest DC Five, Beatles, and Snoop Dogg record, but also some of the forbidden music of the late Fifties and Sixties. And the most forbidden record of my generation was “Louie Louie” by the Kingsmen. It was played briefly on the AM stations until complaints about content were expressed, not doubt by uptight and rigid parents and religious leaders. Anyway, after being told about the lyrics (“He felt what between her hair???!!!), I had to get the record and master, I mean memorize the lyrics. The problem was, I didn’t have any money. But Clark’s had these listening rooms/nooks where you could listen to a record before you bought it. My plan was to ask for several records, including Louie Louie, and slip it under my shirt, BKA the Five Finger Discount. All went well until the saleswoman, a lady who worked at Clark’s until it closed, asked me as I was leaving, “Are you going to pay for that 45?” I took off, thinking that Mr. Clark and the entire Decatur police force were after me. Later my brother told me that they would find me unless I changed my name. I let the phone book fall to the floor and the name that jumped out was, you guessed it. But even though the statute of limitations had expired, I’ve always felt guilty about my crime. So last year, when my wife and I had a cocktail at the new bar in the Clark building, I left a $20 tip for a much smaller tab. The waiter seemed puzzled but appreciative. My wife smiled and told him, “It pays a childhood debt.”
My real name you ask? It’s Bond, James Bond.