‘I’m very devastated,’ owner of iconic Atlanta Eagle weighs building’s future after fire – WSB-TV Channel 2

ATLANTA — There are now plans to eventually restore the original Atlanta Eagle after a fire ravaged the site of the iconic gay bar Thursday night.

“There was so much love and it was amazing to have everyone here,” said Richard Ramey, the owner of the first Atlanta Eagle bar.

The fast-moving flames ravaged both the now-closed bar and the adjoining former Kodak building on Ponce De Leon Avenue.

No one was injured, but the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Channel 2 Action News spoke with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens on site.

“It doesn’t look like vandalism or arson or anything or malicious intent,” Dickens said.

“I am very devastated by our loss,” Ramey said Channel 2’s Audrey Washington.

The original Atlanta Eagle bar was a safe space for members of the LGBTQ community.

The bar made national headlines during the 2009 police raids.

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These raids sparked a movement and created change for Atlanta’s gay community.

“Maybe we can get something out of this,” Ramey said.

Ramey said he is now thinking about the future. He hopes the burned building will be restored into something bigger.

He said he wants the building to house a new Atlanta gay history center.

“I feel like this can be rebuilt and made into something.” Maybe this is the start of something new,” Ramey said in Washington.

The investigation into the fire is ongoing.

Atlanta Eagle’s new location near Ansley Mall was unaffected and remains open for business.

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