Legendary Atlanta Tea Room Mary Mac’s Reopens Months After Roof Collapses – WABE

An Atlanta culinary staple has reopened after a two-month closure due to storm damage.

Mary Mac’s Tea Room resumed trading on Wednesday after completing repairs to the roof, which partially collapsed after heavy rain.

“We are very happy to see all our loyal customers again soon! It’s taken two long months and a lot of hard work and dedication from our team, the City of Atlanta, and all of our partners to get here, and we’re proud to announce that we’re reopening our doors to usual hours, starting tomorrow,” a statement said. Instagram post from the establishment read Tuesday evening.

Unspecified “much-needed updates” were also made to the restaurant while it was closed.

Mary Mac’s has maintained a reputation among longtime Georgia residents and transplants over the years for its authentic Southern cuisine. Popular choices include fried chicken, Georgia peach cobbler and its sweet tea, which the restaurant has dubbed “Southern Table Wine.”

The restaurant has been in the same location on Ponce De Leon Avenue since it opened in 1945. It was one of 16 teahouses in the city at the time. Today it is the only one from its era still in operation, according to the restaurant’s website.

Nicknamed “the original tea room of the South,” Mary Mac’s has been visited by various celebrities, political figures and athletes over the years, ranging from former President Jimmy Carter to music icon Beyoncé.

The restaurant started with just one dining room and has since expanded to six in a 13,000-square-foot space, making it one of the largest restaurants in the city, according to its website.

The restaurant thanked its customers for their support during the closure.

“Your warm wishes and kind words have kept us moving forward during this difficult process,” the Instagram post read. “We look forward to sharing our incredible cuisine and Southern hospitality with you again soon.”