“...within this glittering spectacle ... a human centerpiece...”

On Oothcalooga Street, or the Highway 53 Spur which leads to Rome, Georgia, stands the Yellow Jacket Diner in an area of aged, ailing, and dead warehouses, factories, carpet mills, and repurposed early strip buildings now living as thrift stores and mercados. One mile away on Highway 41, roughly a mile from a major I-75 exit, the Sonic drive-in restaurant offers rootbeer, coney dogs, and slushies amidst ice cream shops, fast food chains, flower shops, real estate offices, and all the other bustle of a busy throughway. Both restaurants have longevity in Calhoun, Georgia; the Yellow Jacket diner has been in operation for over fifty years serving the lunch crowd of millworkers and the after-school crowd of the high school (it was named for their mascot); the Sonic is one of the oldest chain restaurants in town, built in the mid-70s. Both subscribe to an older ethic of fast-food eating by using “tray girls” (and guys) and a focus on the car, yet the diner emerges from the “chuckwagon” tradition described by Liebs while the Sonic clearly draws on postmodern and consumerist elements to stay a competitive chain. Yet the car and the gal who serves the car remain the “human centerpiece” (Liebs 211).

The first picture of the Yellow Jacket diner is taken around 5 pm and shows how busy this small box-of-a-restaurant is. The vehicles parked out front have ordered from the “tray girl” (Liebs 211) and are waiting for or have already received food. The drive-up window (where the white van is) allows a more familiar access to a 'fast-food' restaurant, yet the tray girl (not pictured) has also taken the order at the van. Driving up to the window is a means of picking up food. The human interaction is privileged at the diner. One can see elements of early road-side stand architecture in the graphic Coca-Cola signs, prominent menus, (very small) false front, and the utilitarian box shape of the restaurant. This is a functional, vernacular space which does not pretend to be other than what it is: a place to have a gal take one's order, get some chow, and all from the convenience of one's car.

The second picture is of the Sonic Drive-In, also taken around 5 pm, and shows roughly the same number of patrons although they seem scarcer in number because of the sprawling space available. The “tray girl” striding across the parking lot is a staple of this chain. Occasionally in the summers, one can still see waitresses on roller skates delivering food at this restaurant. The Sonic is the evolution of the roadside stand, as Liebs describes, with its additional architectural elements of shelters for cars, separate structures to shield cooking facilities and staff, and a focus on easy, quick food in one's vehicle. Additional consumerist architectural elements, as described by Chase, include the signage with its black, red, yellow, and white vivid colors; the hyperbolized red cones as a lure for passing cars and a postmodern Googie-esque element, as described by Langdon; and the rounded shapes of the canopies suggesting futuristic themes at this very old style of American dining. This is a chain which must use its building to sell its product, yet it also emerges from an older tradition to which it still adheres.

Two Generations of Golden Arches

When Maurice and Richard McDonald opened their first drive-in in 1939, they had no idea what their creation would amount to in the decades to come. From drive-in to self-service fast food, McDonald's has become a household name in 119 countries serving nearly 47 million customers a day. Their exterior facades may have changed, but the idea of low-priced, quality burgers, fries, and shakes has not.

McDonald's at Howell Mill and Collier. Two generations of the Golden Arches in one location.

The following two photos are also of the McDonald's at Howell Mill and Collier. It was not built in the 1950's off of architect Stanley Meston's design, but it was built to look like it (residents put it at around 25 years old). This store features stainless-steel edging of the overhanging slanted roof, red paneling, glass block, a mural, and the famous flanking golden arches.

Although the flanking arches do not go all the way to the ground (as you can see in the mural to the right) it gives the same effect as the originals. This mural is on the drive-thru window side of the restaurant and features the glory days of the 1950s McDonalds. The sign advertises 15cent hamburgers and 3 million customers served. To the right is a image of the original self-service, old cars, and the essence of the teenage hang-out. Even though the area surrounding this McDonald's is of the current era, the McDonald's fits in because it is a reminder to times past.

This later McDonald's on Peachtree showcases the remodeling done by the company to remove the so called eyesore connotation McDonald's and other food stands had become to be known as. It's red-and-white slant-roof was replaced with a mansard roof and the flanking arches replaced with modern signage. Surrounding this fast-food restaurant is a stone wall encompassing an outdoor playland. This design fits better than the previous because it is located in a modern city. However, as you can see the high rise behind the McDonald's dates it and drives the creation of even more modern food stands.

McDonald's on Roswell Road brings a more modern look to the long-standing food chain. It's white and red stone tile mimics the original tile, but is more contemporary and better fits the area. The red and yellow colors are incorporated, but without being overbearing. The mansard roof still stands around the perimeter, but the height of the building is increased bringing in a more modern flat roof. This location features an indoor Playplace allowing safe play for young children. As you can see, McDonald's has strayed from it's original Meston design, but it still incorporates his ideas that made the chain famous. Whether it be old or new, or new made to look old, McDonald's is still trusted for a quality low-priced burger and fries.

Sketchbook Assignment 3, The Strip: "Glamour Shots"

Starlight Six Drive-In Theatres is south on Moreland Ave on an otherwise zudzu-lined stretch of highway. It is still operating and shows several movies each evening. Sound is, of course, provided by your radio.

The original Krispy Kreme Doughnuts is on Ponce de Leon Avenue at Argonne St. Look for the lit neon "Hot Now!" sign to know when a drive-through is worth it.

The Varsity is more iconic than Atlanta itself, and is celebrating its 80th year in operation. It holds the record for the largest drive-in fast food restaurant in the world. Car culture, indeed.

The Majestic has been "serving food that pleases since 1929." It is open 24 hours and is at Ponce de Leon and N. Highland Ave. Along with the Plaza Theatre, it is in Atlanta's first strip mall with parking in front.

A Sign of the Times

This very subdued shopping center is on Lakewood Avenue just past the intersection of Lakewood and Metropolitan Parkway.  My guess on the style is some hybrid of modern/postmodern.  Modern in the sense that the front is a ribbon of glass, sort of.  Postmodern in material, stucco, and that interesting cover for the walkway and the colonnade supporting the extended roof cover for the walkway.  The windows have been obscured by large poster-like coverings.  The businesses here conform to the approach road in decline, start up businesses by a marginalized constituency.  The parking lot lamps look pretty modern, but they are in disrepair, as evidenced by their leaning over.  The parking lot itself is in state of disrepair.  I guess the catch phrase for this neglect is “deferred maintenance”.

 

I included the previous photo to give context to this photo.  This fantastic sculptural sign took me by surprise as I was scanning the (Metropolitan) strip for interesting photos.  This behemoth straddles the corner of Lakewood and Metropolitan and alerts drivers-by to the location of the Family Dollar store (which I think might not even be there anymore).  Unfortunately the sign is in a state of disrepair.  I love the contrast between the overt sensationalism of the sign and subdued nature of the actual shopping center.  I wonder if this sign can be saved?  (I guess this photo refers less to Ford and more so to Venturi, but I felt compelled to include it.)

 

This strip is on Cleveland Avenue, an approach road from I-85 that intersects with Metropolitan Parkway.  Really, I just had to include this because I was so amused by the proximity of Pleasers to the East Point police station.  The presence of the Pleasers business and the Titlemax speak to the discard zone of transition that pervades most of the southwest side, particularly, but not limited to the approach roads to the city.  The roof  and “starved” classicism of the Titlemax suggests that the corporate architecture has been influenced by the “environmental” designs of the 70s/80s.  Obviously the tastemakers are not concerned with the aesthetics of this area, which is a pastiche of signs, fast food joints and businesses most likely found in marginalized areas. 

Recycling...

This strip center is located off of Peachtree right across from the Brookhaven Marta station and is a great example of a recycled strip center. Many businesses have come and gone, but the biggest transformation is that of the retail space in the middle of the shopping center. What was once a grocery store turned into Wilson & Sons Antiques. As Timothy Davis states in The Miracle Mile Revisited, "cast off supermarkets are both more affordable than new buildings and ideally located for providing community services." Although the space sits empty yet again, I'm sure the owners had the same thought process as Davis when they leased this space. As you can see, the shopping center does not get many visitors except for the Blockbuster at the end. Perhaps if more money had been spent updating the center (as in the example below) more people would be drawn to it.

More money and effort was put into the transformation of the strip center at the corner of Howell Mill and Collier Road than the last example. The largest retail space here was once a low end grocery store, followed by a low end drug store. It sat empty for a time until Publix purchased the space, remodeled it, and brought life back to the shopping center. As you can see, every space is rented and the parking lot is full! Even though the strip center is recycled, it was made to look new and modern instead of left dingy and clinging for life. Although this process might not be historically accurate it saved Publix a good amount of money not having to build a new store from the ground up and increased surrounding property value.

This ethnic strip is located off of Buford Highway, a part of Atlanta full of multiple ethnicity's located in a small area. Some towns have "Little Italy" or "Chinatown," but we have the melting pot that is Buford Highway. In most of the shopping centers along this road, you can find a mix of Hispanic, Vietnamese, and Chinese vendors all in one place. The chance of gentrification of this area is very slim as the area has been like this for some time and is very run-down. It would take a lot of time, money, and labor to really make this area sparkle.

"... the architecture of the American Roadside ..."

In Calhoun, Georgia, originally, the main street, Wall Street was the throughway. This became Highway 41, the Old Dixie Highway from Chattanooga to Atlanta in the early 1900s (Liebs 18). Calhoun, with its hotels and theaters, became an important overnight stop for passengers. Then, in 1977, Interstate 75 was finished, and the businesses and traffic migrated to the exits near the interstate (Liebs 34). In the last ten years, preservation and restoration efforts have re-focused attention on Wall Street, bringing this architecture of the roadside in Calhoun full circle.

In the first picture, this 1920s gas station evokes the domestic imagery that Liebs discusses. The blue, arched roof of the English Cottage style, with its white paint and double chimneys, is a representation of "the home" which held "deep-rooted symbolic value" for drivers and consumers (Liebs 101, 44); the garden plot in front is another vestige of the home image. This contrasts with the Regions Bank building to the left, with its reflective glass and square, modern architecture. The drive-up gas pumps under the 'carport' area would have been only steps from the Dixie Highway, and the two service bays to the right show that this was a busy service station. Now, the business which has adapted this location is Calhoun Auto Sales, and on the day this picture is taken, the employees are washing used cars.

The second picture shows a similar era gas station further north on Highway 41 which is in a less affluent neighborhood currently being reclaimed by Latino/a immigrants. This gas station has not been adapted or retooled. The basic elements of the first gas station are present--the drive-up gas pump area under the 'carport, the evocation of home with the pitched roof and red brick, and the chimney. However, this stretch of the 1920s-1970s strip in Calhoun does not receive much traffic as I-75 more quickly parallels 41. In the rearview mirror (lower right-hand corner of the picture), the Highway 41 strip stretches back toward the center of town.

In the third picture, the restoration of the downtown is seen in the work being done to sidewalks and storefronts. This goes hand-in-hand with the renovation of an important building, the Gem Theater, following the trend begun in the 1960s with the National Historic Preservation Act (Liebs 68). The sidewalks on the other side of town have already been restored. The storefronts with their awnings (another refurbishment technique described by Davis), foliage, and banners throughout town proclaiming Calhoun a "Main Street City" (see smaller picture) attest to the return of the car and the consumer to this downtown area.

More Parking!

This is a picture of Edgewood facing downtown. Here there are cars parallel parked on the curb in the right lane. I'd prefer to use that lane for driving, especially when it looks like a lane and not parking spots! But it occurs in a space where there is not an abundance of parking options, so I suppose it is necessary.

The second picture is of a vacant lot downtown used for parking. You can barely see the cars because the weeds are growing up the chain link fence. Perhaps we could call this "green space?" Downtown is full of ugly, vacant lots used for parking with people flagging you in and charging at least $5. Sometimes they are closed down businesses and probably serve the owners' need for income in the only way they have.

The third picture is of parking lines around Chastain Park. I noticed that there were lines blacked out and redone at a sharper angle. In Lots of Parking, the author has a diagram on increasing parking angles and how they increase the amount of cars able to park in the same space. It seems impossible to me, but I suppose he is right.