Mary’s has been part of East Atlanta Village’s queer nightlife story for nearly three decades, surviving neighborhood changes while remaining a welcoming gathering place on Glenwood Avenue.
The bar’s history began in 1998, when the space at 1287 Glenwood Ave. was home to the queer-owned restaurant Hungry Rush-In. The owners transformed that operation into Mary’s, creating what Rough Draft Atlanta describes as East Atlanta Village’s first gay bar.
A Long Run In EAV
Mary’s has remained in place as Atlanta’s LGBTQ+ nightlife has spread across more neighborhoods. The bar’s longevity stands out at a time when rising rents and development have pushed other Atlanta venues to relocate or close.
The bar has also built a strong reputation beyond the neighborhood. Out magazine named Mary’s one of the 50 best gay bars in the world in 2007. Creative Loafing named it Atlanta’s best gay bar repeatedly from 2010 through 2018, and Atlanta magazine placed it fifth on a 2019 best-bars list.
What Keeps Mary’s Connected To The Neighborhood?
Mary’s continues to operate as a neighborhood bar rather than a one-time nostalgia project. Annual events tied to East Atlanta—including the East Atlanta Strut, Hall-O-Weenie and the holiday lighting of the baby Jesus—remain part of the bar’s calendar.
Co-owners Ben Cheaves and Bill Overall took over Mary’s in 2005 after years as regulars and DJs at the bar. Cheaves told Georgia Voice that customers often describe the space as a place where they feel immediately at home. That sense of welcome is central to Mary’s identity and helps explain why the Glenwood Avenue location has endured through several waves of change around it.
Visit Mary’s
Mary’s is located at 1287 Glenwood Ave. SE in East Atlanta Village and opens at 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday, according to the recent Rough Draft profile. Readers can also check Mary’s official website and social channels for current programming before visiting.
Source Attribution: Based on reporting by Rough Draft Atlanta/Georgia Voice, published August 24, 2026, with EAV-focused context added for local readers.
Source URL: Mary’s withstands the test of time as a queer nightlife staple.
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