![]() ![]() The place is spacious and there is a lot of room to move around even when the place is fully packed. People who come into the place are from all walks of life, regardless of color or job, or whether a local or tourist, the place caters to everyone. The interior may give you the impression that it speaks only to vintage, country and biker crowds. You can either see bricks or blacks inside the bar. In contrast to the exterior, Vortex’s interior is a bit more laid back. Oh, and they are also claiming to have “Atlanta’s Best Burger” - now how can you miss that? From the massive skull display lingering at the entrance to the somewhat over-the-top colors used in the place’s exterior, it seems like the place is literally inviting you in – and it might be a bad idea not to. Vortex Bar and Grill at Little 5 Points is quite a conspicuous place to begin with. ![]() Their big personalities and offbeat sense of humor quickly became hallmarks of this hip new neighborhood bar, and the business prospered.438 Moreland Avenue Northeast, Atlanta, GA | (404) 688-1828 | They had succeeded in creating a cool, secret hideout for themselves. They didn’t mind the hard work, but since their goal was to have fun, the siblings refused to put up with any rude or demanding customers, declaring The Vortex to be an “Official Idiot-Free Zone.” People who annoyed them were regularly tossed out, often physically, which garnered the siblings a certain degree of notoriety for their unconventional approach to customer service. They also bussed tables, washed dishes and performed all the janitorial duties, which unfortunately included a fair amount of vomit remediation and toilet unclogging. This included waiting tables, bartending, and even cooking in a pinch. Since none of them had any experience in the bar business, they employed the “learn-as-you-burn” philosophy, working long hours from opening until close every day, performing every chore necessary to keep the bar running. They opened the doors and personally welcomed each and every customer. The space was tiny, and they filled it to the brim with kooky, eclectic décor. They opened the original location of The Vortex Bar & Grill on April 20, 1992. At that time, many locals advised them that this area was somewhat “undesirable,” but the trio forged ahead anyway. After all, what could be more fun than hanging out in a bar every day, right? They eventually found a little pub for rent on the corner of West Peachtree and 11th Street in the Midtown neighborhood of Atlanta. Since all three siblings were looking for a change and wanted to create a little fun for themselves in their newly adopted city, they decided to pool their meager resources and open a bar. He was soon followed by his brother, Hank, and sister, Suzanne, who were also ready to bid farewell to Southern California. He went back to L.A., packed up all his belongings and hit the road for Georgia. It also seemed like there was a strip club on every corner. "Last-call" was made at 4:00 am, and just in case you still weren’t ready to go home, there were a few 24-hour clubs operating around town. Back in those days, Atlanta was a young, affordable city with a spectacularly thriving nightlife. Taking a two-week driving tour of the Southeast, he visited Atlanta for the first time. In 1991, Michael Benoit was working as an artist in his hometown of Los Angeles when he realized it was time for a change. For Vortex fans that are interested in learning a little bit about our history, we offer this super-condensed version of how The Vortex came into existence. ![]()
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