Underground Atlanta Review

This is a cool quirky place in Atlanta. Walk around to get a feel of the small shops.

Dec, 2016. I wish I could give Underground Atlanta a better review. I live within easy walking distance. It has great name recognition and is within a few blocks of a number of major Atlanta attractions. It's also adjacent to the intersection of MARTA's two lines

What is Underground? In the 1800's the area was on a level street grid with the railroads that built Atlanta running through it. Over time sections of street were elevated over the tracks and the streets on the lower level were abandoned. What had been the first floor of building essentially became the basement and the area was vacant. As a result there was an "Upper Alabama St" with a "Lower Alabama St" running under it. "Lower Alabama" eventually became Underground's main concourse and the original storefronts from the 1800's became the new shops.

In the mall's first iteration, from the late 1960's through about 1980, it was primarily a nightclub destination. Atlanta had more lax alcohol laws than the surrounding area so it was the regions premier nightlife destination. As laws changed people stopped coming and it shut down in the early 1980's.

It was redeveloped as a "festival marketplace" / mall and reopened about 1989. It had a variety of souvenir stores along with mainline stores like the Gap, Champs and Sam Goody. With Rich's and Kessler's Department stores and the World of Coke nearby, it initially did well.

Unfortunately the department stores and the original World of Coke closed and it's no longer anyplace I would take my family or in-laws when they visit from the Upper Midwest. Nor is it anywhere I would recommend single women or children visit alone or anyone visit at night. I don't know that it's actually unsafe, but it absolutely has the feeling of a place where petty crime could occur. Particularly on the section of Peachtree that runs beside it. If you've ever exited customs in a third world airport it has that element of "watch your luggage " to it - particularly outside

What's left today is mostly on the Lower Alabama St side - the "Underground" area. It's a collection of athletic shoe and urban wear shops, with a few jewelry and tourist stores thrown in. It's probably 60% occupied. There is also a large, mostly vacant food court with "Chinese" restaurants selling deep fried chicken bits covered in goo, a mostly vacant "Upper Alabama Street" area (the above ground and outside stores) and an entertainment street that is empty with one notable exception: "The Masquerade" - a notable live music venue - has moved in on a temporary basis after it lost its longtime home to condos.

Although it has been years since it was a genuine tourist attraction (its irreversible decline began when the World of Coke moved to Centennial Park and Underground lost its last anchor), when I first moved downtown it served the purpose of a legitimate urban shopping center with shops for the less affluent. However, in the last few years many of those have closed. It was probably as a result of a pending redevelopment and a desire to keep the spaces vacant for whatever comes next.

And that's likely the future of the complex. A developer from SC is expected to close on a deal to buy Underground in Jan, 2017 which will include adjacent parking and the cross streets within the complex. A couple blocks of Alabama and Pryor street were recently"abandoned" by the City so they can be added to the package. That gives the next project about four city blocks of private land to play with, and combined with a related developer who has acquired most of the adjacent properties along Peachtree St, it seems the area is likely to gentrify. The project is expected to include a grocery store, student housing, apartments, and possibly even retail. That makes Underground's future as a tourist attraction seem unlikely. The latest proposal I've seen has even included removing Upper Alabama St and exposing the lower lever to daylight again.

Time will tell, but Underground's days in it's current layout seem numbered. I hope.

I used to like this place a lot more but it's gotten pretty run down

I was there with a friend for the Tobe Nwigwe Concert. This venue was a new experience as far as small venues are concerned. The bathroom was trash, we were in the Masquerade shop. This venue definitely has a multi-use festival feel to it. Definitely worth visit.

Smells Pissy in the parking garage and the public bathroom in the worst way. I grew up in NY in the mid 60's-80's, the smell instantly reminded me of that old NYC subway system before they got it together. Get with it ATL!

This is not real. Lots of homeless around and it's not open right now

This is the worst mall i've ever been too. I went there Feb 17,2017. I seen 3 rats and i was only there for an hour. The shopping places are terrible. If you plan on going this summer watch out for snakes.

Worth seeing once, lots of shops are closed nowadays, feel like a dead Mall

Underground has been closed for over 3yrs. Google needs to update their information

Most store closed all will be closed soon for building renovation

Always enjoy a visit here. Great shopping and dinning

Not like it use to be, everything on lower level is closed

Underground mall closed, but it's a few stores to shop in on the street.

Not like it used to be chinese food ok but they need to bring Underground back alive.

Was ok...many places were closed or out of business....needs a makeover

Waiting on the day Underground Atlanta will be restored to its former glory. Visiting here made me sad. The air was off, there was only 3 vendors in the food court and most of the shops were empty.

Interesting place, several shops and a small food fair, several closed stores

I used to visit the Underground all the time when I was a teenager visiting Atlanta and I loved it back then. It was a great spot to shop and people watch. I think it has slowly gone downhill. I've been to a few clubs out there when I first moved to Atlanta but it's a little dangerous to hang out there now and the place is run down. I wouldn't suggest it.

Yikes! Interesting concept but nothing we will do again. Like a forgotten flea market with a couple recognizable stores.

Loved this area! Ton of different shops to stop at. We went to 'The Masquerade ' for a concert and could not have had a better time.

A beautiful building of what seams to be the remains of what used to be a popular shopping mall. Felt really worn down and cheap.

There not much around underground. The surrounding area needs so much. I only come down for the masquerade. There's no other reason to be down there.

Just close it all down. Most of it is already anyway. No public restrooms, and no good restaurants. A waste of real estate space.

Have never been to underground Atlanta but from what I can see from Afar it is Truly THUG CITY

The underground is historic and worth the see. But don't go walking around outside.

Atlanta sold it 2.5 years ago!
no 2020 peach drop !

Went to the mascarade and really enjoyed it. The parking situation is much better than before. The venue still feels like the mascarade, minus the old shaking floor. Underground Atl seemed pretty nice, better than what I remembered. The alley was open, so it wasnt dark. We will be back to check it out more thoroughly sometime soon.

No good stores.. no good food. The whole idea of haveing a block of stores and restaurants undeground sounds pretty cool but come to find out its not... its sucks, don't waste your time

A very interesting place to see, not much interest in actually shopping here but a landmark in Atlanta that deserves to be seen.

Nothing to see.

Just a small mall in a historic place...

If you have anything to pass by, go and don't deliberately go there~

One of the really disappointing places .

Atl stand for another tiddy loose lol!! Good food cheap clothes!! Got a guy that can draw going towards back by the bathroom!! Good soul food!! They better not close this place there will be a lot of violence in the city!! Good old freak nik days Atl best!!

I loved the fact that no matter where you are, the band and the public are very close, sound and light show was great and it felt very private to be an open space.

I love it here! Got a chance to finally see the Peach, didn't see it actually drop for the last time at this location, but at least i got a chance to see it! The retail has decreased over the years, but its still nice to visit. #detroitchic

I traveled to the ATL for a family reunion. I enjoyed myself. Alot of pics and hugging.

I wouldn't call it a tourist attraction by any stretch of the imagination. The property is spacious, but the mall concept is very outdated. Mostly, I've use it as a pass thru, if i get caught in bad weather during my daily walks. The food court is ok. The overall atmosphere is dark and sad.

Looks like one big abandoned flee market. I was truly disappointed. Nor did I feel safe.

Almost completely abandoned which is sad because it has the potential to be amazing

Awesome venue. Always something going on any day of the week. There are three stages - Heaven the biggest, Hell medium two story, and purgatory the smallest. Picture is from purgatory - almost always front row space available.

This place has really turned into a dump! Don't waste your time

We love living so close to the Mall of Georgia! It has everything we need to meet our shopping needs. Great stores, restaurants and plenty of secure parking

The place has closed down and left the store above the ground. It feels like a ghost town now. Not sure what happen but there is no notice of closed down either.

Take off the map it definitely not what at all I expected

We went here to see K Flay I just loved this intimate venue

Didn't really like underground Atlanta , needs to be updated

We didn't like the fact that there was almost nothing but jewelry and clothing stores. A few years back it was so much more nice with more eateries. Now not so much

I had fun the first day I visited this place. Fair prices on different commodities and I loved all.

Awesome Place - friendly and with top notch customer service too!!!

I think they are trying to build this area up again. The Masquerade is there now but it's still on the sketchy side. We felt on edge leaving and trying to find a place to eat while there. The venue building itself was nice (we were in hell).

There's many stores it a historic place but it was a lot of drug dealers and crime

You can not just sit outside and enjoy the fresh air anymore. Security harasses you and tells you that in 30 minutes you have to move. Why have music playing outside if a person can't sit and enjoy it???!!!! They shutdown the water fall out front. There are barely any stores inside or outside anymore. The ones that are uber expensive!! And what they are selling is not worth the money. Underground is not the fun destination it used to be. I was so disappointed. Do not plan to visit again anytime soon.

Step it up Underground - this used to be the spot but now I just don't stop

There's a few shop's in there to shop at. Not like it used to be