Cheshire Bridge Road is a mainly north–south thoroughfare of Atlanta, Georgia, USA traversing the Morningside-Lenox Park and Lindridge-Martin Manor neighborhoods from Piedmont Avenue to Buford Highway just north of Interstate 85."Site of Old Cheshire Bridge", GeorgiaInfo, University of Georgia
While the corridor was originally settled during the 1800s, it was not until the 1950s and 1960s that it rapidly developed as a commercial center dominated by strip malls. Following the massive white flight from Intown Atlanta during the 1970s due to increased desegregation, the corridor became well known for various types of adult entertainment such as sex shops, strip clubs, gay circuit parties, and gay nightclubs that had moved into its abandoned retail spaces."History", Lindridge-Martin Manor Neighbors Association The area has been noted as a landmark in the LGBT history of Georgia."Cheshire Bridge Road Study", 1999, City of Atlanta Department of Planning, Development and Neighborhood Conservation, Bureau of Planning In conjunction with the Cheshire Bridge Road Task Force
Since the 2000s, urban redevelopment projects and gentrification have challenged the legacy of the area. In 2005, the Atlanta City Council banned new adult businesses from opening on Cheshire Bridge Road but existing ones were allowed to stay. However, new high-density residential developments have become more common in recent years in the area which pressured some of those existing adult businesses and nightclubs to close or relocate.
History Origins White settlers originally settled the corridor in the 1820s. Two of these early settlers were Napoleon and Jerome Cheshire, two brothers who owned farms on opposite sides of South Fork of Peachtree Creek, and connected their farms by a bridge known as the Cheshire Bridge, giving the road its name.
The area remained agricultural until the early 20th century. At that time suburban development encroached from Atlanta to the south, in today's Morningside neighborhood. By the 1960s the entire area was suburban.
Possible "cleanup" of Cheshire Bridge In 2005, the city banned new adult businesses on Cheshire Bridge, but existing ones were allowed to stay."Clean up Cheshire Bridge?", Creative Loafing, May 8, 2013
In 2013, councilman Alex Wan introduced legislation, supported by neighborhood associations and NPU F,Max Blau, "Residents OK Cheshire Bridge plan to gently give adult businesses the boot", Creative Loafing, April 16, 2013 to remove existing adult businesses from Cheshire Bridge by 2018, but this was not passed, opposed by a mix of gays, strippers and Atlanta's real estate interests – including Scott Selig."Cheshire Bridge Road to remain an “adult” district, if Atlanta City Council upholds ruling by its zoning board" , Saporta Report, May 9, 2013 Some in the gay community wondered if Cheshire Bridge were "sanitized", "where would people go for sexual expression"?Taylor Trimble, "Opinion: Cheshire Bridge is Falling Down" , David Atlanta, March 2013 Matthew Cardinale, the editor and publisher of Atlanta Progressive News, and a resident of the Road, decried "the ongoing project of gentrification, homogenization, sterilization and capitalization of a historic neighborhood", Atlanta's "red-light district".
By 2020, several prominent adult entertainment businesses and gay nightclubs were pressured to close or relocate to make the area more palatable for Atlanta residents and investors seeking to make it more residential and family friendly. However, some area business owners and Atlanta residents have organized to try to preserve the legacy of Cheshire Bridge Road.
Businesses Well known current and former businesses along Cheshire Bridge Road include: Tokyo Valentino Erotique (formerly Inserection) - a sex shop Allure, Onyx, Bliss, and Doll House - straight strip clubsLegal crackdown threatens metro Atlanta strip clubs The Chamber - a BDSM and burlesque centric straight nightclub Cheshire Motor Inn - a motel famous for gay cruising"HOW TO GET LAID BY A MAN: IF YOU ARE ALSO A MAN", DJ Toyota Fest, Vice, December 31, 1999 The Colonnade restaurant - a popular restaurant among "gays and grays""The Colonnade Restaurant" Zagat Roxx Taven - a popular restaurant among gays Bliss Atlanta - a gay strip club B.J. Roosters, Xion, The Heretic and The Jungle - gay nightclubs The Den - a men only private sex club
Amenities Cheshire Farm Trail along South Fork Peachtree Creek"Cheshire Farm Trail", South Fork Conservancy
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