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| The Varsity | |
|---|---|
 | |
 The front exterior of The Varsity | |
 Interactive map of The Varsity | |
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 1928 |
| Food type | Fast food |
| Location | 61 North Avenue NW (original),Atlanta,Georgia, 30308, United States |
| Seating capacity | 800+ inside and 600 cars (Downtown location)[1] |
| Other locations | Hartsfield-Jackson Airport (Atlanta),Kennesaw,Norcross,Dawsonville,Rome,Emerson (Varsity Jr)--all in Georgia |
| Website | Official website |
The Varsity is arestaurant chain inAtlanta,Georgia.[2] The main branch of the chain was the largestdrive-infast food restaurant in the world,[3] taking up two city blocks and accommodating up to 800 diners. The main location ended car-side service in 2020.[4] There are now seven other branches acrossmetropolitan Atlanta.[5]
Originally named "The Yellow Jacket", The Varsity was established in 1928 at the corner of Luckie Street and Hemphill Avenue inMidtown Atlanta.[6] Its founder,Frank Gordy[7] ofThomaston, Georgia, aReinhardt University graduate, briefly attended TheGeorgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), studyingindustrial management. Popular legend states that Gordy dropped out, but according to Janice McDonald, he actually transferred toOglethorpe College.[8] As the business grew, Gordy was forced to move the restaurant to 61North Avenue (on the northwest corner of Spring Street). To accommodate the crowds, the present structure now covers two city blocks. It was here that the name was changed to "The Varsity," reflecting his desire to expand to other college campuses. During the drive-in era, The Varsity began its curbside service. The Atlanta location ceased offering curbside service in July 2020[9] but later reintroduced it in September of that year, in modified form.[10]
The current location in Atlanta is now adjacent to theDowntown Connector's interchange with North Avenue. When that freeway (now I-75/85) was built byGDOT, it took out several blocks ofWilliams Street and much of The Varsity's westernparking lot, forcing aparking garage to be erected as a replacement. The restaurant and the Georgia Tech campus sit on opposite sides of the Connector, linked by the North Avenue bridge.[11]
The enterprise has since expanded all around the state of Georgia. They include the cities ofBethlehem,Cartersville,Dawsonville,Kennesaw,Norcross,Rome, andWatkinsville. Former Varsity locations include the cities ofAthens andAlpharetta.[12][13] The first Athens location opened in 1932 at the corner of East Broad Street and College Avenue but was closed around the late 1970s. Another Athens location opened further west on West Broad Street near Milledge Avenue in the 1960s. The latter location is scheduled[update] for demolition in 2021. The Varsity location in Athens closed in June 2021,[14] though the company hinted that it might return to Athens.[15][16] The Alpharetta location closed on February 1, 2016,[17] as it had become unprofitable,[18] and the building has since been demolished.[19] In 2023, a new Varsity opened inBethlehem.[20] During that same year, construction for a location inRome began. Although it was supposed to be open by the end of the year, the Rome location opened in Spring 2024.[21]
The Varsity, Jr., located in northeast Atlanta, was the only other location of the chain to offer curbside service. The Varsity, Jr. closed in August 2010, having been at that location for more than 40 years, after the city of Atlanta did not approve the chain's plans to replace that building. The plans for the new Varsity, Jr. were instead used for the new location inDawsonville. The restaurant offerscatering services to themetro Atlanta region for both corporate and non-corporate functions, going as far east asConyers andStone Mountain, Georgia.[citation needed]
There is also a mini-Varsity on the campus of Reinhardt University inWaleska, Georgia. Frank Gordy met his wife, Evelyn, at Reinhardt in 1924 and went on to Georgia Tech to finish his education. Their custom-designed home was later moved from Atlanta to the Reinhardt University campus. The Gordy family gave part of their land toCobb County for what is now theMountain View campus ofChattahoochee Technical College and the Mountain View Aquatics Center, the rest was sold in the 1990s for upscaletract housing andstrip malls. Gordy Parkway, a loop named for Frank Gordy, serves all of these.[citation needed]
One of the best-known employees at the Varsity was Erby Walker, who worked there for 45 years until he died in 2008. He started at the Varsity at the age of 15 sweeping floors, and was nearly fired on the first day, but soon graduated to the kitchen. Mr. Walker was noted for his ability to move the service line quickly, especially during the rush period right before aGeorgia Tech football game. His signature catchphrase was, "Have your money out and your food on your mind, and I'll getcha to the game on time!" He retired in 2003, but came back three weeks later. That year Walker was inducted into the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau Hospitality Hall of Fame.[22]
ComedianNipsey Russell began his entertainment career at The Varsity in the 1940s as acarhop. The creative and resourceful Russell would dress in a flamboyant style and pepper his order-taking duties with jokes and amusing songs, thereby earning him extra tips.[23]U.S. presidentsJimmy Carter,George H. W. Bush,[24]Bill Clinton andBarack Obama all visited The Varsity during their terms in office.[25]Mad artistJack Davis has done advertising for The Varsity.
The Varsity was featured in the PBS documentaryA Hot Dog Program byRick Sebak.[26] It also appeared in the movieWe Are Marshall while the coaches arerecruiting players.
The Varsity bills itself as "The World’s Largest Drive-in Restaurant."[27] According to the Atlanta History Center, The Varsity receives over 30,000 people on days when afootball game is playing.[28] The restaurant receives several more visitors during Supercross Saturday and on Saturdays in July in general.[29]
In 1996, The Varsity stated that it served over 5,000 fried fruit pies, two miles of hotdogs, 300 gallons of chili, 2,500 pounds of potatoes and 2,000 pounds of onions every day. It also described itself as the largest seller of Coca-Cola in the world.[30] In 1998,The Baltimore Sun reported that the restaurant sold over 12,000 hotdogs a day and could deliver over 1,000 hotdogs a minute via conveyor belt.[31] In August 2018,Garden & Gun reported that the restaurant could manufacture up to 2,400 fried fruit pies an hour.[32]
There is a Varsity location at the Atlanta airport; it does not accept cash.[citation needed]
Erby Walker was inducted into the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau Hospitality Hall of Fame in 2003. This photo was taken at The Varsity in the 1970s.
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