The Revival of Mary-Mac's Tea Room

How Atlanta’s dining room plans to reopen after catastrophe. 

By: Janiya Ansah

Photo Credit to Matthew Wong/Eater Atlanta

Four in the morning marked the time Chad Reynolds received a call from the Atlanta Police Department, informing him to come to the scene of a catastrophe at Mary Macs Tea Room. Heavy rainfall from the previous night had caused the roof to collapse in one of its infamous dining rooms, The skyline room. The dining room was one of seven dining rooms and accompanied many hungry customers. When Chad arrived at the scene, nine police cars circled the building. “Is anybody in there? Is everybody okay?” He asked officers amid shock.

Normally, the morning crew would be making it inside to begin prepping fixings such as collard greens, black-eyed peas, and pot roast for the evening crowd. Luckily, nobody was in the building at the time of the tragedy. When Chad found out that nobody had been injured and the surrounding buildings were unaffected–he immediately spoke with police officers and Georgia Power to get the power lines shut off and the tower removed. He then began brainstorming on how he was going to take care of the 150 employees who were now unable to work. Mainly ensuring that workers would be accommodated during this downtime. 

Chad Reynolds became the local owner of Mary Macs Tea Room in November 2020, during the rise of the pandemic. He’s one of four owners throughout the history of the restaurant who have continued the 78-year-long legacy. Mary Macs Tea Room has been labeled “Atlanta’s dining room” and is one of the last standing tea rooms in Intown Atlanta. The legacy of the restaurant is compromised into Southern cuisine, hospitality, and history. 

It’s one of the first places tourists stop to get a glimpse into the evolution of Atlanta and the restaurant's traditions that have remained the same since they first opened their doors in 1945. Ponce De Leon Ave is the home and heart of Atlanta’s most thriving businesses such as Krispy Kreme, Papi’s Cuban & Caribbean Grill, and Boogalou.

Despite being in the middle of other thriving restaurants, the surrounding community has continued to ask for a re-opening date. Others have taken to social media to discuss their experiences at the restaurant and improvements they’d like to see before the re-opening. 

“Lord, the building is so old and I don’t think they were trying to keep it up properly either because I just ate there and it smelled old when I walked in. Also, the food does not hit the same anymore. They have switched up how they prepare their food as well. They don’t include the little cinnamon rolls in their bread assortment anymore either.” One social media user wrote under the comment section of the ATLScoop Instagram. 

While Chad didn’t feel it was necessary to respond to this comment or similar comments on the page, he’s taken the opportunity to make improvements to the restaurant during its temporary closure. 

“This is going to be a big surprise for the community and team members, there’ll be the new carpet throughout, new to the core, and really just celebrating the legacy of Atlanta. New paint, new carpet, and decor that really, really, really brings the authenticity of Mary Macs and the city of Atlanta together.” 

While the date of reopening is still up in the air, the immense effort from Chad and surrounding community partnerships has pushed the process in a positive direction. With 1.9 million people around the world asking for a timeframe, Chad expresses that the wait will be worth it.