The Colonnade, Atlanta’s second-oldest restaurant, is partnering with Ardmore Avenue Publishing to release a commemorative book ahead of the restaurant’s 100th anniversary. The book will be released ahead of the 2027 celebration and will be available for pre-order in late 2026.
For nearly a century, The Colonnade, currently operating on Chesire Bridge Road in Atlanta, has been a gathering place for classic Southern dishes. Through a change in location, a world war, a building fire, two bridge fires, a global pandemic and several ownership transitions, it has stood the test of time. The 98-year-old restaurant holds decades of history, memories and stories that the new owners now plan to officially document.
To help capture that story, Ardmore Avenue publisher and longtime Atlanta journalist, Rich Eldredge, and The Colonnade owners Paul Donahue and Lewis Jeffries, have created a public Facebook group where fans and longtime patrons can contribute personal memories, photos and help piece together decades of history for the upcoming book. The Facebook group is named “Memories of Atlanta’s Colonnade” and is open to the public.
Ardmore, an Atlanta-based independent press dedicated to the art of storytelling, also plans to host storyteller sessions at The Colonnade during which guests will be invited to share their stories for consideration in the 100th anniversary book.
“As an Atlanta reporter, I’ve written about the iconic Colonnade many times through the years,” says Eldredge. “It’s also one of my favorite places in the city to meet up with friends for dinner. It’s an honor to collaborate with Lewis and Paul to finally tell The Colonnade’s fascinating story in book form as part of its centennial celebration.”
Ardmore Avenue’s chief creative officer and co-founder Paolo Aguila adds, “By showcasing 100 years of archival images, along with guest and staff memories, plus The Colonnade’s unique history as a Hollywood movie location, our goal is to capture the fun of a night out at The Colonnade in a gorgeous commemorative coffee table book you’ll want to share with friends.”
Donahue and Jeffries spent more than 30 years as loyal patrons of the restaurant before deciding to purchase The Colonnade in September 2024. “When Rich approached us with the idea of creating a book, we were moved,” Donahue says. “We never imagined that one day we’d have the privilege of preserving The Colonnade’s legacy ourselves.”
