EDQ Quarterly Newsletter Spring 2014 | Page 3

CONTENTS Spring 2014 IN EVERY ISSUE: Letter from the Director 4 Quarter Rewind 5 Featured Property 14 Meet the Staff 5 Caterpillar 6 Airport Runway Extension Update 8 ON OUR COVER: Georgia Theatre Our department may be small but we would like to introduce to you the folks who make it possible. The Georgia Theatre is a prominent music venue in Athens, Georgia, located in an old cinema that began as the YMCA in 1889 and later became the Elite Theater movie house and Majestic Hotel and 1889 later the Masonic Temple. It also served as the United Methodist Church in the 60’s until 1977 when it was turned into a concert hall. Many prominent acts from the early music of Athens performed at the Theatre, including a range of folk, popular and country acts. The Police played a show at the Theatre in 1979, on their first American tour. There’s a new kid in town and he’s ready to make new friends. In subsequent years, it has been the host to many shows including shows featuring members of R.E.M., Widespread Panic, Beck, Warren Zevon, Umphreys McGee, and Dave Matthews Band. The Derek Trucks Band recorded their 1953 2004 concert album Live at Georgia Theatre at the venue. On the morning of June 19, 2009, a major fire erupted in the Georgia Theatre, inflicting severe damage to the building, including a roof collapse. The Georgia Theatre underwent renovations in 2010 and 2011 and reopened August 1, 2011. The newly renovated Georgia Theater is designed to be a concert venue with a state-of-the-art sound system and numerous acoustic improvements; together with improved seating, two balconies, and an open air roof area with a full bar and comfortable patio seating. Contact the Department Athens-Clarke County Economic Development Department 246 W. Hancock Ave., Athens, GA 30601 706-613-3233 www.AthensBusiness.org Increased safety and better efficiency are the top goals for this project. Are you AthensMade? 11 VIP Visitors 12 Kroger Marketplace 13 This new campaign hopes to promote business in Athens and the people behind it. The EDD hosted 32 International Consulates gave them a small taste of Athens, literally. The landscaping of northeast Athens is beginning to change, for the better. Publisher Denise Plemmons Contributors Marcie Hunter Jeff Montgomery Ryan Moore 2009 Join us online! #AthensGAUSA 3 3