Underground Atlanta is preparing to debut a righteous new entertainment venue this month that leaders are calling a “significant milestone” in the district’s reinvention and revitalization.

Called Altar, the 250-person capacity room will include a food component with a walk-up window and seating beyond its doors that's meant to help activate historic Kenny’s Alley, while making the overall project more of a draw for locals and tourists.

Performances at Altar will be curated by The Masquerade—which is celebrating its 35th year in business in 2024—and include a lineup of local and nationally touring musicians. A comedy weekend each month curated by Atlanta Comedy Club’s former owners is also planned for Altar. 

Altar is considered a fourth room for The Masquerade’s mortality-themed trifecta: Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory.

Features will include “awe-inspiring architecture” and state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems, according to Underground leadership.

The Altar facade. Courtesy of Underground Atlanta

Altar will also be Underground’s first venue to offer a full kitchen (with health-focused, plant-based options included). The arrangement calls for the walk-up window and tables placed in Kenny’s Alley to help create a festive atmosphere.  

Onsite activations and a performance by artist Anthony Green are scheduled the evening of March 20 at Underground Atlanta as an official celebration of Altar’s opening.

Inside Underground's Heaven venue in 2023; expect more "awe-inspiring architecture" with Altar, according to project leaders. (Photos are pending). Courtesy of Underground Atlanta; photography by Desoto Photo

Courtesy of Underground Atlanta

In other Underground news, project officials say renovations continue on the former Dante’s Down the Hatch space and that MJQ Concourse is on pace to open there sometime this year.

Other concepts operating at Underground include the Pigalle Theatre and Speakeasy opened last year by Paris on Ponce vets, YELLE Beauty, Dancing Crepes, Daiquiriville (a 2,200 square-foot indoor/outdoor restaurant and bar with karaoke and other entertainment), and Peach Museum, an “18-and-over, adult-themed selfie experience” by the founders of the Original Selfie Museum. 

Also open are The Frisky Whisker, described as “an off-the-wall cat lounge, art space, and listening sound gallery,” Dolo’s Pizza Co, two-story, 14,000-square-foot Future Showbar and Restaurant, and ice cream parlor iScream Ice Cream.

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