Atlanta: Reynoldstown Neighborhood Guide
Discover Atlanta’s Reynoldstown neighborhood with this local guide. You will find the best places to eat, drink, and play in this Eastside Beltline neighborhood. The popular rails-to-trails initiative reimagines the neighborhood’s industrial past into new spaces fitting for modern life. An incredible example of adaptive reuse at its best is Reynoldstown’s popular new Beltline restaurant, Breaker Breaker. The reconfigured Stein Steel Factory is now home to the restaurant and its rooftop bar, Florida Man.
History of Atlanta’s Reynoldstown
Post Civil War Reynoldstown
Following the Civil War, freed slaves established Reynoldstown in the 1870s. It was one of Atlanta’s earliest African American communities. Most residents worked at the nearby railroad rebuilding the tracks destroyed during the war. They built Hulsey Yard, which still borders the northern side of the neighborhood. The men who worked in the yard earned the nicknamed the Hulsey Helpers. Women typically crossed the train tracks to work as domestic labor in the Inman Park neighborhood.
Wylie Street, Chester Avenue, Selman Street and Kenyon Street make up the heart of the original settlement. This area was known as, “Tin Cup Alley.” The historic homes in this area date from the 1880s. The neighborhood is named after early residents Madison and Sarah Reynolds, who ran a store on Wylie Street. Their son, Isaiah P. Reynolds, built a prominent 2-story brick store. The commercial building still stands on the Atlanta Beltline at 912 Wylie Street SE.
Early 20th Century Reynoldstown
The Atlanta Street Railroad Company built a new horse drawn trolley route connecting downtown Atlanta to Reynoldstown. The new route attracted the attention of developers. Asa Cander and others built new homes for white families east of Flat Shoals Avenue. They constructed these houses between 1905 and 1930. The City of Atlanta annexed the neighborhood in 1909. Houses were sited close together with small yards. The main amenity was access to the streetcar. Planners did not consider automobiles at this time.
Post World War II Reynoldstown
Following World War II, white military veterans made use of VA loans to purchase homes in the suburbs. While the Reynoldstown neighborhood had been racial mixed, it became a predominantly African American neighborhood by 1960.
Reynoldstown Today
Today’s Reynoldstown brings together the best of the past and the present. The neighborhood is alive – it is practically reverberating. Historic homes are being renovated and revitalized. New homes are under construction near the Atlanta Beltline. New apartments – particularly along the Memorial Drive corridor – abound. The influx of new neighbors builds community and supports restaurants, retail and the neighborhood farmer’s market.
The Reynoldstown neighborhood that we know today began evolving in the 1990s as the City of Atlanta prepared to host the 1996 Olympic Games. The Reynoldstown Revitalization Corporation stepped in to support the neighborhood through homeowner and homebuyer resources. The organization continues to educate homeowners on topics including personal finances, home loans, and construction renovation loans.
Look for the Reynoldstown on the Rise logo which represents Atlanta’s Reynoldstown neighborhood and the Reynoldstown Civic Improvement League. The Reynoldstown Historic District claimed a place on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003; however, the residents chose not to create historic district construction guidelines. They wanted the neighborhood to stay approachable.
Atlanta’s Reynoldstown Restaurants & Retail
Scattered Retail
My favorite places to visit in Reynoldstown are scattered throughout the neighborhood. Check out these local businesses if you are looking to grab a coffee or a bite to eat in the neighborhood.
- Home Grown GA Restaurant – one of the BEST breakfast spots in Atlanta
- Muchacho – Mexican restaurant in the Atlanta & West Point Raiway’s historic Ormewood Train Depot along the Beltline
- Breaker Breaker and Florida Man – in the former Stein Steel factory along the Beltline
- Wylie & Rum Island Grill – Caribbean cuisine on Moreland Ave
- Reynolds Makery & Pulperia – coffee shop and snow cones
- Park Grounds – coffee shop that also serves food in the Flat Shoals Commercial District
- Con Leche Coffee
Atlanta Dairies
The Atlanta Dairies is another reimagined industrial complex in Reynoldstown. On the south side of Memorial Drive, the original Atlanta Dairies delivered milk across southeast Atlanta. It was most recently home to Parmalat Dairies. The building suffered damage in the 2008 Atlanta tornado and Parmalat closed. The original dairy building was redesigned as the Mixed-Use community that is know today at the Atlanta Dairies. There are restaurants, bars, and a music venue surrounded by new residential apartments. My husband and I enjoy visiting these venues for date nights.
- Small Fry – check their Instagram account to find out what is happening today
- get the Chicken Parm if it is available!
- Three Taverns Imaginarium
- El Malo
Madison Yards
This is a new development along the Atlanta Beltline’s east side. Madison Yards is anchored by a Publix grocery store. You will also find a movie theater, restaurants, retail, and exercise venues in addition to new residential apartments.
Greenspaces in Atlanta’s Reynoldstown
Lang-Carson Park & Recreation Center
In 2019, the Friends of Lang-Carson Park won a grant to revitalize the park and the recreation center. Be sure to check out the new playground installed in March 2025. The tower and slide structure look like so much fun! This park also features a covered basketball court, which is a great place to stay cool in the shade or escape from the rain. Someone is always playing here when I pass the park.
The Atlanta Beltline
The Atlanta Beltline is a rails-to-trails initiative. The project reclaimed the former railroad right of way looping around the center of Atlanta. It currently features a pedestrian and bicycle path that rings the city. Fun retail and restaurant destinations along with public art installations line the trail. This is an excellent place for people watching. I think of it as a people superhighway.
The Beltline runs right through the middle of Reynoldstown. It connects the neighborhood to the adjacent Cabbagetown neighborhood to the west and the Inman Park neighborhood on the north side of the Krog Street Tunnel. The Beltline connects Reynoldstown to the Glenwood Park neighborhood south of I-20.
Stumpery Garden on the Beltline
You can find the Stumpery Garden, part of the Atlanta Beltline Arboretum, along the Eastside Trail between Kirkwood Ave and Wylie Street. It is an artistic collection of repurposed logs, tree roots collected from construction sites around the city, and plants.
Arts & Culture in Atlanta’s Reynoldstown
Reynoldstown Farmer’s Market
Stop by the Reynoldstown Farmer’s Market on Sunday mornings between mid-April and the end of October. The event is held in the Lang-Carson Recreation Center rain or shine. You can walk here from any point in the neighborhood to purchase fresh local fruits and vegetables. Or participate in wellness classes or activities!
The Eastern
This cutting-edge indoor concert venue opened in 2021 on the south side of Memorial Drive. Plan to see a show with incredible acoustics at the Eastern. Grab a meal in Reynoldstown beforehand or bring something with you to eat on the Atlanta Dairies’ lawn before heading inside. Or if you are running short on time, grab drinks plus a bite to eat on the Eastern’s rooftop. Seating options vary with each show. Two paid parking decks are located near the venue.
Street Art
Like its intown neighbors, Reynoldstown is a haven for local street art and murals. You will find these gems throughout the neighborhood and along the Beltline. The wall that separates the neighborhood from the train tracks is prime space for murals. Street art is a living, breathing thing that continues to evolve. Check out the street art maps of the Reynoldstown neighborhood and the Beltline, but don’t be surprised if you find something new!
Walking Tours
Check out upcoming walking tours from the Atlanta Preservation Center. They occasionally offer walking tours of the Reynoldstown neighborhood. There will definitely be a few opportunities to join a tour during the Phoenix Flies event during the month of March.
Signature Events in Atlanta’s Reynoldstown
Wheelbarrow Festival
Each September the Reynoldstown Civic Improvement League hosts the Wheelbarrow Festival in Lang-Carson Park. At this family-friendly event, you can find good food to eat, music, and art. Don’t forget to register for the corn hole and pickleball tournaments!
How to get to Atlanta’s Reynoldstown
Driving
This neighborhood is easily accessible from the Downtown Connector (I-75/I-85) and I-20.
Ride Share: Uber or Lyft
Give your driver a specific address in Reynoldstown or simply have them take you to Lang-Carson Park. Taking a ride share means that you don’t have to worry about parking!
Public Transportation: MARTA
- MARTA Train to Inman Park/Reynoldstown Station – the blue and green line
- MARTA Bus Route 21– Memorial Drive
- MARTA Bus Route 107 – Glenwood
- MARTA Bus Route 4 – Moreland Ave
The Atlanta Beltline
Walk, jog or bike on the Atlanta Beltline to or through Reynoldstown!
Hanging out in Atlanta’s Reynoldstown
Step off the Atlanta Beltline and explore everything that the Reynoldstown neighborhood has to offer! Grab a drink at one of the neighborhood’s many coffee shops or enjoy a meal or a concert. Wander through this historic neighborhood and explore its street art on foot.
Have you spent time in Reynoldstown or are you planning to visit? Let me know your favorite neighborhood spots in the comments!
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