Mary Mac’s Tea Room will mark its 80th anniversary on Monday, October 20. The restaurant, which first opened in 1945 on Ponce de Leon Avenue, has expanded from a single dining room seating 75 to a facility with six dining rooms and a full-service bar spanning 13,000 square feet.
Despite its growth and recent renovations—including updated décor, new paint, and carpeting—the establishment continues the traditions set by founder Mary MacKenzie and her successor Margaret Lupo. These include baking desserts in-house and preparing vegetables by hand.
General manager Tina Leftwich commented on the restaurant’s approach: “Mary’s Mac’s has always been about family, tradition and creating memories. For years, long waits were a by-product of our success, but we’ve worked hard to make sure today’s guests can count on less waiting.”
Mary Mac’s has served many Atlantans as well as notable figures such as the Dalai Lama, James Brown, Alan Jackson, former President Jimmy Carter, and Congressman John Lewis. The State of Georgia recognized the establishment with an official resolution naming it “Atlanta’s Dining Room.”
