Downtown Atlanta between University Center and the sporting and convention district is situated a gem in the history of Atlanta Black Businesses. In 1947, brothers: James and Robert Paschal opened a 30-seat diner on West Hunter Street, now known as Martin Luther King Jr. Drive to serve “down-home” soul food cuisine to Morehouse, Spelman, Clark, Atlanta University and Morris Brown students. It was their way of providing them a home cooked meal away from home. Very soon, their crispy fried chicken became their hit feature dish alongside other soul food staples: collard greens, macaroni and cheese, candied yams, black-eyed peas and sweet tea.
At this time, The City of Atlanta was thoroughly segregated. Jim Crow was the law of the land, and the Paschal brother’s new restaurant, “Paschal’s” shortly became one of the few venues where “coloreds”, as was the term of the day, could dine with dignity in an establishment created from resources within their own community. Imagine what this did for Blacks who had to endure humiliating treatment while shopping downtown at Rich’s Department Store now part of the Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center. But the Paschal Brothers just wanted to open up a restaurant and somehow Jim Crow happened to serve their bottom line and the provide them the opportunity to serve something more than just food. They served dignity. Throughout the 1950’s Paschal’s became an established feature in the social life of Atlanta’s Black community leaders, pastors, Atlanta University Center faculty and members of the business community.
In 1959, they expanded into a motel lodge and restaurant to host visiting parents of Atlanta University Center students. In 1962, a young man walked up to James Paschal and told him that his name was Martin King, and he was trying to find a place to meet. He said he didn’t have any money to really pay for a room or pay for anything, but he wanted to start a coalition. He asked if he could bring his team members and guests to Paschal’s to eat, meet, rest, plan and strategize. By this time, the young man had made a name for himself as one of the primary ring leaders of the successful Montgomery Bus Boycott and son of locally renowned and respected Rev. Martin Luther King Sr. “Daddy King” of prominent Ebenezer Baptist Church. With honor, his requests were obliged. Right there, some of planning of the 1963 March on Washington took place at Paschal’s. As sit-ins and demonstrations among the youth led by C.O.R.E and S.N.C.C. began to ramp up throughout the 1960’s and young nonviolent soldiers “filled the jails”, after they were bailed out, they were safely put up in Paschal’s motor lodge rooms and fed until they could be reunited with their parents. But the Paschal brothers only wanted to open up a restaurant.
In addition to becoming Patron Saints of Atlanta’s local civil rights movement, the Paschal Brothers also took many local youths under their wing whom they employed and not only taught them how to prepare savory soul food dishes, but also disciplined them in work ethic and business acumen. Many where Atlanta University students working their part time for spending cash and others paying their way through school. The Paschal brothers did not want to just use their labor in exchange for cash that would be fleeting. They wanted to pay them back with something more powerful, meaningful, valuable and lasting and that is an understanding of the workings of a business from all aspects, even down to management and accounting. Their community investment was in believing that their employees should not just work to earn, they should also work to learn.
Paschal’s still stands today on 180 Northside Dr entertaining every day folk up to Presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter with delicious Southern Soul Food Cuisine. Atlanta Mayors, Kasim Reed, Shirley Franklin, Andrew Young and Congressman, John Lewis are regular patrons throughout the year along with members of the King family and a host of notable local pastors and faculty members of Atlanta University Center just like in the beginning. Stop by for a taste of history and it is guaranteed that their fried chicken will bring you back again and again.
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