Opened in 1960, jazz club La Carrousel featured mega-famous headliners such as Aretha Franklin. Its other claim to fame: La Carrousel was Atlanta’s first racially integrated nightclub.
The club was part of a larger development that included a motel and Paschal’s restaurant, which originated in 1947 as a small luncheonette. Paschal’s moved to a bigger location in 1959; shortly after, the club was added.
The Paschal’s development played a key role in the civil rights movement. In addition to serving blacks and whites, the restaurant hosted Martin Luther King Jr. and the owners often posted bail for arrested activists.
Please see related story “’Nick’s Flamingo Grill’ debuts at Hertz Stage” in last week’s issue.
– Savanna Sweeney, The 100 Companies