Andrew Young

Leave a comment Posted on 1980

Racism at the Soul Food Municipal Market: The 1980s

More Renovation


After overcoming a rough decade in the 1970s, the 1980s weren’t much better. It was another ten years of arguments for why the market should be closed. As well as the constant plans for improvement that were seen throughout the history of the Market.

Andrew Young, who saved the Market in the 70s, fought for the Market again, he argued, “The Municipal Market is really an institution in this city. We are hoping to expand it both in size and in concept to see if we can’t make it more of a focal point of activity and to see if it can serve as a bridge between Underground Atlanta, Auburn Avenue and the Martin Luther King historic district.” The proposal was for the Market to buy land across Edgewood Ave from the Market in order to build a new market and parking. The current Market was to be upgraded and remain part of the Market. The City Council said it would only approve the expansion if the neighborhood agreed of the changes. The key part of the upgrade was to add parking underneath the downtown connector. Community members fought against the expansion because it would possibly destroy the Herndon Building.

Racism at the Market

Tenant makeup and race became a major issue among the Market. Black tenants became more and more outspoken about racism in the Market. Former Mayor, Bill Campbell, councilman at the time, said he was concerned as were shoppers. By 1988, a task force had been developed in order to investigate the instances of racism. Black shop owners were often regulated to the basement where complaints of smells, blood in the hallways from above, and other physical issues were large complaints. Other complaints were that the white and Asian merchants were treated better, they were allowed more time to pay rent, better marketing and timely repairs.

One tenant, Bayou Sulaimon, attempted to speak out, but he was asked to leave and eventually was evicted. He wrote to the Health and Fire departments, as well as met with city council members. He wrote about rodents, extermination, fire hazards, and water leaking into the basement from upstairs. “It was a mess. This was in the middle of the hallway for three hours and that meant no business for three hours,” Sulaimon referring to bloody water gathering in the hallway from the ceiling above. After seven months of him fighting, the Board of Directors of the Market filed a Dispossessory Action against Sulaimon in 1987. The action claimed that he had not paid rent in seven months and that he had no rental agreement which bound him there. Wayne Bond, attorney for the Market claimed that, “since they have no lease, the management’s policy is that if they don’t like it, they can leave, which he was asked to do.” Other tenants supported Suleiman, claiming that the Market charges indiscriminate amounts for rent. “If their rent’s paid up, what else can it be?” questioned another shop owner Inez Stargell, “This isn’t right.” While the market claimed that he had enough notice before being evicted, Sulaimon claimed otherwise, stating that he was told by another tenant that all his merchandise had been put on the road.

Campbell said without the complaints the city council would never had known there was a problem and worked to change them. The board did retaliate against Suleiman, after the task force found that the entire board should be fired. The goods from the shop, Curio Shop were put out on the streets. Campbell believed the action to be in retaliation before the Board could be fired. he said, “we asked several times that the eviction action be halted because I think a number of us involved with the task force thought that the action was punitive.”

The Sulaimons weren’t the only ones who felt the mew management was inadequate. The management took over in 1974 after the renewal of the lease. The vendors were given surveys at the request of the task force. All the vendors that did them asked for anonymity so that there could not be reprisals.

Leave a comment Posted on 1970

The Largest Soul Food Market Fights Through the 1970s

50th Anniversary and Ending of the Lease


As the Market approached its 50th anniversary and the end of its lease with the city turmoil was spinning. As early as 1971 Mayor Sam Massell had announced the city would not renew the lease. Massell argued that the Market had outlived its usefulness. He claimed that the city should be receiving at least $100,000 a year, but never received any sort of revenue other than business license and taxes from tenants. Massell argued that the sole purpose of the market was to provide a place for farmers to bring their goods to sell, but given the earlier published articles from the time of the opening of the market the purpose was to allow a place for housewives and others to shop for local foods. Sam Massell also argued that there were “no farmers working there today.” He believed that it was unfair to use city funds for the market and those should go towards an airport or library because “more people use such facilities.” He went so far as to say it would make a great location for a transportation depot. The people of the city worked hard to save the market. State Representative E.J. Shepherd called for a meeting of citizens at his restaurant, which was across from the market. He asked residents to pray for the market. Kilpatrick, manager of the Market Association, said that he had the support of 43 tenants to undertake raising the $100,000 needed to update the Market. Massell changed his mind in Feburary of 1973, recommending that the there be a 10 year lease, he said “First, there was an outpouring of sentiment on the part of Atlantans generally that the market be continued. Second, I am convinced that with proper management and promotion, the market can become a public attraction in the manner of Underground Atlanta. Several other cities across the country have successfully developed and promoted their old public markets in this manner.” Under the proposed agreement there would be a Municipal Company with a Board that would run the whole Market.

Rats and the USDA


The first article to mention the state of the health and safety of the market was in reference to renewing the lease. Massell claimed that there were large rats in the basement, the same basement that housed the Black tenants. In 1974, a year after the lease was renewed, the USDA ordered for the market to close. The U.S. government blamed the market’s issues on widespread rat infestation. According to the lawsuit, investigators found “rodent defilement of food.” They further claimed numerous live rats and mice as well as raw sewage that overflowed on the floor.

Board members of the market felt that the US was going to far. They claimed that there was a million dollar renovation plan to be signed a week after the notice. Further some felt that, while yes, there was a problem, it was being fixed before the USDA signed the notice. The FDA asked for an injunction for the Market to close until the problem was eliminated and the area was made suitable for storage and sale of food.

Andrew Young, Congressman at the time, vowed to keep the Market alive. Young said of the market, “this market has been an institution in this community for so long. I shop here for meats and fish and vegetables.” Many felt that the FDA was motivated by political pressure to move quickly on the court order. According to Jackson, there were rumors that a member of the board wanted the Market closed so he could build his own.

A study was completed by Georgia State regarding the viability of the Market, but this was never released and the officials in charge of the study were told to never reveal the contents. Instead a board of directors was appointed. Mayor Maynard Jackson gave the option of a million dollar loan with a ten year lease if 75% of the market tenants signed said lease. Many signed the lease but were worried about the higher rent prices. Many tenants felt as though they had nowhere else to go.

With five Atlanta banks chipping in the market was able to stay open and renovate the Market. This included air conditioning, new plumbing, new electrical wiring, 8,000 square feet in the basement for retail, a new roof, refinishing the interior, and new food storage methods, as well as additional parking. The upgrades came with renewed interest in serving the community and a nomination to become a historical landmark. Bill Moss, the Market’s manager said, “we are going to make our living with the downtown people. We would like people to buy exotic foods here but the people we depend on are the people who live in this community.” At the time of the lease renewals and updates the Market produced more sales volume per square foot than Lenox Mall.