a brick building with a few doors
Hotel

Hotel's Old Fourth Ward Atlanta

Atlanta’s Warmest Welcome

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Wylie Hotel is a true Old Fourth Ward original, bringing the spirit of the original Garner-Wallace Hotel to life once again. Standing proud as testament to Atlanta’s rich history, Wylie isn’t just a place to stay — it’s where the past shines through in the most charming of ways, and where the city’s story comes to life.

Our Legacy

  • Since 1929
  • The Mrs. P's Era
  • And On Into the '90s
  • An ATL Renaissance

Since 1929

Our Legacy

Originally built as The Garner-Wallace Hotel, 551 Ponce de Leon Avenue opened its doors to the public in 1929. Its grandeur was short-lived in the wake of the Great Depression — but, like Atlanta itself, the building was resilient. It found new life in the ‘30s as the Hotel Ponce de Leon, and by 1956, the cozy nooks of its basement became home to Mrs. P’s restaurant, a beloved lunchtime spot for those from the nearby Sears building (now the iconic Ponce City Market).

The Mrs. P's Era

Our Legacy

The swing of the 1960s saw the transformation of Mrs. P’s from a quaint lunch spot to Atlanta's pioneering LGBTQ-friendly bar. Here, the city witnessed its very first drag show, led by the legendary Diamond Lil. But with progress came resistance, and while police raids were frequent, they didn’t stop the revelry.

And On Into the '90s

Our Legacy

By the 1980s, Mrs. P's had taken its final bow, but its impact and legacy in Atlanta's LGBTQ scene remained indelible. The basement of 551 Ponce metamorphosed into various bars and clubs, including Zippers, the Joy Lounge (where the iconic Diamond Lil performed), Club 551, and — in 1994 — the earliest version of legendary nightlife staple MJQ. In September 1997, the club moved a few blocks east, and our building adapted yet again.

An ATL Renaissance

Our Legacy

For a period of nearly two decades, 551 Ponce transitioned into the Ponce Student Suites, providing affordable housing for students of nearby universities like Georgia State, Georgia Tech, and Emory until 2017. And today? It stands proud as the 111-room Wylie Hotel: a true neighborhood treasure, once again welcoming all across its threshold.

Our Neighborhood

Building with large Pounce City Market sign near The Wylie Hotel in Midtown Atlanta

On Ponce

On Ponce

On the edge of the beautiful historic Old Fourth Ward neighborhood, Wylie Hotel in Old Fourth Ward Atlanta is close to the city’s downtown and midtown hubs, and connected to its social scene via the Atlanta BeltLine.

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In the Community

In the Community

A Fourth Ward renaissance is in motion thanks to its dedicated residents, businesses, and neighbors. Wylie Hotel is proud to support our neighborhood’s past, present, and future through charity efforts and mutual aid efforts.

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About Old Fourth Ward

Located just east of Midtown, Old Fourth Ward is steeped in Atlanta’s history. Best known as the birthplace of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., it’s filled with important landmarks of the Civil Rights era. Ever-evolving, growth and community investment continue to shape our neighborhood, from the Historic Fourth Ward Park to the now-iconic Ponce City Market.