'Cheers!' A toast to Atlanta's oldest watering holes: Atkins Park

Atkins park in Virginia Highlands celebrates their 100th anniversary.

Atlanta’s landscape is constantly changing, and our city has a reputation for embracing new development. At a time when we often hear about older taverns shuttering their doors, “City Lights” launches a new series to celebrate the bars that have beaten the odds and survived for decades: “Cheers!” a toast to Atlanta’s oldest and most iconic watering holes.

For the premiere installment, “City Lights” senior producer Kim Drobes paid a virtual visit to Atkins Park, Atlanta’s oldest tavern.

The 100-year-old Virginia Highlands bar has seen many generations of management and staff, and it’s currently under the guidance of owner Sandra Spoon, who spoke with Drobes over Zoom along with longtime bartender Andrew Crow