Today we’d like to introduce you to Devon Woodson.
Devon, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I am the owner of Pals Lounge, a musician and singer (Buttermilk & W2TL) and community leader.
Pals Lounge has been in my family since my great Grandfather Robert Lee Murray. My grandmother, Shirley Thomas, ran the business all my childhood. I came down to auburn avenue every day to see her and soak in the scene. It was a blues bar then with an old jukebox.
That is how I began playing music. My grandmother got one of blues cats to take me to the pawn shop and I got my first guitar. I’ve been playing, producing and performing ever since. My performance name, Buttermilk, was my great grandfather nickname. As a youth, I was called “little butter” cause I was always hanging around Pals.
This was essential to my development and although I didn’t know it at the time, not many artists and musician own a venue themselves, so I feel like this is an important place and home for music and creativity. Auburn Avenue has been a stronghold for black business and black equality since the city of Atlanta’s development and in the 50s was termed “the street of gold,” due to the black wealth that existed
here.
It is a great community to be a part of and its rebuilding process after years of it teetering on the edge of isolation. It’s a new neighborhood now and I’m proud to be involved with its evolution as a business and property owner as well as VP of the community board, 4th & S.A.ND. ( sweet auburn neighborhood district). Pals gives me an opportunity, in my life, to live my dream of being an artist, self-employed and community oriented. For a black kid from East Point, Ga that travels the world and back, Pals Lounge and auburn avenue is one of the best places on earth for me.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Business is never smooth sailing. Especially a business like this one. When I first reopened pals, there was no other nightlife on Auburn Avenue. The street had been neglected for a few years both in the day time business activity as well as evening entertainment. It was difficult in the beginning and those obstacles were exacerbated by the streetcar construction, which was disastrous of the neighborhood residents and business owner. For two years, my part of the block was closed, first to build the streetcar hub and then to lay the tracks.
With no compensation or Gelo from the city, many businesses closed and couldn’t reopen once it was done.
Luckily, that wasn’t my story.
Please tell us about Pals Lounge.
Pals Lounge is a restaurant and bar atmosphere. You can enjoy food, signatures drinks, hookah, DJs, bands, the best patio ever and a wonderful staff. Pals, as it is affectionately known as, has always been a place for entertainment. You can feel it in the walls. Since the early 1900s people have been using the space. This location was the first black owner hotel, interestingly named “the European Hotel.” The property also housed one of the early Atlanta Life Insurance offices.
The history of the street auburn avenue is special to black history as well as American history. It’s an honor to be a part of that and I am blessed to have a family that cared and saw the importance of passing on an entrepreneur mindset along with resources to activate those principles.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
If I had to do it again, I would pay more attention to my mom’s advice. Lol. I would not hire friends and never let anyone else count my money. As well, never trust that people are the same as the business that I do. I care about the opportunity, history, the sacrifice my family made, and a chance to create a wonderful environment in an amazing community and area. I find most people I have done business with only care about themselves and the moment. So, I would be more aware of those things collectively. All in all, I love the place I am in right now, today.
So, there is no need to change anything.
Contact Info:
- Address: Pals Lounge
254 Auburn Avenue
Atlanta, Ga 30303 - Instagram: Palsloungeatl
Image Credit:
Heather LaShun
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