Today we’d like to introduce you to Zopi Kristjanson.
Hi Zopi, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I opened Commune with my old friend and music collaborator Chris Devoe a year ago. I recently moved back to Atlanta after being in New York for 9 years and was talking to him about wanting to start a club. I went to a Basquiat show in NY and they had recreated a room in the Palladium, a nightclub he used to hang out in the early 80s. It was a place where artists, dancers and punks would hang out with wealthy socialites and all walks of life really, and I realized how important those spaces are to a city. And in Atlanta especially, where most people stick to their spots and there’s not a ton of public social spaces for intermingling. Music is something almost everyone can gather around, and it’s been a big part of our lives, so we wanted to build a space around that.
The space at Olive & Pine came up and we liked the Bohemian feel of Avondale Estates. There are artist studios and practice spaces all around there and it’s not as developed as the rest of the city. The space was just a concrete box, so we were able to design it from the ground up with acoustics in mind. I wanted to add quilts to give to a homespun feel and Chris added some African fabrics. We consulted with Klipsch on the speaker placement for the AK6s we got and decided on a JJ tube amp from Slovakia to power them. Chris designed the DJ Booth of his dreams, while Dorothy Stucki added finishing touches with custom murals. The room is very cozy yet elevated and people seem to feel at home when they come in.
Since we opened, we’ve had so many incredible guests come through to DJ like Carlos Niño, Helado Negro and Avey Tare from Animal Collective, and also so many talented chefs working in our kitchen. Steve Grubbs does our wine program and we got the Eater Award for best new wine bar. There seems to be a constant flow of talent and inspiration in there, with a killer soundtrack.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Neither Chris or I have any experience running a bar or restaurant so there’s been a very steep learning curve. We’re still figuring out all our systems and dealing with choices we made early on that turned out to maybe not be the best choices. Finding the right staff has also been difficult, but it’s so key.. We’ve got a pretty solid crew now, and are able to attract more talent now that we’ve built a reputation.
We’ve been impressed with Commune, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Commune is a listening room and bar meant for enjoying food, wine and music together. We screen music related movies on Tuesdays and have occasional live music, but most nights we have a DJ or other “selector” playing vinyl or CDJs on our high fidelity sound system. We serve a seasonal menu that leans Mediterranean, with desserts and freshly baked bread made in house. We have an award winning wine list, with beer and zero-proof drinks available, and we’ll be offering cocktails and spirits very soon.
What’s next?
We’re expanding our music programming and will do more live performances that suit our intimate space – folk, chamber music, ambient, along with cabaret and spoken word. We’re also talking about starting a Commune Choir.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.communeatl.com
- Instagram: commune_atl
- Facebook: Commune Atl
Image Credits
Ilya Zobanov
Jae Shin
Steve West
