My family moved to Marietta, GA back in the summer of 1963, when I was 6 years old. Â This is the town that raised me and I have very fond memories of growing up in metro Atlanta’s historic Marietta. Â I have seen the evolution of the square, from a bustling shopping place when I was little with mom and pop family owned stores, to seeing it lose its luster over the years and I am really happy that the majestic square has been renovated in a beautiful manner and retains the small town charm and history that I grew up with. Â Marietta Square is looking good!
I thought it would be fun to take you on a walking tour of the square and see the shops and restaurants that keep it going. Â Our residents take full advantage of this beauty and we all keep it busy during all months of the year.
Approaching the square from Church Street, this is one corner of the actual center square. Â It’s been beautiful renovated with lots of charm and details.
A sign by Shillings restaurant guides newcomers to shops and restaurants.
This little side street has one of my favorite burger places, Stockyard Burgers, along with a great Thai restaurant too, Thaicoon. Â I ate there last night with some friends. Â Cool Beans coffee shop is on the left down this street.
Sugar Cakes and Kish Restaurant on North Park Drive.
Another fave is Taqueria Tsunami, a fusion restaurant of Asian and Mexican. Â The Australian Bakery is supposed to be good too, although I haven’t been there. Â Eddie’s Trick Shop has been on the square for many years, which makes it a great stop for Halloween.
Another set of shops on South Park Drive.
There’s a museum of Marietta history on the backside of the square by the railroad tracks. Â I love that these old buildings have been restored instead of torn down.
The world famous Brumby rocking chair company sits on the square.
That building with the triangle on top is the newly reopened Theater In the Square, a wonderful small theater that features live plays and events during the year. Â It’s a wonderful place to see a show and I’m so happy that they are open again, after being closed for a few years. Â Supporting the theater is important in a small town, so I hope to see more plays this year. Â I did see A Christmas Carol over the holidays and it was a delight.
Down from the theater is a great antiques shop, Dupre’s, which has been there for years.  I love to browse the antique shops.  There used to be a few more and I bought my sideboard from an antiques store on Church Street years ago.
Shillings on the Square and The Butcher The Baker next door are two restaurants to choose from on the square.
The old Strand theater has been renovated as well, after going through neglect for a few years.
So nice to see it used for shows and events now and the inside is really pretty.
Small town charm in this old theater.
This pretty red door was all decorated for Christmas and feeling festive.
On East Park Drive, this entire block is made up of government buildings, including the court house.
Looking down the brick sidewalk on North Park Drive.
I love the lighted snowflakes that are added each year at Christmas. Really makes the square feel nostalgic and homey.
Inside the square, the main bandstand looks great and each summer for several months, there’s a live band that plays on a Friday night each month. Â There’s a dance floor on the bricks and tables added and it’s always crowded and well attended. Â And free! Â A fun thing to do on a summer Friday night with the kids, family, or friends.
The bandstand decorated for Christmas.
There are lots of park benches to sit a spell and people watch, one of my favorite things to do.
Santa’s workshop on the Square. Â There’s a little train replica here too for the kids to play on.
The center of the square houses a new fountain from what it was when  I was a kid.  It’s beautiful now and a favorite meeting spot when on the square. I remember the old fountain had goldfish swimming about.
A commemorative bell looking toward the government buildings.
This year, for the first time, an ice skating rink was installed just for the Holiday season. Â I think it was a big hit, as it seemed crowded every time I was in the square over the season.
Marietta Square Winter wonderland.
The big tree was lit around Thanksgiving. Â We don’t get much snow in Atlanta, but it’s festive nonetheless.
Historic plaque about the history of our Cobb County.
The Square’s gazebo is a pretty sight.
There are a few big oak trees left in the square and I’m glad they are still around.
The brick sidewalks add to the charm.
That’s a tour of our Marietta Square, a place I’m really proud to call home. Â There are many shops and restaurants and plenty to see and do on the square, so if you haven’t visited before, stop on by if you’re in the area.
I loved being raised here and I wanted to share it with all of you! Â I spent New Year’s Eve on the square with a date and it was a very fun and festive time. Â Lots of folks came out and it was packed with people ringing in the New Year. Â We were in a restaurant most of the evening, having dinner and listening to music. Â Then at 10 minutes before Midnight, we headed out to the crowd on the street to watch the “drop”.
If any of you were there, I’d be interested to hear your take on the “dropping of the ball” at midnight. Â This was the first year for the Square doing that and it was an interesting turn of events, when at the stroke of Midnight, a male acrobat in tights was lowered from the big square box on one side of the square, doing twists and turns on a trapeze. Â I think we were all so shocked and the reaction from the crowd was stunned confusion and laughter. Â Certainly not what we were all expecting for the big drop at Midnight! The AJC newspaper wrote about it the next day and there were lots of comments on a Facebook page too, expressing disappointment. Â There’s a video on that link with the acrobat on the trapeze, if you’d like to see for yourself. Â I’m not going to criticize the committee who put this together, but hopefully they will rethink next year if this event happens again. I think it’s great that the Marietta Square is such a fun gathering spot for local residents.
Happy New Year to you all!
It was fun to walk with you through Marietta Square! It looks like a lovely place to visit.
Thanks for the walk around Marietta Square. One thing I noticed was all the mistletoe in the oak trees…one thing I really miss here in Northern NY.
We noticed that too when we were walking around. Loads of it up there!
Rhoda, I enjoyed your photos and the tour of Marietta. It looks like a lovely place to live.
I first came to Marietta 25 years ago to meet my to be husbands family. Now my sister lives in Roswell and I visit the square every chance I get. I love it still. My sweet niece even had her rehearsal dinner at Shillings. Thanks for sharing them with me.
Looks like a lovely location… thanks for sharing. ?
A request… Can you, Rhoda, or anyone else, please check out the Australian Bakery please?
As a South Australian I’d love to know what they have on offer. I’m guessing they have pavlova, lamingtons, pumpkin scones (not the biscuits you have there) and something with vegemite… perhaps cheese and vegemite scrolls. Mind you, I’m not sure that vegemite is allowed over there. I think the USA freaks out (rightly so, although I love it!) about the amount of salt it contains.I love your blog, Rhoda… particularly because it gives me insight into family life and activities and the environment over there.
Hi, Julie, I will have to make a point to visit this Australian Bakery, I’ve heard good things, so it’s on my list! Interesting things you listed. I’ve only heard of vegemite, have no idea what it is.
Thanks Rhoda… hopefully they’ll also have ANZAC biscuits (more like your ‘cookies’). They’re rolled oats based and very yummy!
Don’t get too excited about the jet black spread that is vegemite… it really is a taste that only those brought up on it can handle ?
HI — just check their website. http://www.australianbakerycafe.com/
I have eaten here several times and bought various grocery items not found anywhere else.
Great place.
We were in the Square for NYE as well. Walked over about 9, and bailed about 10:30 and managed to get into House of Lu for a warm snack. Wanted to grab a bite at Stockyard, but the wait was an hour and a half! It was just too crowded to enjoy anything. We heard about the interesting object drop…LOL!
I think I know how you felt at midnight. I had a similar experience when we attended the opening of the new church building for a non- demonational church we had attended for about a year. There was a girl twisting and climbing on one of those trapeze ribbon cords up at the front stage. That sent us back to our liturgical Lutheran church!
So much bigger than I expected! Very lovely and so much to see, to eat and to enjoy!! I think Marietta would be a charming place to live!! Thanks for the walking tour; you have a talent for describing what you see so that we can see it, too!
I love your little square. I love the little shops and the unique gifts you can get there with the personal care. I love the laid back feeling. I remember growing up in a neighborhood that had a small grocery store, hardware store, drug store, fruit stand, etc, and they always had what we needed now I can drive to Walmart, Target, etc and they don’t have what I need . I end up ordering it on line lol.
The Square looks like a fun place to shop and dine. As for the acrobat, I think it was unexpected and creative! Some fireworks would have finished off the performance and pleased everyone. I always enjoy reading your blog. Happy New Year!
I love the Marietta square! I live close to Athens, but I have a friend that lives in Marietta not far from the square and several of us met there for lunch this past summer. Her husband has an insurance business just off the square. Such a quaint place. I can see how you love it! I was at her house last week and she said they had plans to go to the square for NYE, but I haven’t talked with her to hear what happened or how she liked it. I will have to give her a call!
My Mom was born in East Cobb County (Blackwell Community) in 1918. I have heard stories all my life about trips to Marietta (pronounced May-retta) in a wagon pulled by a mule to buy supplies on dirt roads. My grandmother’s family reunion was always at her sister’s on Shallowford Road, which was a little narrow road. Aunt Molly lived in an old house that was void of any paint, they had a well, a coal pile, chicken houses, a big bar across the road from the house AND an outhouse. My brother and I thought it was the grandest place. My granddad’s family is buried in the old cemetery across from Sprayberry High School and my grandmother’s family is buried in the church cemetery in front of the church that used to be the Methodist church (I don’t recall that road name). I remember when Piedmont Road was a little dirt road and I was so scared when we would ride down that road because I thought my Mom was going to end up in the ditch when we met another car. We were always making trips to Marietta to visit relatives and she would always drive around the square, pointing out significant places from her childhood. I LOVED this post, it brought back such sweet memories. I just lost my Mom in October.
Hi, Tee, thanks for sharing your memories! Wow, Piedmont Rd a dirt road, that is certainly before my time here. But all those places you mention, including Sprayberry High School….my stomping grounds growing up!
Thank you for the lovely tour of your home town. The ‘drop’ sounds like great fun. Wish I had been there!
Girl… I live in Texas and have been following your blog for several years now. Love to see all the GA stuff you post, but imagine my DELIGHT to open up this morning’s post, as I am a Marietta NATIVE 🙂 Thanks SO MUCH for sharing our hometown. It was a great place to grow up! Wheeler Wildcat here! Hugs….
Hi, Tammy, that is so great to hear….from one Marietta girl to another!
The Square is a wonderful place!
One of the best things they do on the square each year is the Farmers Market each Saturday March to November. There is also an Artists Market on the 2nd and 4th Saturday during that time from 9-2. They have many actual artists (painting) as well as crafters, jewelry makers, potters, upcycling, and many more.
When ever I hear May-retta (and its not often) I know I am talking to someone who has lived there for many decades☺.
That’s funny, because no one I know really calls it May-retta!
I need to get to the Farmer’s market. Since my dad has a garden, I haven’t ventured out there, but I know I would love it. Definitely on my list of Marietta things to do this year.
Always wanted to see Marietta. Thank you.
This year for the first time, Ft. Lauderdale dropped a lighted anchor at midnight.
Gina, that sounds like a great idea for FL.
Rhoda,
So fun to see you on the square NYE! You looked beautiful ~ hope you post some photos of you in that fab coat.
Happy New Year,
Ann Roland
Hi, Ann, it was great to see you too! Thanks for saying hello and yes, I will have a post up about my fashion that night. Happy New Year to you!
What a beautiful place to live! The Square is delightful, all those lovely little stores and restaurants, and the very pretty fountain. Thank you for the tour, for sharing your home town. Loved it!!
We visited Atlanta a few years back on business and made our way to Marietta, it was the highlight of our entire trip. I have never forgotten it.