An Athens resident for 23 years, T Silva has seen the evolution of the local bar environment. From a town that only supported a handful of bars in the late ’80s, Athens has cultivated an active late-night scene. As a bartender/manager, Silva knows what keeps them coming back for another round.
On what makes the Athens bar scene special:
There are so many bars in such a small area. Anyone can find a place to go that fits them or their mood. It also makes it very easy to hop around from bar to bar. On any given night there are several options for entertainment as well. There is always something going on.
On how the Athens bar scene has evolved:
I have seen bars open and close or change names and/or owners. I think for a bar to succeed in this town you have to first provide great customer service, know your regulars, make new regulars, provide an ever-changing beer and drink selection and offer an array of entertainment. I feel like Little Kings, although we do have a great base of regulars, is kinda an “everyone” bar. We host drag shows, a weekly punk rock night, the Athens Americana Fest, AthFest, Slopfest, the Athens Farmers Market, comedy shows, wedding receptions, DJs, live bands and provide a space for many different community fundraisers.
On what makes for a great night out:
Grab a Flagpole and see what’s going on. Don’t settle on one place; try out a bunch of different bars. Don’t limit yourself to just live music because Athens is a “music town.” Check out some indie films at Ciné, go dance your ass off to one of the many great DJs that live and spin here. Check out some comedy or grab some friends and play some trivia. But definitely check out Little Kings Shuffle Club—hang out, make some new friends and maybe play some cornhole.
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