Birdies, a gourmet market with a deli and coffee bar, is the newest addition to Prince Avenue. Owner Kirsten Hindes never thought she would run her own business, but when a space opened up in the old Model Citizen Salon location, the specialty food store she had always wanted to see in Athens seemed a natural fit.

Historic Oglethorpe crowd learns new details about Native American life.

Millstone Baptist Church is tucked away in a thick grove of trees, on top of a grassy hill and down a gravel road. It may seem off the beaten path, but countless people have made their way through its doors the past three centuries, and many still do every Sunday.

Over the last two years, the more than 100 businesses between Broad Street and Prince Avenue have either adapted to these changes or been forced to close their doors. The downtown landscape is undeniably different, but intact. Unfortunately, some of the businesses that managed to weather a worldwide pandemic are now caught up in internal issues, including allegations of misconduct against their owners and managers.