What’s your favorite pie? Georgia Pecan? Key Lime? Chocolate Silk? Strawberry Crème? My favorite is Lemon Meringue. If pie is your thing, you must be familiar with Edwards – makers of some of the best pie in all the land.
I recently discovered I’ve been passing by the same building once or twice every week (taking the alternate way home from my son’s school) and never noticed that an Edwards manufacturing plant sits right smack dab inbetween LaFrance Street and Decatur Avenue, the unofficial dividing line between Atlanta’s Intown neighborhoods of Edgewood and Candler Park.
We just happened to be cruising down LaFrance Street and my son smelled the aroma of fresh baked dough. I looked up and noticed that we were at the intersection of LaFrance Street and “Lemon Lane”. Just beyond the Lemon Lane street sign was the big building poster that said it all: “Edwards – The World’s Best Pies”.
Whaddaya know. We had driven down this street at least 10 times before we finally figured out the aroma was coming from a pie factory. And not just any pie factory, but the 60-year-old Edwards. The makers of my favorite Lemon Meringue dessert have been Edgewood residents for over 40 years.
Tempted to knock on the door and ask for a sample of a fresh-from-the-oven slice, I restrained myself until I got home and then called and inquired about a tour, but was disappointed to learn that Edwards doesn’t give public tours. – So they can maintain the highest standards of quality control for their customers, they don’t let in people off the street. I guess we’ll just have to settle for the sweet aroma whiffs from our drive-bys until our next visit to the Edgewood Kroger to pick up the real thing.
Right next to Edwards is the Edgewood-Candler Park transit station. And then just a few blocks further west is the ultra popular Edgewood Retail District which opened to rave reviews 6 years ago, and still enjoys immense popularity by offering a little bit of everything, including several major national chains.
Those familiar with this neighborhood (that connects Kirkwood and Candler Park), will remember that Edgewood’s historic signature is the craftsman bungalow. Those same folks won’t recognize some of the new Edgewood construction that is now popping up and is scattered throughout the Edgewood community. In fact, new construction is booming in Edgewood; construction that mows down the community’s longstanding bungalow pact. The most eye-opening of the new construction is this artistic monstrosity which doesn’t quite fit with the neighborhood, but which gives the neighborhood an eyelift nonetheless:
Finishing touches are also being put on this new construction modern home which sits almost directly across the street from the Edgewood-Candler Park rapid transit station:
And construction is moving forward on tens of new apartment homes built smack dab in the middle of Edgewood:
Edgewood is a quirky and interesting place, full of blue collar down home folks. It is one of Atlanta’s few remaining Intown neighborhoods where residential lots can be had without breaking the bank. And with new construction like the homes above on the rise, Edgewood presents opportunities for savvy investors to pick up for instance a $50,000 rehab like this one (click on link below) and turn it into something magnificent: http://www.propfrog.com/property/vy7gsrw0
Edgewood Atlanta is looking up. Now, what kind of pie would you like with your bungalow?
copyright, 2011, authored by Cheryl Dukes, Realtor, Solid Source Realty, Atlanta, GA. This is the second in a series about interesting places to live in and around Atlanta. Click here for info on another interesting Atlanta neighborhood, Glenwood Park.
Call me, today at 770-475-1130 x4486 to get your Edgewood Atlanta house sold.
with Miss Ann and have one of her World Famous Cheese Burgers. It's not for lack of trying -- I've tried at least FIVE times and after waiting 45 minutes to over an hour, I always had to leave.
