Herndon Plaza

In 1869, John Smith, a white businessman who employed many African Americans, established a carriage factory here adjacent to his home. In 1920, Alonzo Herndon, a slave-born barber who founded the Atlanta Mutual Insurance Association in 1905, renovated a building in this block to accommodate his growing business and rented the building's upper level to other Black businessmen, including studio photographer Paul Poole. Herndon's business, which became Atlanta Life Insurance Company, and his subsequent expansion on the avenue inspired other African American businessmen to locate their enterprises on Auburn Avenue, fueling the growth and diversification of this Black business community. Today Herndon Plaza serves as a gateway to the rich entrepreneurial legacy of Auburn Avenue.

Atlanta, Georgia · United States