Bar Rentals & Bartender Staffing inBuckhead, GA

Named the National Association of Realtors’ No. 1 market to watch in 2023 and beyond, Atlanta is one of the South’s most iconic and thriving cities. It has experienced an increase of almost 70,000 residents since 2010 thanks in part to its low taxes, robust business sector and rise of attractive condominium enclaves.

Each Atlanta neighborhood has its own vibe and personality, where residents can choose from high rises in Midtown to revitalized architecture in Westside Atlanta. Decatur offers an exciting college town feel while East Point is both quaint and historic. No matter the preference, each neighborhood appears to be booming.

Buckhead, Atlanta’s prestigious financial district, is particularly hitting it off with luxury buyers. Its spacious, service-oriented condos are encouraging the development of trendy restaurants and community spaces nearby, propelling the city’s economy forward and enhancing connectivity within the city.

“Recognized as one of Atlanta’s most coveted addresses for both residents and visitors, Buckhead’s central location ensures accessibility from other parts of the city,” says Bob Vail, President of Kolter Urban. “We are proud as a firm to have a hand in developing a new wave of real estate in Buckhead. Traditionally dominated by single-family homes, Buckhead has recently transformed into a condominium hub, driven by buyer preferences for convenient locations, top-notch service and illustrious amenity packages. We wanted to create a space that reflects the present while honoring the city’s rich history. Kolter Urban is at the forefront of condo development in the Atlanta market, with no intentions of slowing down.”

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Anne Schwall with Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty adds, “In the heart of Atlanta’s thriving real estate landscape, Buckhead stands as the jewel of luxury living, endorsed by The National Association of Realtors as the top market to watch in 2023. The district’s evolution, driven by a wave of rightsizing, has paved the way for luxury condominium developments, such as The Dillon Buckhead, an 18-story tower offering massive floor plans and long range city and skyline views. Buckhead is unique in that it offers a blend of old-world charm and modern sophistication in a central location, continuously drawing residents seeking a vibrant and upscale urban lifestyle.”

Buckhead’s Condo Boom: Once predominantly heavy in single-family homes, luxury enclave Buckhead has recently become a hub for condominiums.

Trendy restaurants: Buckhead offers a selection of world-class dining options, leaving residents with a variety of cuisines to choose from only a short walk from home. Most recently, three new top-tier restaurants have staked their claim in Buckhead to deliver trendy delights sure to light up any late-night foodie’s taste buds.

Greenspace: As Buckhead expands and continues its vertical growth, valuable greenspaces are strategically being placed throughout the district in order to meet recreational, exercise and environmental needs.

“As the chief of staff to Georgia's governor 20 years ago, I had to become familiar with every corner of the state, from sleepy one-stoplight towns to the densest enclaves of its biggest city,” says Eric Tanenblatt, Chair of the Buckhead Coalition. “Nowhere was as dynamic and vibrant as Buckhead. In the same neighborhood, we have blue chips in towering skyscrapers and young families on quiet, tree-lined streets. That’s not something you find in New York or Chicago. That live-work duality explains why we’ve taken a plurality of Atlanta's millennial population growth since 2000 and why we'll continue to lead the region.”

A Buckhead home has made Atlanta real estate history with its sale price of $19.8 million.

Real estate broker Ben Hirsh represented the seller of 3391 Tuxedo Road in an all-cash, private transaction. Harvin Greene with Dorsey Alston Realtors represented the buyers. The off-market deal, which closed March 12, sets the record as the highest recorded home sale price in Atlanta history, Hirsh said.

The prior two record holders were Tyler Perry’s home on Paces Ferry Road, selling for $17.5 million in 2016, and a home on Valley Road which sold for $18.1 million in 2021.

The 17,000 square foot home – described as “Scandinavian in style with a Japanese vibe in its flow” – was designed with minimalism in mind and plenty of space for a selection of art.

One of the striking elements of the three-level home is a sculptural, floating staircase that features an 18th-century Japanese charring technique called Shou Sugi Ban used to finish the wood cladding of the monolithic wall supporting the steps.

The sellers designed the home in collaboration with local design/build firm Siegel Construction and Design with interior design by Sherry Shirah from New Orleans.

Jackson Fine Art assisted in curating an extensive fine art photography collection for the home. Owner and curator Anna Walker Skillman commented, “The art collection becomes an integral part of a home when curated and placed correctly.” So integral, in fact, that much of that collection is going to stay.

The 3+ acres of land surroundingthe home were landscaped by garden designer Thibault Devillard of Terre Gardens.

“The home itself is a work of art and upon walking in, I knew it was exactly what my buyers were looking for,” Greene said, noting that the new owners sought privacy, manageable space, and a unique design transcending the ordinary.

This sale was also a milestone for Hirsh, who has surpassed the $1 billion mark in homes he has sold in his 20-year career.

In a landmark real estate transaction, Buckhead real estate broker Ben Hirsh has sold 3391 Tuxedo Road in Atlanta for $19.8 million. The all-cash purchase closed on March 12, 2024 in a private transaction in which Hirsh represented the seller. Harvin Greene with Dorsey Alston Realtors represented the buyer. This off-market deal more than doubles the highest sale of 2023, also brokered by Hirsh, and sets the record as the highest recorded home sale price in Atlanta history. The prior two record holders were Tyler Perry’s home on Paces Ferry Road, selling for $17.5 million in 2016, and a home on Valley Road which sold for $18.1 million in 2021.

What Makes The Home Special, And The team Behind It

As you might imagine, Atlanta’s most distinguished home to ever sell is unique to the market. It has been described as Scandinavian in style with a Japanese vibe in its flow – uncluttered and refined. One prime example is the sculptural central staircase that connects the three levels of the 17,000 square foot home. Here, an 18th-century Japanese charring technique called Shou Sugi Ban was used to finish the wood cladding of the monolithic wall on which the crisp right angles of the white oak stair treads appear to float in pleasing contrast. In a home that is a showcase for art, this effect is one of the greatest pieces.

The sellers designed the home in close collaboration with local design/build firm Siegel Construction and Design and Norwood Architects. When reached for comment, the firm’s principal designer Kathy Siegel said, “It was the third collaboration between this client and our firm. It was a fantastic partnership and resulted in a home that is truly deserving of the value it has achieved.”

Interior designer, Sherry Shirah, from New Orleans made each room inviting and comfortable, not an easy feat in a space that is focused on minimalism. Sherry introduced texture in the form of antique rugs layered on top of each other, and exceptional custom furniture pieces that she had built for the space

Jackson Fine Art assisted in curating an extensive fine art photography collection for the home. Owner and curator Anna Walker Skillman commented “The art collection becomes an integral part of a home when curated and placed correctly.” So integral, in fact, that much of that collection is going to stay.

The 3+ acres of land that surround the home were landscaped by garden designer Thibault Devillard of Terre Gardens. This was the third home Devillard has worked on with the sellers and he handled the landscaping, outdoor lighting and maintenance.

Ben Hirsh, who has brokered multiple purchases and sales for the client, originally brought the property to them with a vision for what could be done with it. “The couple who sold the home defined a one-of-a-kind vision for this property. Like them, I love the creative process and land development,” said Hirsh. “It is especially gratifying to be part of this process from original concept to a successful close. The family who purchased this home cherished it from the moment they entered and they will be very happy there.”

Hirsh Exceeds $1 Billion in Career Sales While Setting All-Time Atlanta Record

This record-setting sale marked multiple milestones for Buckhead Realtor Ben Hirsh. “Before this sale, my career sales volume was $995 million. It was exciting to set the record for a home sale, while at the same time surpassing the $1 billion mark in homes I have personally sold.” The secret to this incredible success? “There is no secret and no shortcut,” says Hirsh. “Just last month, I celebrated 20 years in the business. What may look like luck at first glance is really 20 years of very hard work, a focused plan, continuous improvement, and significant resources invested in what I believe are the most effective marketing strategies that have ever been implemented in our industry. I am also blessed to be supported by two incredibly gifted professionals: Michelle Legan, my Operations Director of 13 years, and Rob Knight, my Creative Director.”

While Ben is once again the top individual real estate agent in Atlanta based on 2023 sales volume of over $135 million, his achievements are not just in sales volume. “I get incredible satisfaction from really listening to and serving my clients,” said Ben. “These larger than life sales get most of the attention, but I consider myself an expert on all Buckhead real estate, not just the super high end. I treat each of my clients with the respect, dedication and expertise that they deserve and, ultimately, that creates relationships that grow and last for decades. Those relationships are my measure of success.”

On a warm night in September of last year, Assembly Studios in Doraville, GA, made a grand debut just a few miles Northeast of Buckhead, igniting excitement in Georgia’s film and TV scene. The star-studded opening featured a glamorous red carpet where invited guests lined up fortours of the high-tech facilities on a new 50-acre campus The night buzzed with live entertainment and networking, spotlighting Georgia’s growing status in entertainment and leaving a mark of anticipation for the studio’s future. Though Buckhead is not the epicenter of productions taking place in Georgia, the Assembly Studios opening further solidified it’s position at the geographic center of the major film studios that now form a ring around Atlanta.

The “Made in Georgia” logo has become a common sight as the credits roll for film and television productions, and the state’s film/TV industry continues to flourish after a brief hiatus for Hollywood actors and writers strikes of 2023. Several industry experts underscored the important and unique role Buckhead plays in the state’s burgeoning film industry and the economic benefits to the community are substantial

. According to the Georgia Department of Economic Development, the fiscal year 2023 saw a direct expenditure of $4.1 billion on productions in the state.

Buckhead’s starring role is housing

Georgia’s TV/film industry is now firmly established. As such, many crew members who are considered “below-the-line,” such as grips, makeup artists, camera operators and similar behind-the-scenes roles, now live in the state. But when a production is filming in the Atlanta area, actors, directors, producers and other “above-the-line” talent who do not live in the area require housing. They often move into the Atlanta area for several months for a film production, or longer for a television series.

Cue Buckhead’s production prominence.

Jacob Bean owns Studio Housing Atlanta. The company specializes in providing fully furnished housing — and other relevant services — for cast and crew members living temporarily in the Atlanta area during productions.

“The studios and crew members want something turnkey,” Bean said. “They want it to be fully furnished, with bedding, towels, everything A-Z as they are just showing up with a suitcase.”

Many are coming to Buckhead. Bean said many Buckhead homes are listed for about $30,000 to $70,000 a month. That budget could be even, higher for “top A-list celebrities.”

“Some actors get what they want, and the productions will pay practically whatever,” he said.

Studios will look elsewhere for productions taking place at Trilith Studios in Fayetteville or others area south of Atlanta due to commute times, Bean said. However, Buckhead has become a housing hotspot for productions filming on the north side of Atlanta, including at OFS Studios or Eagle Rock Studios in Norcross, or the newly opened Assembly Atlanta in Doraville. This is particularly true for A-listers who want the estate atmosphere Buckhead provides.

“Buckhead is a hotspot for [more prominent] cast members because it offers the privacy, security and amenities people are looking for,” Bean said.

Buckhead resident Ryan Millsap is the founder of Blackhall Studios, which was sold to a private investment firm in 2021 and now operates as Shadowbox Studios in DeKalb County. Millsap said Buckhead is an attractive housing option for many A-list celebrities as its upscale atmosphere can’t be found in others areas of the city.

“Buckhead is the nicest neighborhood in all of Atlanta,” he said. “This is where you will find the nicest homes. Originally, a lot of stars, directors, and above-the-line teams wanted to live in Buckhead, which I think is still true.”

Millsap said Buckhead has served as a temporary home for major actors like Robert Downey Jr., Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Jennifer Lawrence, Chris Pratt, and Tom Hardy during the production of films, including Jungle Cruise, Jumanji, The Accountant, Venom, and Marvel movies.

Buckhead’s appeal is not limited to housing

Justin Campbell, director of studio operations for Assembly Atlanta — the newly opened 50-acre studio development in Doraville on the former General Motors assembly site — said Buckhead is also an exceptional place for on-site filming.

“(Buckhead) provides something other areas of Atlanta don’t in its unique architecture and fine-end finishes,” Campbell said. “From the homes, hotels, corporate and retail spaces, it brings something you can’t find anywhere else.” Assembly Studios is projected to include over 1 million square feet of stage space at full build-out and already has a long-term partnership with NBCUniversal.

Jacob Bean with Studio Housing Atlanta said the opening of Assembly Atlanta, which is about 12 miles from the center of Buckhead, should drive more talent to be housed in the community.

“I do think Buckhead’s prominence will rise with Assembly Atlanta,” Bean said. “Already there is one production rumored to be coming in the next 30 days. What I know about that film, it will be higher-end actors looking for higher-end properties.”

Cost savings continue to draw productions to the Atlanta area

Millsap said the biggest driver of the Georgia’s film/tv industry growth, and subsequently that of Atlanta and Buckhead, is the state’s 30-percent tax credit for qualifying productions.

“The tax credit really makes the difference in why people want to make movies and TV in Atlanta,” he said. “All of the growth is largely dependent on the tax credit. If the tax credit changes or caps, it could have a significant effect on the future growth of the industry.”

Other cost savings are notable factors. Millsap said Atlanta provides “a massive discounted price for what you get.” For Buckhead, this includes the leasing costs to house actors.

“You can lease a beautiful home in Buckhead, but move that home to L.A. and you have to multiply the cost by eight or 10 times. The same is true in New York. Even in Miami you are probably paying five times as much for the same home. Atlanta provides a deep, deep discount for luxury. It’s a big draw because the quality of life here for the money is unmatched.”

Though the tax credit serves as the draw, the Atlanta area’s appeal for TV/film production goes beyond cost savings.

“The 30 percent qualifying productions receive, that’s what made [Georgia’s film/TV industry] go,” Campbell said. “But what’s allowed it to grow at the pace it has, and sustain, is the bipartisan support, labor development, the great infrastructure with Hartsfield-Jackson Airport and private airports, and thousands of small businesses that have either started in response to the industry or have pivoted to fit this industry’s needs.”

The initial growth of the state’s production industry has also fostered a new workforce of below-the-line crew members. Campbell credits initiatives like the Georgia Film Academy with fostering the state’s TV/film production labor pool. The Georgia Film Academy partners with the University System of Georgia and Technical College System of Georgia providing workforce training and classroom instruction for TV/film production at universities and colleges around the state.

“We no longer have to import crews from across the country,” Campbell said. “Eighty to ninety percent of crews are local, they’re Georgians. That has been a major driver and component to sustain the industry and make it a permanent presence.”

On July 9th, 2023 in Stockholm Sweden, Sir Elton John performed the final concert of his 53-year career. His farewell tour had spanned five years and grossed $931 million, reported to be the highest-grossing tour of all time. Meanwhile, halfway around the world, a curtain was closing on another part of the superstar’s life. Though he had called his Buckhead condo “home” since 1991, movers were quietly packing up and moving out a staggering volume of art and personal possessions from his nearly 13,000 square foot condo.

According to multiple Park Place residents, the move-out took nearly a month to complete and Sir Elton John has now left the building, Buckhead, and Atlanta for good.

“People always ask me, ‘Why do you have a place in Atlanta?’” John said in a 1998 AJC interview. “It’s because people here have always been that nice to me… I’ve always been welcomed. I feel at home.”

It all started in 1991 when John’s estate in England near Windsor became too full of memories and possessions. He gutted the residence and auctioned off many belongings while on his path to sobriety. In his search for a new home in the United States he found Los Angeles to be overwhelming and New York unsafe, and he fell in love with the Southern charm of Atlanta.

Making a splash in Buckhead

Jim Henderson, part of the development team behind the Park Place condo tower, remembers getting a call from the onsite sales agent in 1991 when he was on a sailing trip near Hilton Head: “I have Elton John here wanting to buy a condo,” she told him. The offer was $700,000, but Henderson was firm at his $950,000 asking price. “I eventually settled on $925,000 with his agent in London and by the time we were at closing 30 days later Elton had already decided to buy the unit next door. It was great PR for the building and we sold out the rest of the tower over the next couple of years. He was at a turning point in his life at the time and he ended up being great for the building. The other residents loved him and he treated our staff very well.”

After moving here in 1991 Sir Elton John quickly became ingrained into the Buckhead community and surrounding Atlanta area. He was a frequent visitor of Tower Records, dined at area restaurants (Umi Sushi and the now-shuttered Buckhead Diner were purportedly favorites), became a Braves fan, hosted a collection of his photographs at the High Museum of Art, named a 2004 album “Peachtree Road,” and became a frequent face at social functions throughout Buckhead and the Atlanta area.

John also commented that his life “in Atlanta is as normal a life as I can lead anywhere in the world,” and later said he is “an Atlanta person through and through.”

Building a unique home

Over the years, Elton continued to purchase neighboring units to accommodate a vast art collection. Eventually it expanded to include 12,000 + square feet across seven units combined on multiple floors in Park Place. The condo above the intersection of Peachtree Road and West Wesley Rd in the heart of Buckhead is likely to hit the market soon. In a 2016 CBS Sunday Morning interview, viewers got a brief tour of his sprawling condo that was full of artwork and photography collections. The singer was generous with his artwork, loaning it out to the building for display in some common areas and elevator lobbies.

During John’s final Atlanta concert last year, he addressed his semi-hometown crowd about his time in Atlanta.

“I’ve lived here for 30 years, and I’ve loved every single minute,” the AJC reported. “So I will take you with me in my heart, in my soul, and I’ll never forget you.”