Ten reasons I still love The Varsity, even though times are changing.
- LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
Just a few hundred yards from Georgia Tech’s Bobby Dodd Stadium at Grant Field on North Avenue, The Varsity in Atlanta has had the perfect location since Frank Gordy opened the doors in 1928.
I have never been to a Georgia Tech game without first going to The Varsity. Never, ever. It’d be sacrilege.
There are now several other Varsity locations in Atlanta, including two at the airport. But going to those is not the same as going to the mother ship.
In Athens, The Varsity also had the perfect location for many years — in downtown, across the street from the University of Georgia’s Arch. Even when that location was closed, the other Varsity site in Athens — at the corner of Broad and Milledge — was in the middle of the action.
Sadly, it was closed and the property sold. But The Varsity is moving to the Athens suburbs in two locations — Oconee and Barrow counties.
I don’t like the move, but I’d drive further for a good chili dog.
2. TECH VS. GEORGIA
I’d like to say I saw just as much gold as red in The Varsity in Atlanta when the Dawgs and Jackets played this past November. But just like inside the stadium, there was more red than gold.
What’d you expect? I was surprised as many Tech fans showed up for the game. Of course, they left early. The score was Georgia 24, Tech 0 at the half. The final score was: Dawgs 45, Yellow Jackets 0.
Still, there’s always a friendly electricity in The Varsity with Dawgs and Jackets rubbing elbows before it’s their turn to respond to: “What’ll ya have?”
3. THE SLOGAN
Is there a better restaurant slogan than “What’ll ya have?”
It’s perfect. It means: don’t shilly-shally around, have your order ready and your money (credit card) ready (The Varsity’s cashless now) so they can fetch your order and move on to the next customer.
A beer company, which shall remain nameless, tried this slogan: “What will you have?”
That’s way too grammatically correct to be catchy. And, it’s just downright boring.
4. MELTING POT OF PEOPLE
You see all walks of life at The Varsity in Atlanta. Young and old. Blue collar and white collar. Men in suits. Women wearing heels. Men and women in hard hats and work boots. And, there’s always an array of SEC fans wearing hats, T-shirts and hoodies from their schools: Alabama, Auburn, LSU — and, yes, way too many Clemson Tiger paw logos.
In Atlanta the other day, I saw a guy in a bright yellow outfit. He looked like a banana: yellow head-to-toe.
5. POLITICALLY CORRECT
The Varsity brass know how to cater to all political persuasions.
There are four separate dining areas on the main floor and the TV in each room is turned to a different channel: FOX, CNN, ESPN and CNBC.
Take your choice.
6. THE LINGO
Every menu item has a name. The lingo list is posted in the lobby. Study it before you order. Here’s a primer for hot dogs:
Hot dog: It comes with chili and mustard.
Naked dog: Plain hot dog and bun.
Red dog: With ketchup.
Yellow dog: With mustard.
MK dog. Mustard and ketchup.
Sideways: Onions on the side.
You’re catching on fast.
My order is hot dog, sideways.
7. ONION RINGS
Those Vidalia onions always seem to be sweet, hot, crispy — and greasy, but not too greasy. I love ‘em.
8. THE CELEBS
There’s no telling who you might see at The Varsity: presidents, first ladies, governors, movie stars, boxers, writers and TV talk-show hosts.
The Varsity guests have included: Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter, George H.W. Bush, Laura Bush, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, Brian Kemp, Zell Miller, Ryan Seacrest, Jimmy Fallon, Evander Holyfield, Lewis Grizzard and, of course, Elvis.
9. V RUN
When I attended the University of Georgia, pledges at the Sigma Chi Fraternity had to take orders from the brothers at 10 every night and make a V-Run to the Varsity.
If a pledge got a FO (Frosted Orange shake) mixed up with a PC (Plain Chocolate milk), it was not a pretty scene.
Been there, done that.
10. FAMILY
I took my younger granddaughter, Maggie, to The Varsity after she flew into Atlanta earlier this week.
She was impressed with the size and history of The Varsity. The food, she said, was not the best she’d ever had but it was “not bad.”
Maggie gave her fries a 7.3 out of 10 and her Red Dog a 6. She gave her fried apple pie an 8 and a thumb’s up.
I give the experience of showing her around The Varsity for the first time a 10 of 10, and two thumbs up.
By the way, Maggie gave this column a 7.5 out of 10. That’s higher than she rated The Varsity fries. I’ll take it.
Rick Millians, a 1970 Baldwin High graduate, worked at newspapers in Georgia, Ohio and South Carolina before retiring. Reach him at rdmillians@aol.com.