H. Harper Station (904 Memorial Drive, 678-732-0415, www.hharperstation.com) is a big chapter in Atlanta’s cocktail culture. Situated on the edge of Reynoldstown, it is renowned for its impressive selection of whiskey and whisky as well as an extensive menu of classic and original cocktails. Since opening in 2010, the 1920’s former rail station is as beloved as its namesake, proprietor Jerry Slater’s grandfather.
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Many of Atlanta’s notable barkeeps earned their stripes under Slater's direction and mention this fact as a badge of honor. The word of H. Harper’s impending closure hit hard for patrons. Every night this week, the building bustled with regulars swapping stories and reminiscing about birthday celebrations, brunch, cocktail classes, visiting chef dinners, and weekly traditions. Slater even met and married his wife Krista at H. Harper.
H. Harper closes its doors after service on Friday, April 1st. The Slaters recently moved near Madison and we presume they will be shaking cocktails soon enough. We will keep you posted if/when they take on a new venture. Until then, here are some cherished words from Atlantans who hold H. Harper (and Krista and Jerry) very dear.
Dean Olaya runs Block and Hammer. He and his partner, Lauren, gifted hand-stamped vintage silver spoons to their favorite bartender, waiter, and of course, Jerry and Krista when they heard of the closing.
Ed Seiber is an Atlanta restaurant architect (Seiber Design) who is a regular at the bar. Missing the final goodbye due to travel in London, he said:
“H. Harper embodied family, the kind of southern family that swapped tales over drinks and food. Its closing leaves a hole in my heart and in my brown liquor palate. Jerry and Krista were always ready with a smile and a hug. I’ll just have to travel a bit further for those embraces now.”
Kevin Young is the author of 11 books of poetry and prose, professor of creative writing and English at Emory University, and curator of literary collections at Emory Library. He celebrated the launch of his book,
Book of Hours, at H. Harper. His poem “Ode to Pork” hangs on one of the brick walls near the bar.
“I'm sad to hear that H Harper Station is closing: not only do they mix the best punch and made me like pimento cheese, Jerry and Krista threw the best parties. One a dance-off of a wedding, the other my own book party, for which I am deeply thankful. They are class acts and I can't wait to see what they do next.”
Judith Winfrey and Joe Reynolds run /atlanta/atlanta-according-to-kevin-young/http://clatl.com/atlanta/best-organic-farm/BestOf?oid=2113652?oid=17065980Love is Love Farm and were married in H. Harper. She is President of PeachDish, Co-Founder of Wholesome Wave Georgia, Co-Founder of Community Farmers Markets, and Governor Emeritus of Slow Food USA.
“Joe and I loved H. Harper Station both as our neighborhood watering hole and as a very fine cocktail bar. Having both in one was a total boon. It was where we took out-of-town visitors to show off and where we took friends and family to console or celebrate. We even celebrated our own nuptials there. H. Harper was a jewel for our city and we will miss it dearly. We look forward to seeing what the immensely talented Mr. and Mrs. Lark Slater get up to next.”
Pableaux Johnson is a food/travel writer and photographer based in New Orleans. His traveling Red Beans Road Show stopped twice at H. Harper Station.
“The Station was a great place place to hang and a fantastic “home away from home” for a lot of wandering folk. I never hesitated to send Atlanta-bound travelers there for a great cocktail and even better bar company. Jerry and Krista run a fantastic ship and i hope to frequent wherever they land.”
Julian Goglia is one of those barkeeps who started his career under Jerry Slaters tutelage. He is the co-owner of The Pinewood in Decatur and
The Mercury in Ponce City Market and Proof Syrup.
“As much as the restaurant itself means to me, the relationships that have grown from my brief time behind the bar are worth more than anything in the world. I went on a few early dates with my now fiancé there, rode motorcycles with Jerry and his father, got to watch Jerry marry his beautiful wife on the patio, and even met my business partner, Brooks Cloud, while I was behind the bar. Like many others in the city, H. Harper Station made a huge impact in my life. Thank you, Jerry and team for fostering growth, culture, and family in our city.”
Dominic Maschler is an animator for the series Archer and “an unrelenting barfly.” He and a group of friends meet for “Weapons Wednesday” at H. Harper, where they sabre Champagne before drinking. “I have made more friends at H. Harper than at any other bar. Something about the long, warm room was disarming and made it easier to talk with that stranger to your left. It was a place for stories, old and new, and no other bar will feel quite as comfortable. I showed up one evening as Dave Whiting of Bitter Southerner was convincing Jerry to pour whiskey, lit on fire, from one cup to another for a drink. Jerry was onboard.”
Greg Best helped launch Holeman and Finch Public House and is the co-owner of Ticonderoga Club. He knows a a thing or two about cocktail making and hospitality.
"Obviously, I'm bummed that Harper is closing it's doors. Jerry and the team did a lot of work representing thoughtful hospitality and cocktail culture in an area that had been a relative wasteland prior to their endeavors. Over the years there have been numerous celebrations and events at H. Harper that have left memories I will continue to cherish for years to come. We are seeing so much growth in the city at this time, and that is a fantastic thing. That said, whenever an institution like H. Harper closes it's doors, we should all take a moment to take stock of our older haunts and whether or not we are doing our part to continue supporting them."
Cheers, Jerry and Krista. RIP, H. Harper Station.