You’ve probably driven past it a hundred times without realizing you’re looking at a piece of history that refused to die. Tucked away on Marietta Street, King and Plow Atlanta—officially known as the King Plow Arts Center—is one of those places that feels like a secret, even though it occupies roughly 165,000 square feet of prime Westside real estate. It’s an old plow factory. Seriously. Back in the day, specifically starting around 1902, this was where the King Plow Company churned out agricultural implements for the American South.
Now? It’s arguably the heartbeat of the city's commercial arts scene.
But here’s the thing about King and Plow Atlanta that most people miss: it wasn't supposed to work. In the early 90s, the Westside wasn't "The Westside." It was a gritty, industrial corridor where developers were terrified to touch anything that didn't involve a wrecking ball. The transformation of this massive brick complex into a live-work-play community for artists and entrepreneurs basically set the blueprint for every "industrial-chic" development you see in the city today, from Ponce City Market to the Krog District.
The Gritty Backstory of the Plow
The King Plow Company wasn’t some boutique workshop. It was a massive industrial powerhouse. For decades, it was the place where the tools that built the South’s economy were forged. When manufacturing started to decline and the factory finally shuttered in 1986, it left a massive, gaping hole in the neighborhood.
Most people saw a pile of decaying bricks and rusted steel.
E. Felton Smith and J.J. Smith saw something else. They took a massive gamble in 1990 to turn this site into a sanctuary for the creative class. If you look at the architecture today, you can still see the bones of the old factory. The huge windows weren’t designed for "natural lighting" to help a graphic designer see their monitor; they were designed so workers wouldn't lose fingers in the dark while operating heavy machinery.
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What Actually Happens at King and Plow Atlanta?
It’s a weird mix. Honestly, that’s the charm. On any given Tuesday, you might have a high-end wedding taking place in one of the event spaces, while just a few doors down, a recording artist is laying down tracks in a studio that used to be a warehouse for tractor parts.
The tenant list is a revolving door of Atlanta’s creative elite. It’s home to the Actor’s Express, a powerhouse of the local theater scene that has been pushing boundaries for over three decades. There are photography studios, architectural firms, and non-profits. It’s also home to Bold American Events, which basically runs the show when it comes to the high-end catering and event logistics that keep the space profitable.
Why the Location Matters
You’re right in the middle of the Marietta Street Artery. This isn't the shiny, polished version of Buckhead. It's the Westside. You’ve got Georgia Tech just a stone's throw away, which means there’s a constant influx of young, tech-savvy energy mixing with the established art crowd.
- The Actor's Express: This isn't community theater. It's raw, professional, and often controversial. They’ve won more awards than I can count.
- Residential Lofts: People actually live here. Not in "luxury apartments" that look like hotels, but in actual industrial lofts with 18-foot ceilings and walls that have seen a century of history.
- Commercial Synergy: Because everyone is in a creative field, the networking is organic. A photographer might need a set designer, who happens to have an office across the hallway.
The Architecture of Preservation
The designers didn't want to "fix" the building. They wanted to reveal it. When you walk through the hallways of King and Plow Atlanta, you're seeing original timber, exposed brick, and steel trusses.
It’s an adaptive reuse masterclass.
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The National Park Service actually recognizes this place. It’s on the National Register of Historic Places. That’s not just a plaque for show; it means the owners have to adhere to strict guidelines to ensure the historical integrity of the site isn't ruined by modern "upgrades." You won't find drywall covering up the history here.
Challenges Most People Don't Talk About
It hasn't all been easy. Living or working in a historic industrial building is... loud. The acoustics that make a theater sound great can make a quiet office environment a bit of a nightmare if you aren't prepared for it. Then there’s the parking. Atlanta is a car city, and trying to fit modern parking requirements into a 1902 factory layout is like trying to put a square peg in a round hole.
Traffic on Marietta Street is also a beast.
But for the people who call this place home, the trade-offs are worth it. You’re trading a sterile glass office tower for a place that has a soul. You’re trading a cookie-cutter apartment for a space where every brick has a story.
The Economic Ripple Effect
When King Plow succeeded, it gave permission for other developers to care about the Westside. You can track a direct line from the success of this project to the rise of Westside Provisions District and the eventual explosion of the entire area. It proved that "cool" could be profitable in Atlanta.
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What You Should Do Next
If you're an artist looking for a space, don't just show up and expect a vacancy. The waitlists here can be legendary. However, if you're a business owner or a creative professional looking to tap into this energy, there are specific steps you should take to get involved in the community.
Visit for a Show: The easiest way to get the vibe of King and Plow Atlanta is to buy a ticket to an Actor's Express production. You’ll get to see the interior of the complex and experience the energy firsthand.
Contact the Management Directly: For commercial leasing, skip the general real estate sites. Reach out to the King Plow Arts Center management office directly. They prioritize tenants who fit the "creative" mission of the building.
Check Out the Events: If you’re planning a wedding or a corporate gala, tour the Bold American Events spaces within the complex. They offer tours that allow you to see areas of the building that are usually off-limits to the public.
Explore the Artery: Spend a day walking the Marietta Street Artery. Grab coffee nearby and just observe the foot traffic. It’s the best way to see if the pace of the Westside aligns with your personal or professional brand.
King and Plow Atlanta remains a testament to the idea that you don't have to destroy the past to build a future. It’s a functional piece of history that continues to shape the culture of the city, one play, one photograph, and one forged idea at a time.