The Grit
Encyclopedia
The Grit is a vegetarian restaurant located at 199 Prince Avenue in Athens, Georgia
, US.
The restaurant opened in 1986, in a 19th century structure located at Hoyt Street Station. The neighborhood has since become more upscale and now contains several older structures that have been transformed into modern commercial or residential spaces, as was The Grit.
Although it attracts a diverse clientele, The Grit is perhaps best known for its relationship to the Athens music scene
. It is located on the edge of downtown Athens
, site of numerous performance venues. The Grit is a popular stop for touring performers and local musicians. Although he is not involved in the operation of the restaurant, the building is owned by R.E.M.
lead singer Michael Stipe
. In 2001 the restaurant's owners published The Grit Cookbook: World-Wise, Down-Home Recipes, which contains testimonials from many of The Grit's fans in the music industry and elsewhere. Admirers included Stipe, Kate Pierson
(of the B-52's
), Kevn Kinney, Vic Chesnutt
and Spalding Gray
, along with members of Pylon
, Widespread Panic
, Fugazi, The Jayhawks, Counting Crows
, and even Hee Haw
's Marianne Rogers
. The Grit's menu is entirely vegetarian, and a significant portion of items are vegan.
Jessica Greene and Ted Hafer bought the restaurant in 1996. Hafer had been a founding member of the Athens band Porn Orchard in the 1980s. Greene and Hafer co-authored The Grit Cookbook in 2001. In the morning hours of 9 November 2007 Hafer fell to his death from a downtown Athens parking garage. It was reported that he "likely committed suicide
". Hafer was 42. He was euologized as a passionate musician and philanthropist. In news coverage of his death, the restaurant was described as "wildly popular" and the source of "worldwide fame."
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
, US.
The restaurant opened in 1986, in a 19th century structure located at Hoyt Street Station. The neighborhood has since become more upscale and now contains several older structures that have been transformed into modern commercial or residential spaces, as was The Grit.
Although it attracts a diverse clientele, The Grit is perhaps best known for its relationship to the Athens music scene
Music of Athens, Georgia
The music of Athens, Georgia, includes a wide variety of popular music and was an important part of the early evolution of alternative rock and New Wave. The city is well known as the home of chart-topping bands like R.E.M. and The B-52s, and several long-time indie rock groups...
. It is located on the edge of downtown Athens
Downtown (Athens)
Downtown Athens in Athens, Georgia is generally considered to be the area bounded on the north by Dougherty Street , on the south by Broad Street and the University of Georgia campus, on the west by Pulaski Street, and on the east by Foundry Street....
, site of numerous performance venues. The Grit is a popular stop for touring performers and local musicians. Although he is not involved in the operation of the restaurant, the building is owned by R.E.M.
R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
lead singer Michael Stipe
Michael Stipe
John Michael Stipe is an American singer and lyricist. He was the lead vocalist of the alternative rock band R.E.M.Stipe is noted and occasionally parodied for the "mumbling" style of his early career as well as his social and political activism. He was in charge of R.E.M.'s visual image; often...
. In 2001 the restaurant's owners published The Grit Cookbook: World-Wise, Down-Home Recipes, which contains testimonials from many of The Grit's fans in the music industry and elsewhere. Admirers included Stipe, Kate Pierson
Kate Pierson
Catherine Elizabeth "Kate" Pierson is an American vocalist and one of the lead singers and founding members of The B-52's. One of the multi-instrumentalists in the band, Pierson played guitar, bass and various keyboard instruments...
(of the B-52's
The B-52's
The B-52's are an American rock band, formed in Athens, Georgia in 1976. The original line-up consisted of Fred Schneider , Kate Pierson , Cindy Wilson , Ricky Wilson , and Keith Strickland . Following Ricky Wilson's death in 1985 Strickland switched to guitar...
), Kevn Kinney, Vic Chesnutt
Vic Chesnutt
James Victor "Vic" Chesnutt was an American singer-songwriter from Athens, Georgia. His first album, Little, was released in 1990, but his breakthrough to commercial success didn't come until 1996 with the release of Sweet Relief II: Gravity of the Situation, a tribute album of mainstream artists...
and Spalding Gray
Spalding Gray
Spalding Rockwell Gray was an American actor, playwright, screenwriter, performance artist and monologuist...
, along with members of Pylon
Pylon (band)
Pylon is an American rock band from Athens, Georgia. The band's danceable jangle pop sound influenced the Athens music scene and the 1980s American pop underground. Allmusic wrote that Pylon's "role as elder statesmen of the alternative rock explosion is unassailable".-History:All four members of...
, Widespread Panic
Widespread Panic
Widespread Panic is an American rock band from Athens, Georgia. The current lineup includes guitarist/singer John Bell, bassist Dave Schools, drummer Todd Nance, percussionist Domingo "Sunny" Ortiz, keyboardist John "JoJo" Hermann, and guitarist Jimmy Herring...
, Fugazi, The Jayhawks, Counting Crows
Counting Crows
Counting Crows is an American rock band originating from Berkeley, California. Formed in 1991, the group gained popularity following the release of its debut album in 1993, August and Everything After, which featured the hit single "Mr. Jones"...
, and even Hee Haw
Hee Haw
Hee Haw is an American television variety show featuring country music and humor with fictional rural Kornfield Kounty as a backdrop. It aired on CBS-TV from 1969–1971 before a 20-year run in local syndication. The show was inspired by Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, the major difference being...
's Marianne Rogers
Marianne Gordon
Marianne Gordon is an American actress, and ex-wife of Kenny Rogers. Gordon and Rogers had one son together, Christopher Cody Rogers . Gordon's first husband was Playboy producer Michael Trikilis...
. The Grit's menu is entirely vegetarian, and a significant portion of items are vegan.
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
". Hafer was 42. He was euologized as a passionate musician and philanthropist. In news coverage of his death, the restaurant was described as "wildly popular" and the source of "worldwide fame."