Underground Atlanta set to welcome legendary MJQ this month

Josh Green

Wed, 01/08/2025 – 16:14

As of this month, two of Atlanta’s most legendary nightlife venues will have officially pulled up stakes on the eastside and relocated to downtown.

Like the Masquerade before it, beloved nightclub staple MJQ Concourse has completed renovations and is set to open to the general public in Underground Atlanta at 11 p.m. on Jan. 22.

MJQ has operated on Ponce de Leon Avenue in Virginia-Highland for nearly 30 years, but after the Jan. 22 opening at Underground, the venue’s current subterranean space will permanently close. (RIP).

MJQ’s opening will mark the first public use for Underground’s iconic former Dante’s Down the Hatch space in more than 25 years.

In an announcement today, Underground officials called the move a “historic transition” that will create “a unique fusion of two Atlanta institutions” that thoughtfully preserves character.

Entrance to the former Dante’s Down the Hatch restaurant and nightclub, as seen during a property tour in August 2021.Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

The design for MJQ’s new digs was inspired by sci-fi and cyberpunk aesthetics and incorporates some of Dante’s elements. (As this tour in 2021 proved, the former Dante’s fondue and jazz emporium was a veritable time capsule, with its ship, crocodile pit, and menagerie of hanging bottles still in place.)

MJQ’s space is described as “an immersive atmosphere inspired by Blade Runner and Mad Max, creating a futuristic, sci-fi ambiance” with “hidden nooks for mingling and relaxation.” Other components include an arcade area and “snack corner” that pays homage to the diverse food offerings of Buford Highway, per project leaders.

As for libations, MJQ’s cherished lower drink prices will carry over ($3 beer and $6 cocktail specials each night), alongside boozy slushies for what MJQ ownership calls a retro, playful touch. Entry on opening night will also be free.

The same DJs and sound system from MJQ’s Virginia-Highland location will be transferred to the Underground venue in an effort to preserve its essence.

Dante’s opened in the early 1970s and shuttered in 1999 as Underground’s post-Olympics slide took hold. The successor location in Buckhead closed in 2013 to allow for high-rise development, and the concept’s originator, Dante Stephenson, died in 2020 at age 84.

“Carrying the torch of such an iconic nightclub that is rooted in Atlanta’s nightlife history is an honor, and I’m excited to lead the charge on this next iteration,” Ryan Purcell, an MJQ co-owner with Ryan Murphy, said in a prepared statement.

MJQ will join Underground’s ongoing live-work-play revitalization and a broader entertainment portfolio that includes The Masquerade and venues such as Future.

Collectively, those Underground tenants hosted more than 3,000 shows in 2024 alone, according to the property’s owners.

“Ever since purchasing Underground, the most asked question was what we would do with the Dante’s Down the Hatch space,” said Shaneel Lalani, CEO of Underground’s owner, Lalani Ventures. “MJQ was a perfect fit… [that] will serve as a cornerstone of our entertainment district, complementing our vision for a 24-hour downtown Atlanta.”

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