I’ve spent a lot of time in the Buford area over the years. Many weeks were spent camping at one of the US Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds on Lake Lanier. Many more days were spent zipping across the lake in our boat or floating on rafts in calm coves and under the hot sun. We’d leave the lake for groceries and other necessities when absolutely necessary. Running down to Buford was just part of the routine.
However, recently we were invited to go to downtown Buford for dinner with friends. “Downtown Buford,” I wondered?
I didn’t know Buford even had a downtown. Six of us drove to Buford in a large SUV while we listened to stories of the early days of Buford from one in the party who had spent much of his work career in Buford. According to Scott Brown, now a Clarkesville resident, “Buford was a happening place in the 70s and 80s.” Some of Scott’s favorite memories are about the movie celebrities he met in Buford, like Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, and Burt Reynolds. “Reynolds was the nicest fellow I ever met there,” Scott remembers. “He was in town to make a movie and he was just a normal guy. He would talk to everybody and never turned anyone down for a photo or an autograph.”
We dined that night at the Bare Bones Restaurant, housed in the old Shadburn Bank Building right on Main Street. The restaurant is known for its delicious food, especially the steaks. We were just as enthralled by the building itself. The restaurant has maintained the charm of the 1901 bank building. We ate upstairs in what was once a school gymnasium and the first indoor basketball court in Gwinnett County. According to the wait staff, bank customers on the ground floor could hear the basketballs bounce on the wooden floor above.
The town itself fascinated me. When I had the opportunity to spend a day with a girlfriend, we picked downtown Buford as the place we wanted to go. The town is steeped in history and has gone through a period of restoration. Downtown Buford is now a beautiful place to spend a day walking along Main Street, shopping in unique stores and boutiques, enjoying lunch, and exploring the town’s rich history.
Here’s some ideas that I can personally recommend.
Shopping in Downtown Buford
We enjoyed (meaning we left behind money) several of the boutiques and stores in town. My personal favorite was Further Down the Rabbit Hole, a women’s boutique with really unique pieces and reasonable prices. I bought a crocheted overtop there that has received a lot of compliments every time I wear it.
We also loved the Rusty Fence, a store that has some interesting furniture and decor pieces, and even clothes. We actually bought a gorgeous old chest of drawers there that we then had to figure out how to get into the little hatchback Hyundai that I drive. By the time we had also visited Queen of Hearts Antiques, which is also in the area, we were practically sitting on furniture pieces to get home.
Finally, we enjoyed Georgia Threads, a small store that carries a multitude of locally sourced jams, jellies, honey, and more, as well as t-shirts and other fabric items celebrating Georgia. The gentleman who runs the store is also a great one to have a political discussion with if you have the time.
One note of caution: Some stores have reduced hours and/or days, so contact places where you want to shop to make sure the stores will be open. Several we would have loved to shop were not.
Food in Downtown Buford
Several restaurants are open for lunch so finding a place to eat is easy. We chose the Main Street Deli because we were in a hurry to shop more. Here are several to choose from:
- Main Street Deli, 60 E Main Street NE
- Aqua Terra Bistro, 55 E Main Street NE
- Tannery Row Ale House, 554 W Main Street
- Rico’s World Kitchen, 306 W Main Street
History of Downtown Buford
Buford was founded in 1872 around the building of the railroad. In fact, the town was named for Algernon Sidney Buford, the president of the Atlanta and Richmond Air-Land Railroad. Buford remained a resident of Richmond, Virginia, during his twenty years of service, but he kept an office in Buford as well.
As one of the younger towns in Georgia, historians emphasize that Buford was never a sleepy little town because the residents were interested in bringing business and education into the town. That forward thinking led to major economic success in the area with several large industrial operations. According to the town’s history, Buford became known as the “city of many factories” and “Leather City.”
One of those was the Bona Allen Tannery, which produced shoes sold nationally as well as high-end saddles and other leather products. Local rumor holds that the tannery made saddles for Roy Rogers as well as other Hollywood notables. The tannery building now hosts a colony of artisans. Interestingly, Bona Allen also operated the only glue factory in the south.
If you’re a history buff, you may want to check out these places:
- Drive by Bona Allen Mansion, located at 395 E Main Street. It’s a magnificent Italian-styled mansion built by the owner of Bona Allen Tannery, Bona Allen, Sr. The home is not open for tours but is now an exclusive event location.
- Museum of Buford, located in the Buford Community Center at 2200 Buford Hwy NE. The museum is outside the historic downtown area but documents the town’s history.
