Page 42 - DeKalb Bicentennial Flipbook

The GM Motors Assembly Plant in Doraville (left) was adjacent
to the Doraville Yard, a railyard that primarily loaded GM Buicks,
Oldsmobiles, and Pontiacs in auto carriers for delivery around
the U.S. Your Buford Farmers Market (right) – one of the largest
in the Southeast – features foods from Asia, Latin America, the
Caribbean, West Africa and Eastern Europe.

CITY OF DORAVILLE

FOUNDED 1871
Mayor Joseph Geierman

Home to about 11,000 people, Doraville is a hub for television and movie studio productions, including
Third Rail Studios — here in a city often referred to as the Hollywood of the South.

efore city incorporation in the 1830s, this Georgia’s “Camera Ready” community with movie studios,
was an agricultural settlement. The city was artisan shops, restaurants, and retail.
incorporated in 1871 and evolved into a town of Atlanta’s International Corridor, Buford Highway, runs
B hardware stores and lumber yards. through part of Doraville. The restaurant and business signs
Doraville was put on the map when General Motors in global languages along the highway reveal that many
selected a site for its new assembly plant in the 1940s. The diverse cultures of people live, work, and play here.
Doraville Plant General Motors Assembly Division was Your Buford Farmers Market is one of the largest in the
the final production facility for Buick, Oldsmobile, and Southeast and operating for more than 25 years. Along the
Pontiac. Over two years, the first cars were shipped by 1,300 Buford Highway corridor, the market sells foods from Korea,
employees, which meant the population was booming and Latin America, the Caribbean, West Africa, Japan, China,
new businesses were coming to the area. A Chevrolet line Thailand, Vietnam, Eastern Europe, and elsewhere.
was added in 1964. The GM plant ceased operations in 2008. Doraville has seven parks, including the 20-acre
Once-thriving industrial centers, like the 165-acre GM Honeysuckle Park with sports fields and a recreation center.
plant, are evolving to embrace today’s culture. The former Doraville Art (DArt) presents new public art experiences

GM plant will be home to The Assembly in 2023. This multi- for the city. All of this inspires a tremendous community
use movie studio headquarters and mixed retail/living space, spirit for a city that’s going to continue growing not only in
connected with direct rail service via MARTA, will become population, but in acclaim.

40 Sp i rit o f D eK alb – B i centen n ial 1822-2022