Atlanta is home to 13 Fortune 500 companies, and although not all of them got their starts in this city, all are able to take advantage of Atlanta’s reasonable cost of living and the unlimited opportunity for growth this city offers. With each Fortune 500 company that relocates to Atlanta comes economic benefits: Unemployment goes down, demand for property goes up, levels of poverty decrease and the quality of life improves-quite the chain reaction. Newell Rubbermaid is one of the newer additions to the roster of blue-chip companies that call Atlanta home. Veterans include Home Depot, United Parcel Service, Coca-Cola and Delta Air Lines.

Who’s Who in Atlanta

Home Depot is one of the youngest Fortune 500 companies in existence today. Its creative concept was developed in 1978 by Bernie Marcus and Arthur M. Blank, who envisioned a warehouse store featuring an assortment of products and staffed with trained associates knowledgeable about those products. In its first year, Home Depot opened three stores and rang up $7 million in sales. By 1980, with 300 sales associates in training, Home Depot surpassed $22 million in sales. Two years later, the company operated 10 stores staffed by a total of 1,100 associates who tallied more than $118 million in sales.

At the eight-year mark in 1986, Home Depot hit $1 billion in sales and was still expanding. In
1988, the company hit $2 billion and then in 1990 almost $4 billion in sales. Throughout its rapid growth, Home Depot continued to invest in the community. In 1990, the company’s charitable donations exceeded $1.8 million. In 1992, Home Depot and its associates helped rebuild South Florida after Hurricane Andrew devastated the region. In 1994, the company raised
$7 million for City of Hope Medical Research Center. In 1995, it won the President’s National Community Service Award. The company has also supported the United Way’s September 11 Fund and has partnered with the U.S. Department of Labor to create jobs.

By the late 1990s, Home Depot had expanded abroad, opening stores in Chile, Puerto Rico and Argentina. Today the name Home Depot is synonymous with redecorating, revamping and rebuilding. More than 22 million people visit Home Depot stores every week.

In 1886, Civil War veteran John Pemberton, an Atlanta pharmacist, was tinkering with formulas to create a headache remedy when he stumbled upon the recipe for Coca-Cola.

After devising a caramel-colored syrup, Pemberton popped down the street to Jacob’s Pharmacy, where he mixed the syrup with carbonated water and convinced patrons to give it a try. Pemberton subsequently sold the formula to Atlanta businessman Asa Griggs Chandler and the rest, as they say, is history. By 1895, Chandler had built Coca-Cola plants in Chicago, Dallas and Los Angeles. While Chandler continued to sell the beverage as a fountain product, he sold exclusive bottling rights-for the sum of just $1-to two Chattanooga, Tenn., lawyers, Benjamin F. Thomas and Joseph B. Whitehead.

As its popularity grew, the powers-that-be decided to creative a distinctive bottle to set Coca-Cola apart from its imitators. The well-known contour-shaped Coca-Cola bottle debuted in 1916. To this day, it remains the product’s signature bottle. Bottling sales surpassed fountain sales by the 1920s. At the start of World War II, Coca-Cola was being bottled in 44 countries around the world.

New brands followed, including Sprite, Fanta, Diet Coke and Cherry Coke. Today the Coca-Cola empire stretches to almost every part of the globe. The company distributes approximately 300 different brands to 200 countries. Overseas sales of Coke account for two-thirds of the company’s revenue. In its hometown of Atlanta, where 6,000 people are employed by the company, Coca-Cola remains committed to the community. The Coca-Cola Youth Partnership works with charitable organizations focused on children and their education and the company has created a number of scholarships programs.

There is a common need among all companies, large and small, for prompt delivery of goods to their homes and offices. That’s where United Parcel Service enters the picture. Long before the existence of air freight and overnight delivery, a 19-year-old Seattle boy named James E. Casey
borrowed $100 from a friend to set up the American Messenger Co. That was back in 1907. At the start, most packages and messages were delivered on foot. Bicycles were used when longer distances came into play. Eventually, motorcycles replaced bicycles.

By 1913, the burgeoning delivery company had acquired an automobile and adopted brown as its trademark color. The name of the business was changed to United Parcel Service at the time of its first expansion beyond Seattle, when the company opened an office in Oakland, Calif. In 1929, UPS became the first package delivery company to utilize privately operated airlines to deliver packages-enabling it to expand its reach to the East Coast, where it eventually opened an office in New York City and, later, in Greenwich, Conn.

In 1991, UPS decided to high-tail it out of the northeastern United States, where the cost of living was skyrocketing. After considering Baltimore and Dallas, it settled on relocating to Atlanta, partly because of the city’s ready access to a world-class airport. The move to Atlanta brought with it a lot of financial growth for the city and later for the company. UPS is a huge contributor to the city, with a specific interest in local schools and United Way programs. Millions of dollars in corporate grants are distributed every year to programs that help communities.

Today, UPS employs about 12,000 full- and part-time workers in Atlanta; a total of 360,000 people worldwide. The company serves approximately 8 million people every day, earning impressive annual revenues of $31.3 billion. In 2004, for the sixth consecutive year, Fortune Magazine named UPS the “World’s Most Admired Company” in its category. In a world where companies rise and fall so rapidly, it’s worth noting when a business approaches its 100-year anniversary. UPS has a lot to celebrate.

Delta Air Lines traces its roots to the South, where it had its beginnings as the Huff Daland Dusters crop-dusting operation. Founded in Georgia in 1925, Huff Daland Dusters owned 18 planes-once the largest privately owned fleet in the world. C.E. Woodman bought the thriving business in 1928 and renamed it Delta Air Service in deference to its location in the Mississippi Delta region. By 1929, Delta was operating passenger flights from Mississippi to Texas. Planes used at that time carried just five passengers and one pilot.

In 1941, Delta moved its headquarters from Monroe, Ga., to Atlanta. At its new location, Delta had space to modify more than 1,000 aircraft, in addition to training pilots and mechanics for the war effort. Following World War II, the company officially changed its name to Delta Air Lines Inc. By 1956, advances in technology had paved the way for Delta to begin installing radar in its aircraft. The new technology gave Delta the means to extend its reach from Atlanta to Los Angeles and eventually link California to the Caribbean.

Throughout the 1970s the company continued to build and break records with new cargo and passenger airplanes. In 1979, the company celebrated its 50th anniversary. By 1988, Delta had established operations in Asia. In 1995, Delta was named the official airline of the Centennial Olympic Games. It didn’t hurt that the Games were in Atlanta!

Today Delta is one of Atlanta’s largest employers with more than 30,000 full- and part-time workers. The company employs 100,000 people worldwide. Ever conscious of the world it serves, Delta Air Lines Inc. established the Signature Partners Program, linking itself with organizations that focus on youth leadership development and youth wellness, including the Red Cross, CARE, the Children’s Miracle Network and the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.

Timing Is Everything

Atlanta is full of regional delicacies, including what some people call Southern fast food-barbecue and chicken biscuits. Check out the local chains for a quick taste of the South when you’re on the run. When you have time to relax, select from an array of fine dining establishments.

Where to Stay

Wyndham Peachtree Hotel and Conference Center

Surrounded by 19 wooded acres, Wyndham Peachtree Hotel and Conference Center is an urban oasis. It’s the perfect place for a small or large c onference or a getaway retreat. Featuring 250 guestrooms and Wyndham’s signature Golden Door Spa, the hotel also offers a full range of business services and amenities, including computer rentals upon request.
Wyndham Peachtree Hotel and Conference Center
2443 Highway 54 W., Peachtree City, GA 30269
tel 770 487 2000, www.wyndham.com

The Georgian Terrace Hotel
The Georgian Terrace Hotel is located in midtown Atlanta, minutes from some of the city’s popular museums and theaters. For business, however, you won’t have to go even that far. The most prestigious conference center in Atlanta is in the lobby, with 16,000 square feet of meeting space, featuring state-of-the-art technology. Guest suites feature European-style duvet covers, oversized windows and full kitchens.
The Georgian Terrace Hotel, 659 Peachtree St.
Atlanta, GA 30308, tel 404 897 1991, fax 404 724 9116
www.thegeorgianterrace.com

The Westin Atlanta North at Perimeter

The Westin Atlanta North at Perimeter is conveniently located less than 30 minutes from downtown Atlanta and only 15 miles from Turner Field (home of the Atlanta Braves). The abundant meeting rooms have been newly renovated and have high-speed Internet access. For guests who don’t want to venture out into the city, there are two great restaurants in the hotel. The cozy and comfortable guestrooms are furnished with oversized desks and ergonomic desk chairs.
The Westin Atlanta North at Perimeter
7 Concourse Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30328
tel 770 395 3900, fax 770 395 3935, www.starwood.com

Embassy Suites Hotel Atlanta – Buckhead

The Embassy Suites Hotel is located in the most upscale area of Atlanta. Buckhead has been dubbed the “Beverly Hills of the East,” so if you are looking for an area with lots of excitement, this is it! A shuttle provides complimentary service to locations within a one-mile radius. In the hotel, there are pools and spas to unwind, as well as business centers and meeting rooms Each of the guest suites has a private bedroom and spacious living room.
Embassy Suites Hotel Atlanta – Buckhead
3285 Peachtree Road N.E., Atlanta, GA 30305
tel 404 262 7733, fax 404 261 6857
www.embassysuites.com

Where to Dine

Atlanta Fish Market

The place to go for good fish and seafood is Atlanta Fish Market. This ‘40s-style restaurant has a formal dining room in the front and its very own fish market in the back. Raw bar offerings are always fresh and plentiful. There is a huge turnover as people come from all over to sample the freshest fish in Atlanta. Reservations are not required. Lunch and dinner entrées cost about $10 to $28.
Atlanta Fish Market, 265 Pharr Road N.E.
Atlanta, GA 30305, tel 404 262 3165

Fratelli Di Napoli Ristorante

Fratelli Di Napoli Ristorante will satisfy your utmost craving for Italian food. The sauces are rich, and the pasta is always cooked al dente. If you like fish, the Salmon Romanesco will melt in your mouth. Family-style portions serve two to three, so if you come in with a large group you get to try a little bit of everything. Reservations are accepted for parties of five or
more. Dinner costs about $20.
Fratelli Di Napoli Ristorante, 2101 Tula St., N.W. Suite B
Atlanta, GA 30309, tel 404 351 1533, www.fratelli.net

Vinocity

Vinocity is best known for its selection of wines from around the world-so much so that menu items are created to complement wines, rather than the other way around. Featuring a whopping 60 wines served by the glass, the menu recommends wines to accompany various selections. Start with caramelized scallops. Appetizers are big and great to share. Reservations are strongly recommended. Dinner entrées cost $10 to $28.
Vinocity, 36 13th St., Atlanta, GA 30309, tel 404 870 8886
www.vinocitywinebar.com

The Abbey

Located in a former church, The Abbey is an Atlanta favorite. The atmosphere is fun and easygoing. There are vaulted ceilings and stained-glass windows. Try the daily specials. If you’re dining with a group, opt for the enticing dessert table so you can sample a variety of sweets. Dinner entrées cost $10 to $22.
The Abbey, 163 Ponce De Leon Ave., Atlanta, GA 30308
tel 404 876 8532, fax 404 876 8832
www.theabbeyrestaurant.com

Bridgetown Tropical Grill and Bar

Walking into Bridgetown Grill will make any patron feel like he just arrived in the Caribbean. It’s a local chain that attracts families and corporate officers alike. There are four locations in Atlanta. They serve a wide array of island treats. Conch fritters are great and the classic barbecued ribs are finger-licking good. Select from a menu of about a dozen frozen drinks and you’ll swear you’re in a tropical paradise. Bridgetown is very casual and does not require reservations. Lunch and dinner entrées cost $7 to $18.
Bridgetown Grill – Buckhead, 3316 Piedmont Road
Atlanta, GA 30305, tel 404 266 1500, fax 404 266 3992
www.bridgetowngrill.com

Want to Go?

Atlanta is home to one of the largest and busiest airports in the world, Hartsfield International Airport (ATL). Comprised of two terminals (North and South), six concourses, the airport is currently looking toward a 10-year, $5.4 billion expansion project that will add another passenger terminal, more parking and enhanced transportation options. Eight car-rental agencies have offices at the airport. Driving around Atlanta is fairly simple. The city also prides itself on its public transportation system. The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (www.itsmarta.com)-a network of buses and trains-is quite possibly the easiest and most cost-effective way to travel around Atlanta.