Lucy Jackson founded Atlanta’s Busy Bee Cafe, which opened in 1947.
Jackson established the restaurant in Atlanta’s West End during a period when African American-owned businesses were central to Black neighborhoods and community life. The cafe became known for Southern dishes such as fried chicken, collard greens, macaroni and cheese, and peach cobbler.
Busy Bee Cafe also became associated with Atlanta’s civil rights history. Its customers included prominent activists and public figures, while the restaurant continued serving local residents across generations.
The cafe is sometimes mistaken for a newer soul food business because its name sounds informal and modern. Its founding date, however, places it among Atlanta’s long-established African American restaurants.