English Avenue and Vine City
English Avenue and Vine City are two adjacent and closely linked neighborhoods of Atlanta, Georgia. Together the neighborhoods make up neighborhood planning unit L. The two neighborhoods are frequently cited together in reference to shared problems and to shared redevelopment schemes and revitalization plans.
Herndon Home, built by African-American insurance magnate Alonzo Herndon
English Avenue banner on street light pole
Vine City sign with Georgia Dome in background
Houses in proposed Sunset Avenue Historic District
Alonzo "Lon" Franklin Herndon was an African-American entrepreneur and businessman in Atlanta, Georgia. Born into slavery, he became one of the first African American millionaires in the United States, first achieving success by owning and operating three large barber shops in the city that served prominent white men. In 1905 he became the founder and president of what he built to be one of the United States' most well-known and successful African-American businesses, the Atlanta Family Life Insurance Company.
Alonzo Herndon
The Herndon Home