Our Mission:
The Hot Corner Association is dedicated to celebrating the entrepreneurship of the Black business community and inspiring young minds in pursuit of entrepreneurship. It aims to preserve and celebrate the rich history of the Hot Corner and to create a welcoming and active community for Athenians where they can take part in a culture of unity.

Our History:
​The Hot Corner is a historic community and economic hub of Athens made up of landmark black business and trailblazing professionals. The Hot Corner began in the 20th century as a center of entrepreneurship and entertainment, coinciding with the construction of the AME Church on Dougherty Street which still stands today. In 1910, Monroe Bowers “Pink” Morton built the Morton Building at the intersection of Hull and Washington streets, which is currently the oldest, African-American built and owned theatre in the country. In the early 1900s, the building became home to a variety of companies such as the Ellington D. Harris Drug Company, which was the first black-owned drugstore in Athens. Professionals in that building also included the practice of Dr. Ida Mae Hiram, the first black female dentist in Athens as well as the first black woman to pass the Georgia Dental Board exams, and Dr. Blanche Thompson, the first black female physician in Athens. Many black-owned businesses also resided across the street from the Morton, including a motel, food market, a few restaurants, and some barbershops. Today, Wilson’s Styling Shop, which opened its doors in the 1950s, serves as one of the modern-day anchors of the Hot Corner.