Mjq Concourse

(404) 870-0575

736 Ponce de Leon Ave NE
Atlanta, GA 30306 33.7739 -84.3629

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Neighborhoods: St. Charles/ Greenwood, Northeast, Northeast

Last updated 10.29.10

Category:

Bars & Clubs, Nightclubs, Dance Clubs

Payment Methods:

Cash

Bar & Club Type of Music:

DJ - Techno, DJ - Electronica, DJ - House, DJ - R&B

Bar & Club Special Features:

DJ, 21 & Over

Smoking Permitted:

Yes

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Mjq Concourse

Featured Review

Erin Behan

Contributor

The Scene – This subterranean nightclub has been the backbone of Atlanta's underground club scene since its debut in the basement of the Ponce de Leon Hotel in 1994. In 1997, it moved to its current spot in an old parking garage and changed its name to MJQ Concourse. The dark decor, with its glowing, centrally placed bar and cozy dance floor, makes for some of the best clubbing in Atlanta. In the side room, complete with a second bar and additional DJ booth, crimson walls are painted with friendly caricatures of imaginary MJQ patrons. Comfy couches dot the small room, giving it a more…

Editor's Tips

The Extras:
Don't leave without scoring. Play the original Street Fighter and Tron arcade games, as well as the city's only stocked and updated PlayStation2.
When to Go:
MJQ gets bustling after 1am. It can get shoulder-to-shoulder, especially for Brit-Pop Wednesdays, Deep House Saturdays and the monthly No Static hip-hop parties.
Look Good:
If the line's lagging for the main restrooms, try the usually cleaner bathroom on the "cafe" side.
ambiance
85.0% positive
  1. “snooty bartenders (i dont know why i still even tip them sometimes), cash only, parking,”
  2. “the decor was done by some really talented guys and you feel like you've stepped into some mod spaceship in the big room, an alcoholic cafe in the other room, and the drunken unicorn is breathtaking.”
  3. “hot beats, great crowd, guiltless dancin & boozin, chill atmosphere”
  4. “This cool underground parking garage is not for the pretentious or, what we Liberians like to call, Quwee!”
  5. “need a place where the music is good, the atmosphere is laidback, the drinks and cover are cheap, and the service is not rude and condescending to the people they are serving.”
  6. “Although i love the bar and location, there are a few bartenders that can be difficult and even ask you to leave for no reason even if you are sober and abiding (it happened one night when i was DD!)”
drinks
95.83000183105469% positive
  1. “But other than that, the drinks pretty pretty decent and not too expensive”
  2. “need a place where the music is good, the atmosphere is laidback, the drinks and cover are cheap, and the service is not rude and condescending to the people they are serving.”
  3. “Biggest draws: Diversity, edgy, cheap drinks, cheap entry, real dancing, actual hooking up, interesting people, Best Music in the city.”
  4. “love this bar, and if you aren't into all that hip-hop/techno stuff you can always have a great time on wednesdays in the big room and saturdays in the cafe.”
  5. “They are inattentive and rude, but I put up with them because the drinks were cheap and the music was good.”
  6. “was there this past Saturday and I tried to order drinks and once they were ordered I tried to pay for the drinks.”
  7. “At any rate, the community of the customers in the bar is wonderful and if you are a girl hoping to not get groped all night, you will love how much more respectful the majority of men are in this bar.”
  8. “If this is how this establishment chooses to treat their customers, that's awesome, but I was the DD for friends of mine and ordering for them, so I was stone cold sober, I just wanted to pay for the drinks.”
  9. “Do what I did and give your $ to your buddy to get the drinks while you enjoy the non-stop good music:)”
  10. “This dark dive bar has a great scene, one of the last places you can see crowds.”
  11. “Although i love the bar and location, there are a few bartenders that can be difficult and even ask you to leave for no reason even if you are sober and abiding (it happened one night when i was DD!)”
  12. “Expect a great sound system, quality music, and cheap drinks and entry fee ( if any).”
food quality
100.0% positive
  1. “The new faces keep the club fresh, and the regulars make the place still matter.”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “Wanna see a variety of GOOD dancers this is the place (house, capuera, breakers, etc).”
  2. “great music, theme nights, respectful diverse crowd, 2 seperate rooms”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “It is a great place to visit on a wednesday or friday night with a close group of friends and dance.”
service
66.14999771118164% positive
  1. “Great place to people watch too.”
  2. “They are inattentive and rude, but I put up with them because the drinks were cheap and the music was good.”
  3. “MJQ: the crowd is great, but some of the bartenders are horrible.”
  4. “Also, on a side note, the bartenders are slow and rude and every door person I've ever encountered there has been rude in some way, just talking badly about people for no reason and stuff.”
  5. “The bartenders have always been awful.”
  6. “But the bartenders aren't that great!”
  7. “It is affordable and the bartenders are great.”
  8. “For the last year or so, I have tried to have faith in a club where I have had such good nights out, but I've come to realize that MJQ, which was a different kind of club where you could dance with good, laidback people to good, dance-able music, is no mo”
  9. “The best dj's, the best sound, greatest staff, the coolest, laid-back hippie mixed with hip-hop crowd in the A. Check your bling at the door - expect to get real sweaty and if it rains hard while ur there, expect ur shoes to be a mess when u leave.”
  10. “Although i love the bar and location, there are a few bartenders that can be difficult and even ask you to leave for no reason even if you are sober and abiding (it happened one night when i was DD!)”
  11. “need a place where the music is good, the atmosphere is laidback, the drinks and cover are cheap, and the service is not rude and condescending to the people they are serving.”
  12. “snooty bartenders (i dont know why i still even tip them sometimes), cash only, parking,”
  13. “Biggest draws: Diversity, edgy, cheap drinks, cheap entry, real dancing, actual hooking up, interesting people, Best Music in the city.”
value
100.0% positive
  1. “need a place where the music is good, the atmosphere is laidback, the drinks and cover are cheap, and the service is not rude and condescending to the people they are serving.”
  2. “It is affordable and the bartenders are great.”
  3. “Biggest draws: Diversity, edgy, cheap drinks, cheap entry, real dancing, actual hooking up, interesting people, Best Music in the city.”
  4. “But other than that, the drinks pretty pretty decent and not too expensive”
  5. “They are inattentive and rude, but I put up with them because the drinks were cheap and the music was good.”
  6. “Expect a great sound system, quality music, and cheap drinks and entry fee ( if any).”
wait time
0.0% positive
  1. “Also, on a side note, the bartenders are slow and rude and every door person I've ever encountered there has been rude in some way, just talking badly about people for no reason and stuff.”
4 Star Rating: Recommended

10/15/11

The Coolest underground spot intown

by Jonadams121

I love this spot and they carry my favorite beer Pabst Blue ribbon ! I ALWAYS HAVE A GOOD TIME HERE !!

1 Star Rating: Poor

05/16/11

Fake as it gets!

by Unfiltered

It's like some trust-fund kid from East Cobb saw a video from 1997 on an "underground" dance club, and based on that designed this club. It's really that bad.

The staff is extremely rude, and the crowd seems like the A/V club of your old high school, a few years older and now suddenly self-impressed.

If you're a wannabe scenester, this is your place. If you want to laugh at wannabe scenesters, you may find it amusing.

Drinks are cheap though.

4 Star Rating: Recommended

03/01/10

Why I love Atlanta

by Mayor of Ponce

As much as things change, including the ongoing gentrification of Ponce de Leon Avenue, It's nice to know some things stay the same. Clubs and trends come and go, but Wednesdays at MJQ still reigns as the best club night in the city. The no frills former parking garage is approaching it's12th anniversary, and every week you get exactly what you expect from the old stand-by. From the break dancers in the cafe, Poppy pissed at someone at the front door, or the old dude who's the first one on the dance floor every week in the main room, the Q still delivers. The new faces keep the club fresh, and the regulars make the place still matter. Here's hoping the legendary hole in the ground can fend off the Chipotles and Urban Outfitter's for just a few more years.

It's still free, DJ Brian Parris still delivers, and the Q still matters. Mod's, Jew's, and Queer's, everyone is still welcome on Ponce.

  • Pros: An Atlanta Staple
  • Cons: The day after
1 Star Rating: Poor

09/03/09

Fun Place, TERRIBLE, EXTREMELY RUDE STAFF!!!

by gtg434x

I have been going to MJQ/ The Drunken Unicorn for several years now. I enjoy the music there and the crowd. I always go on Wednesday nights because it is free to get in, drinks are cheap and they have fun music that night. Last night, I went there and was shocked by the way the woman at the door acted. I went with two of my girlfriends, two guy friends and one of my friend's boyfriend. The lady didn't charge us cover except for the boyfriend. I AM COMPLETELY SHOCKED THAT THEY WOULD DISCRIMINATE THAT MUCH TO MAKE ONE PERSON PAY OUT OF A GROUP OF SIX!!!!! WHEN I APPROACHED HER TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON SHE TOLD ME, "I'LL MAKE WHOEVER THE F*** I WANNA PAY, PAY" SHE TREATED MY FRIEND'S BOYFRIEND AND I WITH UTTER DISRESPECT. SHE THEN TRIED TO KICK ME OUT OF THE CLUB FOR SAYING SOMETHING ABOUT IT AND TOLD ME I BETTER NOT F***ING COME BACK AGAIN. THAT IS HIGHLY DISCRIMINATORY. HE WASN'T THE ONLY GUY OR ANYTHING EITHER. WHY DID HE NEED TO PAY WHEN NO ONE ELSE DID AND IT IS ALWAYS FREE ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT???!!!!!!! I AM SO ANGRY THAT I WILL NEVER BE RETURNING, BUT I DID ENJOY THE MUSIC SO IT IS SAD THE STAFF IS SO RUDE, DISCRIMINATING AND SLOW. Also, on a side note, the bartenders are slow and rude and every door person I've ever encountered there has been rude in some way, just talking badly about people for no reason and stuff. If what the lady did isn't illegal, it should be and she should've lost her job and gone to jail for what she did.

  • Pros: good music, cheap drinks, fun crowd
  • Cons: all staff members are rude and bar is extremely slow.
1 Star Rating: Poor

08/13/09

MJQ is dead

by jmintheam

I started going to MJQ 5 years ago and loved it. Even then, people who had been going there before me said it was dying. For the last year or so, I have tried to have faith in a club where I have had such good nights out, but I've come to realize that MJQ, which was a different kind of club where you could dance with good, laidback people to good, dance-able music, is no more.

The bartenders have always been awful. They are inattentive and rude, but I put up with them because the drinks were cheap and the music was good. But even now, drink prices have gone up, and the music leaves a lot to be desired because...the DJs are awful. Someone needs to tell the DJs that they are not celebrities and that they should listen to the crowd and play music people actually want to hear. Plus, there are now goons acting as body guards or something for the DJs, keeping people away from the front stage (why did they move the DJ booth anyway?). Everyone who works at MJQ should realize that we are in Atlanta, not L.A., not New York. The people who make the club are the people dancing in it, not the DJs who are too busy soaking up their own awesomeness.

Maybe it is because MJQ has become more popular lately, with lines around the shack (people, the club is not worth the line), and they feel like they need to be standoffish and rude. It's no longer "all about cool" or a "music lover's paradise."

So, if anyone reading this knows of a better place to dance in Atlanta, I want to hear about it. I need a place where the music is good, the atmosphere is laidback, the drinks and cover are cheap, and the service is not rude and condescending to the people they are serving.

  • Cons: DJs, bartenders, awful service

The Details on Mjq Concourse

Place Categories:

  • good danceable music
  • love place
  • rude bartenders
  • best dj
  • great cheap drinks
  • best dance club
  • discriminating staff
  • good theme nights
  • great steriotype crowd
  • love bar
  • good laidback people
  • big room
  • condescending service
  • good dancers
  • great scene
  • awesome customers
  • nice shows
  • great sound system
  • great entry fee
  • cool spot
  • love location
  • cool underground parking garage
  • best greatest staff
  • horrible crowd

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