An Overview of What the Trade Show’s Host City Offers Its Visitors
After a three-year, COVID-induced hiatus, the laundry industry’s largest trade show and convention is back. The Clean Show is returning to the industry’s center stage for the first time since 2019 – and to the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta for the first time in seven years.
As the 2022 edition of the show rolls into Atlanta for its four-day run – July 30 through August 2 – the Big Peach is ready to play the perfect host. So, after a full day on the trade show floor and in the seminar rooms, be sure to take in all that today’s Atlanta has to offer.
The city, which gave birth to the classic “Gone with the Wind,” is teeming with American history, from the Civil War to the civil rights movement. However, to be clear, Atlanta in 2022 is a bustling metropolis that’s more “New South” than old.
Its population of 6 million residents is decidedly youthful and racially diverse. Centennial Olympic Park, the heart of downtown’s tourist hub, is marked by cascading fountains that draw visitors to its core. Attractions abound at Pemberton Place with the popular Georgia Aquarium, the World of Coca-Cola and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. And, for sports fans, the College Football Hall of Fame is a must-see attraction.
The city’s rich history comes to life in Sweet Auburn, an African American community just east of downtown Atlanta, which has become a civil rights mecca for those visiting the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site and the famed Ebenezer Baptist Church.
Atlanta also features a wide array of chef-run restaurants dishing up modern American cuisine in strikingly beautiful spaces. Among the cutting-edge eateries are plenty of cozy diners, cafés and bistros. Moreover, the ethnic mom-and-pop restaurants along Buford Highway offer menus with little English and a lot of flavor.
Beyond the city’s core, Atlanta’s neighborhoods are packed with personality. Midtown melds in-town glitz with the culture. The Westside has become a magnet for foodies, design enthusiasts and shoppers. Buckhead blends boutiques and galleries with fabulous dining, while Little Five Points lives on the edge of bohemian grunge paired with solid live theatre and music scenes.
Culture permeates Atlanta. Emerging artists and designers pepper the local galleries and boutiques. The city also boasts an award-winning symphony, opera and ballet. Visitors also can catch Atlanta’s homegrown talent at its numerous local playhouses, theaters and neighborhood music venues.
In addition, the Coin Laundry Association is planning a Clean Show party for its members that’s sure to be one of the highlights of this year’s show. The party will be held on July 31 at the Georgia Aquarium. This dinner event, which starts at 7:00 p.m., will feature an open bar, excellent food, great music and entertainment, and some truly one-of-a-kind experiences.
No doubt, Clean ’22 will offer store owners the perfect opportunity to get a fresh perspective on their laundry operations, while combining a little sightseeing with some much-needed in-person business networking.
