Named for the Starland Dairy, a milk-processing cooperative that operated on Bull Street in Savannah, Georgia, from the 1930s to the ’80s, this once declining neighborhood has rallied in recent years, thanks in part to two graduates of the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) who imagined a mixed-use district with an arts community at its core. While the dairy’s restoration is a work in progress, here are a few places that show how the overall vision is coming to fruition.
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Savannah African Art Museum
Businessman Don Kole opened this museum in 2017 to showcase his collection of Western and Central African art. “We are the only museum in the Southeast to focus solely on pre-colonial and colonial African art and culture,” says founding director Billie Stultz. The nonprofit institution also provides tours and educational programming for local public-school students.
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Starland Yard
After launching in 2019, this outdoor food court quickly became the go-to spot for locals. The biggest hit are the blistered Neapolitan pies from Vittoria, which are made with heritage grains. “We rely on millers, farmers, and creameries to make the best pizza we can,” says chef-owner Kyle Jacovino. On weekends, enjoy a margherita while live bands jam inside salvaged shipping containers.
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Two Tides Brewing
This brewery, which occupies a narrow, two-story building next to Starland Yard, has been serving hazy IPAs, fruity sours, imperial stouts, and beer slushies since 2018. Once they’ve ordered their pints in the taproom, guests can make their way into one of the pinball machine–equipped living rooms or out to the balcony to soak up the sunshine.
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Water Witch Tiki
“While we do not have the chaos of downtown, there is always a buzz on the streets,” says Water Witch Tiki co-owner Brigitte Harley. Behind the unassuming facade of this Bull Street watering hole, which is named for a sunken Civil War ship, drinkers find tropical-print wallpaper that complements colorful drinks served in one-of-a-kind ceramics—plus an impressive list of rums.
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Big Bon Bodega
Kay Heritage has watched this neighborhood thrive since she opened Big Bon Bodega—which makes Montreal-inspired bagels with a South Korean twist—in 2019. “We are thankful to be part of the growth,” she says, and her success is no surprise, thanks to bagels that are served with tangy kimchi cream cheese or as sandwiches such as the roast pork Bon Mi.
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Sulfur Studios
Started by three SCAD grads in 2014, Sulfur Studios now encompasses 26 artist studios and a gallery. “We wanted the public to see artists at work, demystifying the art-making process while connecting artists with collectors,” says executive director Emily Earl. In 2020, the founders launched Arts Southeast, a nonprofit that seeks to make Savannah even more of a cultural destination.
Next Up: Get to Know Birmingham’s Five Points South Neighborhood
