Finding Love on The Dance Floor at Johnny’s Hideaway
The Playlist at Johnny’s Hideaway
- “The Lady In Red” by Chris Deburg and Csaba Schmitz
- “Let’s Get It On” by Marvin Gaye
- “Let’s Staher” by Al Green
- “Wonderful Tonight” by Eric Clapton
- “Love Will Keep Us Together” by Captain & Tennille
- “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra
- “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley
- “Hopelessly Devoted To You” by Oliva Newton-John
- “We Belong Together” by Mariah Carey
- “I Want It That Way” by Backstreet Boys
Owner Chris D’Auria Shares Little Known-Facts and Fave Stories
To get more of the inside scoop, Best Self Atlanta editor Wyndi Kappes recently sat down with Johnny’s Hideaway owner and Atlanta native, Chris D’Auria, where he shared a few stories and talked about what it is that keeps people running back:
How did you end up at Johnny’s Hideaway?
My father was almost an original partner; he bought in back in ’81. In ’97, I was general manager of
American Pie in Sandy Springs when my father asked me to run things here. I told him, ‘I am not going to come run The Hideaway; I am happy where I am now.’ But blood is thicker than water, and it was a substantial raise from what I was making.
What are some of the little-known facts about Johnny’s?
It was originally a big band club. The first 10 years it was open, no jeans were allowed on men, and a jacket was required. It was a grocery store before it was a club. One of my managers went into the ceiling once and found some old window signs that said ‘pork chops 19 cents.’
What do you think has made Johnny’s such a long-lasting staple in Buckhead?
The music and the customer service. The music is the staple, obviously. We tweak the music very little … dance hits from the ’50s through the ’90s, some 2000s sprinkled in. As you can see, we even have a Spotify playlist…
Do you have any favorite stories that you can share?
Years ago, I was working the door when this guy walked in wearing nondescript clothes with a hat pulled down. We didn’t allow hats at the time, and I said, ‘Sir, you can’t wear your hat inside.’ And he looked up, and I said, ‘You can wear your hat in here, would you like a table, sir?’ On the way out, I asked, ‘Mr. Clooney, any chance I could get a picture and put it on the wall?’
Outside of work, what do you like to do? Where do you go?
I’m pretty hands-on about work, but when I’m not at Johnny’s Hideaway, I like to hit the gym or enjoy a nice cigar. Some of my favorite places to eat in Buckhead are Chops, Hal’s and La Grotta.
