CNN Center

For decades, the CNN Center was one of downtown Atlanta’s most recognizable addresses: a workplace, a television-news landmark and a destination for visitors curious about live broadcasting. The complex has since entered a new chapter as The CTR, a mixed-use property where the most clearly advertised public draw is CTR Food Works, a food hall inside the former building. That distinction matters when planning a visit. The site is no longer a CNN visitor attraction, and a public route through its offices is not advertised; today, visitors should plan around the food hall, scheduled events and the neighboring downtown attractions.

From the Omni complex to CNN Center

The site’s story began before its best-known name. Atlanta History Center records that Turner Broadcasting System bought the Omni International Complex in 1985. By 1987, the facility had been renamed CNN Center and housed CNN, Headline News, CNN Radio and corporate offices. The large red CNN letters became a visual shorthand for Atlanta’s emergence as a media city. CNN itself had begun broadcasting in the city in 1980; the later downtown center brought several parts of Turner’s expanding news operation together in a prominent urban setting.

That history explains why the building became more than an office address. For many travelers, it represented the idea of round-the-clock television news, and its central atrium was associated with the network’s public image. But a landmark’s former function should not be mistaken for its current visitor offer. CNN has moved its headquarters operations away from this downtown complex, and the current property is marketed under The CTR name. The sources reviewed do not list CNN studio tours as a current public attraction here.

A downtown property being reimagined

Owner CP Group describes The Center, the development also branded as The CTR, as a 1.15-million-square-foot mixed-use destination for work, dining, events and creative activity. Its location places it among several major downtown venues: State Farm Arena, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Centennial Olympic Park, the Georgia World Congress Center and the World of Coca-Cola. CP Group also advertises direct access to MARTA and a large program of office, media, production and retail space. Those figures describe the property and leasing plan; they do not mean every interior area is open for casual sightseeing.

The change is easiest to experience through the parts that have an explicit visitor offer. CTR Food Works describes itself as a downtown food hall inside the reimagined former CNN Center, with chef-led kitchens and a bar. It is a practical stop before or after a game, convention, concert or walk through the park district. The renovated identity also makes the building a useful point of orientation: a place once associated with television production is being repositioned around dining, work and events, while its central location remains its strongest visitor advantage.

CTR Food Works: the clearest visitor destination

The food hall’s official visitor page gives its address as 190 Marietta Street NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30303. Posted hours are Sunday through Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Thursday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The same page cautions that individual kitchens may keep different hours, so check the venue’s daily updates if a particular restaurant is the reason for your trip. The CTR management office lists weekday business hours separately; those are not food-hall opening hours.

Getting there is straightforward on foot or by transit. CTR Food Works says the CNN Center/GWCC MARTA station is two blocks east. Its visitor guide estimates about three minutes on foot from Centennial Olympic Park, five from State Farm Arena and eight from Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Rideshare vehicles can drop passengers at the Marietta entrance. Drivers can use The Center parking garage across the street, with the Omni and Centennial Olympic Park decks listed as nearby alternatives. These are venue-published directions; allow extra time when a major event is letting out.

The food hall says its entrances, restrooms, kitchens and seating areas are ADA-accessible. That is useful planning information, but visitors with a specific access need may still wish to contact the venue in advance, as the site itself invites guests to do. Menus, tenant participation and opening times can change independently, so verify details on the official visit page before setting out. The current published hours are a reliable starting point, not a guarantee that every kitchen is serving throughout the full building schedule.

How to make the visit part of a downtown day

The location lends itself to a compact walking itinerary. Centennial Olympic Park is only a few minutes away according to the food hall’s directions, and the nearby sports and convention venues make The CTR a convenient meal stop. Visitors interested in Atlanta’s media past can combine the area with other city-history destinations, but should separate the historical story from the present-day access offer: the building’s former CNN identity is part of its context, while the food hall and any specifically announced public event are the confirmed reasons to enter.

Before traveling, check the food hall’s hours, kitchen listings and event calendar, then confirm MARTA service or parking arrangements for the day. If you are visiting for a game or convention, the district can become busy and travel times may be longer than the short walking estimates suggest. The former CNN Center remains a striking marker of Atlanta’s broadcast history, but its next chapter is being written as a mixed-use downtown address. A meal at CTR Food Works offers a simple way to encounter that transformation without expecting access to working offices or television studios.