Vine City dilapidated building transformed into a martial arts studio

May 3rd, 2024

An exterior photo of the former Ashby Street Learning Academy building that was transformed into The Welch Center. (Courtesy of The Welch Center)

Sometimes it’s hard for others to see a vision, but for Sule Konata Welch, it didn’t matter when he discovered a dilapidated building would become the new location for his martial arts studio.

The building, which is two buildings combined, holds a historic place in Georgia and Atlanta’s Vine City neighborhood. Welch discovered the bigger brick building had a historic tie to education. It once housed the Georgia Teachers and Education Association, an organization for Black educators. It also served pre-K and kindergartners for the Ashby Street Learning Academy.

However, it’s been difficult to determine the exact year the three-story facility was built, but Welch suspects sometime in the early 1960s. At that time, the building would be constructed right next to what was either a former church or home residence. Welch believes it was built in the 1930s.

When Welch purchased the buildings in 2020, it was in bad shape. Welch says asbestos had to be removed and the building needed to be outfitted to meet modern standards such as being ADA compliant.

As renovations began, Welch discovered more history inside. There was a 60s-style big, bulky brown furniture, green shag carpet, and wall pictures of President John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Hosea Williams. It was also the office of Horace Tate, who served in the Georgia legislature for 17 years and strongly advocated for education measures. Tate was also a union leader. He died in 2002.

Knowing the building’s ties to education, Welch wanted to continue to build off its legacy of community teaching. He wants the center to be a strong contribution to the neighborhood and hopes offering martial arts to youth is an alternative to traditional areas of exploration.

“Once I knew this was a haven for teachers all over the South, specifically for Georgia, doing what they needed to do to get education put in a different light for African American youth, and people didn’t want them to do it, I feel that’s a connection for me,” Welch explained.

Welch’s desire to teach martial arts started at the age of 17. The certified fitness trainer, coach, and martial arts instructor holds multiple teaching certifications.

The Welch Center offers an array of martial arts and wellness instruction, including hapkido, kali or eskrima/escrima, which is the national martial art of the Philippines, kung fu, the Afro-Brazilian art known as capoeira. tai chi and yoga are also offered for various age levels.

Welch and his wife Cecily are business partners in operating The Welch Experience. She is a certified CPA who operates her firm Welch Financial Advisors on the third floor and oversees co-working space for other businesses.

Cecily recalls seeing past the crumbling infrastructure and understanding the importance of preserving the building for the community.

“There have been two occasions when I’m leaving at night, and some random guy walks in front of the gate and yells, ‘Yo, good peeps, good peeps.’”

Cecily says the amount of support from the community is tremendous. “The people in the neighborhood wanted something still here and just did not have the ability to do that.”