Ellis Square

Bordered by West Bryan Street and West Congress Street, Ellis Square is the third of the planned squares laid out by James Oglethorpe in 1733.

Like the Decker Ward in which it’s found, the square was originally called Decker Square. Both were named for Sir Matthew Decker, one of the Trustees for the Establishment of the Colony of Georgia.

Then, it was later renamed for Sir Henry Ellis, the second Royal Governor of the colony of Georgia.

Fun Fact: Sir Ellis was born into a wealthy English family and as a young man, ran away from home to sail around the world.

In the 1760s the city market building was moved to Ellis Square. Soon it earned nickname, Market Square which it kept through to the 1950s. Durning that time it served as a center of commerce for many Savannahians. Prior to December 1864, it was also the site of a slave market.

In 1954, the market building, and entire square was demolished to make way for a parking garage. Then in 2004, the 50-year lease ended for the garage ended and planning began to restore the square. The project included the recreation of Ellis Square as a community green space and an underground parking facility.

Ellis Square and City Market officially reopened after a dedication ceremony March 11, 2010. In today’s City Market you will find unique restaurants, shops, art studios and more.

Almost seeming to welcome you to the square, you will find a bronze statue, of songwriter-lyricist Johnny Mercer. Be sure to say hello to the native Savannahian, and maybe he will let you read a page or two of the paper. The statue, by Susie Chisholm, was formally unveiled in Ellis Square on November 18, 2009.

Book your room within walking distance of Ellis Square and City Market, today!