Hospitality

Hotels

Hotel Reformer

Another significant business venture of the True Reformers was the Reformer Hotel, situated at the corner of 6th and Baker Streets. Originally known as the Boarding House, the establishment featured 50 rooms and served as both a boarding house and a training facility for the organization's Deputies. By 1909, over a thousand visitors from nearly 25 states graced its halls.

Notably, the hotel was managed by women on two separate occasions: Mrs. M. E. Holmes, a lecturer for the children's division known as the Rosebuds, and Mrs. F. H. James, a past Grand Worthy Mistress. T. W. Taylor, who worked there as a clerk would later become the Director and Superintendent of the organization's Old Folks Home.

In 1911, a fire due to a gas leak caused $300 worth of damage during the organization's National Convention.

Sources

Burrell, William B., and D. E. Johnson. Twenty-Five Years History of the Grand Fountain of the United Order of True Reformers, 1881–1905. Richmond, VA: Grand Fountain, United Order of True Reformers, 1909. Accessed January 13, 2025. https://archive.org/details/twentyfiveyearsh00burr/mode/2up.

Hill's Richmond City Directory. Richmond, VA: Hill Directory Company, 1895–1907.

Richmond Planet, Apr 3, 1920

Attendees at the grand opening of Neverett’s Place included, from left, disc jockey Allen Knight, Sallie Eggleston, center, her husband, Neverett Sr., their son, Neverett Jr., and their daughter Jane. Photo courtesy Black History Museum & Cultural Center Archives.

Miller's & Eggleston's Hotel

Miller's Hotel was established by Buck and Artina Miller. Buck, born in Virginia, had worked as a waiter at Murphy’s Hotel in West Virginia, where a famous altercation with boxer John L. Sullivan reportedly helped fund the couple's venture. The hotel, which opened in late 1904 at 541 N. 2nd Street, became a notable establishment, contributing to Jackson Ward's reputation as a hub for Black-owned businesses.

The hotel quickly gained acclaim for its luxurious accommodations, offering lodging, dining, and social spaces for African Americans in a time of segregation. Its location and reputation attracted wealthier Black clientele from across the country, with the establishment being described as one of the best hotels for African Americans in the South. In the early years, it was a popular destination for honeymooners, prominent social figures, and business people. The hotel even featured a card room frequented by women’s bridge clubs and hosted events for prominent figures like Booker T. Washington. Over time, Miller’s Hotel expanded and improved, including a major renovation in anticipation of the Jamestown Tercentennial Exposition and the addition of a bar in 1914.

Buck and Artina Miller's influence extended beyond the hotel. They operated several other businesses in the area, including a restaurant and a pharmacy. Artina, in particular, was instrumental to the hotel’s success, and her death in 1926 marked a significant turning point for the business. Despite improvements to the property in the 1930s, such as the opening of the Band Box Night Club, the economic strain caused by the Great Depression and Artina's passing led to a decline in the hotel’s fortunes. The establishment remained in operation until 1937, when “To Let” signs appeared in the windows, signaling the end of an era. Buck Miller continued to live at the hotel until his death in 1939, leaving behind a legacy as an important figure in Richmond's history.

In the late 1930s, Miller’s Hotel was sold to the National Ideal Benefits Society, who leased it to a Norfolk-based manager. Dissatisfied with the manager’s focus on the hotel’s pool hall rather than its full operations, Buck Miller turned to Neverett A. Eggleston Sr., a caterer at Lakeside Country Club, to take over the hotel’s management. Eggleston agreed to manage the hotel, eventually leasing it in March 1939 with his wife, Sallie. After three years of operation, Eggleston purchased the hotel in 1942 for $25,000 and renamed it Hotel Eggleston, with its facilities including a grill, dining room, and pool room. By the 1960's Eggleston would open a modern motel next to True Reformers Hall.

The Egglestons were an influential family in Richmond, with Neverett Sr. serving in several leadership roles, including as president of the Richmond Democratic League. The hotel was a bustling business during World War II, catering to both local residents and visiting celebrities, including jazz greats like Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Billie Holiday, as well as athletes like Joe Louis and Satchel Paige. The hotel, one of only a few that served African Americans in segregated Richmond, became a central part of Jackson Ward's cultural and social fabric, drawing both local and out-of-town guests. It was a notable stop for Black travelers during this time, frequently listed in the Green Book and advertised in the African American newspapers, where it boasted modern amenities like air-conditioned rooms and 24-hour food service.

As the years passed, the economic shifts of the mid-20th century began to impact the hotel’s success. Eggleston Sr. noted that after integration in the 1970s, Jackson Ward’s businesses began to decline, as African Americans ventured beyond the area to newer opportunities in the city. By the 1980s, the once-thriving Hotel Eggleston was vacant, with the commercial storefronts in the building housing other Eggleston family businesses, such as a deli and laundromat. Though the hotel’s decline reflected broader social changes, the Eggleston family’s contributions to Richmond’s African American community remained significant. Eggleston Sr. passed away in 1996, leaving behind a legacy tied to the hotel, his civic engagement, and the family’s ongoing influence in the area.

Sources

Bergman, Heather. "A Haven on the Deuce." Richmond Magazine, January 10, 2022. Accessed January 14, 2025. https://richmondmagazine.com/news/features/a-haven-on-the-deuce/.

Davis, Amanda. "Eggleston-Millers." The Green Book, The Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities. Accessed January 14, 2025. https://community.village.virginia.edu/greenbooks/content/eggleston-millers/.

Slaughter's Hotel

Richard Slaughter, an African American proprietor, first opened Slaughter’s Hotel in Jackson Ward, Richmond, at 514 N. 2nd Street. By 1931, he moved the business to a larger location across the street at 529 N. 2nd Street, in the former Commercial Savings Bank building. The former location then became the Apollo Hotel.

Gertrude Duncan, who had relocated to Richmond in 1926, began working for Slaughter at the original location and eventually became the hotel’s business manager. During this period, the hotel was not only a place for lodging but also a popular spot for meals, famous for dishes like Smithfield ham steaks. A notable feature of the business was its dedication to providing high-quality food and accommodations for Black travelers in an era when segregation limited their options elsewhere. In fact, during the 1930s and 1940s, Slaughter’s was known as a prominent establishment that attracted notable guests, including civil rights lawyer Oliver Hill.

After Slaughter’s death in 1945, Gertrude Taylor took over the management of the hotel. In the years that followed, she became a key figure in the African American community, with the hotel hosting meetings for organizations like the NAACP and the Richmond Crusade of Voters, which played a pivotal role in civil rights efforts. Under her management, the hotel continued to thrive as a gathering place for political, social, and community leaders. It was also known for its food, especially the club sandwiches, which became a local legend.

Despite the decline of Jackson Ward after the construction of I-95 and the increasing urbanization of the area, Slaughter's Hotel remained a vital part of the community through the 1970s. By then, it was a bit worn but still cherished by many who had grown up with it as a central gathering place. Gertrude Duncan passed away in 1976, and the business slowly faded under her husband's management after her death. The building that housed Slaughter's, along with other historical structures in the area, was demolished in the early 1990s to make way for the Jackson Center, a new development that opened in 1992, marking the end of an era for this historic establishment.

Sources

Davis, Amanda. "Slaughters." The Green Book, The Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities. Accessed January 14, 2025. https://community.village.virginia.edu/greenbooks/content/slaughters/.

Otto's Inn– 314 N 2nd St

Restaurants

The term "Eating House" frequently appears in early city directories, prompting an inquiry into its distinction from the modern concept of a "restaurant," which also appears in these directories. A key difference between the two lies in their racial and gendered associations. Proprietors of eating houses are consistently identified as Black, with a predominance of female owners, whereas restaurants are predominantly owned and operated by white individuals. The notable exception to this pattern is William Jordan's restaurant, located at 208 S. 2nd Street, which is the sole instance of a Black-owned restaurant listed among the otherwise white-owned establishments. This distinction highlights not only the racial and gender dynamics of the time but also the segregation of economic opportunities within the food service industry.

Hill's City Directory, 1907

As societal conventions evolved in the mid-20th century, Black-owned eating establishments transitioned from being labeled "eating houses" to the more formal term "restaurants," reflecting a shift in both social perceptions and the cultural dynamics of a segregated society. By the 1950s, Richmond’s Black restaurant scene flourished with a wide range of establishments offering unique culinary experiences. Notable among them was Tucker Pickles, renowned for its pig tails and chitterlings, alongside The Cadillac, which specialized in fish. The Central Cafe (534 N 2nd St) and the B. B. Cafe (519 N 2nd St), both operated by George E. Matzanis, a Greek immigrant, and the Liberty, run by an Italian proprietor, exemplified the diversity of ownership within Black communities, as different ethnic groups served the Black population, creating a web of cultural exchange in a racially segregated city.

Alongside these were well-known spots like the Piccolo Bar-B-Que, better known as the Glass House (406 N 2nd St), Cora’s Waffles (427 East Leigh) and George’s Place (918 N 2nd St) offered popular comfort food, while The Globe Hot Shope (510 N 2nd St) and Greenlight Inn (727 N 3rd St) catered to locals with a variety of offerings. Establishments like Hall’s Inn (1104 St John St), Lomax Grill (427 Brook Rd), and Moore’s Grill (533 N 2nd St) became gathering places for Black Richmonders, serving not just food but also socializing opportunities in the face of racial segregation.

Additionally, venues like Norah’s Inn (201 W Leigh St), Old South (615 N 2nd St), Otto’s Grill (314 N 2nd St), and Reese’s Tea Room (519 N 1st St) provided spaces where community members could enjoy both food and camaraderie, while also maintaining a sense of pride and resistance in a segregated society. Other establishments such as Siler’s Lunch Room (105 W Baker St), Tiny Inn (912 N 2nd St), Louise Vaughan’s (302 W Baker St), and Albert Wilkin’s (507 N 5th St) contributed to the diverse tapestry of Black-owned businesses in Richmond, offering a wide range of dining experiences for the local Black population.

These restaurants were not only places of culinary enjoyment but also key sites of cultural and social pleasure. In a city where racial boundaries were sharply drawn, these establishments offered a vital space for Black residents to socialize, network, and resist the constraints imposed by segregation. Dining out in these restaurants became a form of cultural expression, where food, music, and community intersected to create a unique and vibrant social life in the heart of a segregated Richmond.

In addition to the more well-known restaurants, Richmond’s Black dining scene also included a number of saloons and smaller establishments that played a significant role in the social and cultural fabric of the community. These included the saloons of Peter Thompson (422 E Marshall St), Field Cook (3rd & Duval), and R. Nardi (612 E Broad St), which served as informal gathering places for Black residents. Similarly, William Miller’s saloon (711 N 2nd St), Charles Moseley’s establishment (920 N 1st St), and Robert S. Nelson’s (1 W Duval) contributed to the network of dining options available to the Black population. Theophilus T. Winston’s saloon at 307 W Baker also added to this landscape, offering a space where food, drink, and social interaction intersected in an era of segregation.

However, the popularity of these saloons was not constant. The Temperance movement, which gained momentum in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and the Virginia's implementation of Prohibition in 1916 had a profound impact on these establishments. As the production, sale, and consumption of alcohol were criminalized, many of these saloons saw their business decline sharply. The movement’s moralistic stance against alcohol, combined with the legal restrictions of Prohibition, effectively forced these establishments underground, leading to a significant reduction in their public visibility and advertising. In a racially segregated society, where Black-owned businesses were already marginalized, the restrictions imposed by the temperance movement and Prohibition added an additional layer of hardship, contributing to the eventual decline of many saloons. Despite this, these establishments remained important social hubs for Black Richmonders, providing spaces for community and cultural expression even in the face of these external pressures.

The end of Prohibition in 1933 marked a significant shift in the alcohol landscape in Richmond. The establishment of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Board shortly thereafter created a new regulatory framework for alcohol distribution and sales. This change opened the door for a resurgence of alcohol-related businesses, though under a strict state-controlled system. The new regulations transformed the dynamics for many restauranteurs, nightclub owners, and hotel proprietors, who scrambled to secure the necessary licenses to sell beer and wine legally. With the ABC Board now overseeing the distribution of alcohol, many Black business owners in Richmond, who had previously operated in the shadows or faced legal obstacles, rushed to obtain their licenses. This shift not only reshaped the economic landscape but also revitalized the social spaces that had been restricted during Prohibition. The granting of alcohol licenses to these establishments symbolized a new chapter in the city's Black-owned businesses, allowing them to reassert themselves as vital parts of Richmond’s social and cultural life.

Richmond Planet, Jul 21, 1894

For more establishments, please click icon below.

Sources

"Carrington Motel." The Green Book, The Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities. Accessed January 14, 2025. https://community.village.virginia.edu/greenbooks/content/carrington-motel/.

"Harris Hotel." The Green Book, The Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities. Accessed January 14, 2025. https://community.village.virginia.edu/greenbooks/content/harris-hotel/.

Hill's Richmond City Directory. Richmond, VA: Hill Directory Company, 1907-1970.

Mrs. E. Brice." The Green Book (blog), The Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities. Accessed January 14, 2025. https://community.village.virginia.edu/greenbooks/content/mrs-e-brice/.

"Otto's Inn." The Green Book (blog), The Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities. Accessed January 14, 2025. https://community.village.virginia.edu/greenbooks/content/ottos-inn/.

Puga,Dana. “The Temperance Movement and the Road to Prohibition,” Uncommonwealth (blog), May 18, 2017, https://uncommonwealth.virginiamemory.com/blog/2017/05/18/the-temperance-movement-and-the-road-to-prohibition/.

Tobey, Annie. “Cheers to 90 Years of Virginia ABC.” Spirited Virginia, February 2024.

The Richmond Planet. June 21, 1894.

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