The Fairgrounds
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Area along East Washington Street between Pinner and Factory Street
The area between Pinner and Factory Streets formed a vibrant hub of the African American community. It was there that black people conducted their everyday business, visiting doctors, dentists, beauticians, lawyers, shopping, going to movies, restaurants and dance halls.
There was an unwritten rule, that attendance at church was required before relaxing on the Fairgrounds. After church services were over people relaxed and walked along East Washington Street. Over the years black Suffolkians enjoyed the pleasures of music, food and socializing at the Fairgrounds. Favorite haunts included The Silver Slipper, The Horseshoe Café, Blue Lagoon, Grady Backus Dance Hall, Porter’s Restaurant and Shoe Shop, Wimpy’s and Suffolk Professional Pharmacy. |
The Carver Theater342 East Washington Street | Building no longer standing
Originally known as the Broadway Theatre, it closed in the 1920s and reopened in the late 1930s. A contest was held to rename the theatre. A senior at Booker T. Washington High School, Iva Maidie, was awarded the $10 cash prize for suggesting the name Carver Theatre in honor of George Washington Carver.
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Phoenix Bank of Nansemond341 East Washington Street | Building unoccupied
The Phoenix Bank of Nansemond, built in 1921, is representative of African-American commerce in Southeastern Virginia. The bank was founded by a group of African-American entrepreneurs in 1919 and served the African-American farmers and laborers of Suffolk and surrounding Nansemond County. The bank survived until 1931. During the first thirty years of the 20th century, many African-American banks prospered and failed across Virginia. Although the Phoenix Bank was one of several in the Tidewater area, it was the only one in Suffolk. It served as a focal point of community life in the Fairgrounds. Because of its cultural and historical significance, the Phoenix Bank of Nansemond was listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.
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Horseshoe Café
374 East Washington Street | Building unoccupied
The restaurant was obtained by Mr. Joseph and Mrs. Perry Davis. The café’ was famously known for its Yock which was started by the previous owners. The café’ was such a popular place for banquets, meetings and parties that the restaurant would be books a year in advance. The restaurant closed in 1999 after Perry Davis, known locally as Mrs. Pearl passed away. Mrs. Pearl was known to help pay for medical bills for the unfortunate and helped students with scholarships.
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Wimpy’s Confectionary
380 East Washington Street | Building unoccupied
Wimpy’s Confectionary opened in 1947 by Porter Walker, Winifred Benn and Kennard Roper III after serving in the military. The restaurant became a popular place to socialize. The restaurant got its name from Winifred Benn, whose nickname was Wimpy from the Popeye comic strip character.
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Crocker Funeral Home900 East Washington Street
Founded in the early 1900s. The company continues to operate today as one of the oldest black businesses in Suffolk.
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Suffolk Community Hospital
Madison and Spruce Streets | Building no longer stands
The old Suffolk Community Hospital was founded in 1942 by the black physician Dr. William Hoffler. The hospital operated until 1952 when the Virginia State Hospital Board closed the hospital down due to poor structural and safety codes. It wasn’t until Louise Obici Memorial Hospital opened in 1951 that blacks had a hospital that would accept them for medical treatment along with white patients. In addition to accepting black patients onto their floors, Obici agreed to allow black physicians to practice at their facility.