Roof Garden

Roof Garden was listed in the Green Book as “Roof Garden—901 ½ E. Market Street” under the “Taverns” section in Greensboro, NC.¹

Roof Garden was a tavern in Greensboro, NC. It was listed in the Green Book from 1939-1941 but does not appear in the city’s directory listings. East Market Street had over 100 Black-owned businesses during the Green Book era, and many were demolished during the redevelopment of Market Street in the 1960s.²

While the Roof Garden was not listed in the Greensboro city directory, other restaurants were listed at 901 and 901 ½ East Market Street. In 1937, 901 ½ E. Market was listed as vacant, while William Grant (an African American) owned a restaurant at 902 E. Market. In 1938, 901 ½ E. Market does not appear in the city directory. 902 E. Market was vacant and Lincoln Cafe was listed at 901 E. Market. In 1939, 901 ½ E. Market Street was not listed in the city directory and Star Restaurant was listed at 901 E. Market Street.³

Star Restaurant was owned by Greek immigrant Theo Gran. Star Restaurant was at 901 E. Market Street from 1939-1941, while 901 ½ E. Market was not listed in city directories or found in advertisements. Since a roof garden restaurant is a roof-top garden and dining area there is a possibility that the Star Restaurant offered a roof garden for dining.⁴

Another potential business that could be Roof Garden is the Royal Garden Cafe at 821 E. Market Street, owned by  The cafe was owned by Ambus Bonner in 1939, by Julian B. Harris in 1940, and by  Fletcher Pinnix in 1941.⁵

Both the Star Cafe (as the “New Star Cafe”) and the Royal Garden Cafe were advertised in African American publications like The Carolina Times.⁶

Essay by Brandie Kay Ragghianti, 2024

Notes

1. Victor Green, 1939 Green Book, 33; Green, 1940 Green Book, 35; Green, 1941 Green Book, 35. 
2. Hill’s Greensboro City Directory, 1938-1942; City of Greensboro, “East Market Street,” accessed from https://www.greensboro-nc.gov/departments/planning/learn-more-about/red…;
3.  Hill’s Greensboro City Directory, 1937-1939. 
4.  Hill’s Greensboro City Directory, 1939-1941.
5.  Hill’s Greensboro City Directory, 1939-1941.
6. “Welcome Alumni and Friends” (advertisement), The Carolina Times, November 27, 1943, p. 7, accessed from https://newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn83045120/1943-11-27/ed-1/seq-7/…;