Before And After - Broad Street at 1st - 1985

Today's Before And After comes from August of 1985. Although all the buildings are still intact, there's been lots of changes to the businesses over the last 27 years, and the addition of trees. But Harvey's Progressive Barber Shop still remains, even with the same sign!

1985

2012

Photo courtesy of VCU Libraries

Update on the former Triangle Adult Book Store

The Richmond Times-Dispatch had a story and photo yesterday on the transformation of Triangle Book Store (first mentioned here) into En Su Boca. It gives some insight into the building's past, and the photo below (not the best, I had to scan it from the newspaper) gives a hint to what the interior looks like. Text of the article is below the photo.

The difficult task of converting the former home of a pornographic bookstore into a dining establishment has fallen to restaurateur Patrick Stamper.

Stamper, who also co-owns Bellytimber Tavern in Richmond, is renovating the former Triangle bookstore — which sold adult movies, toys and was equipped with private viewing booths — on the Boulevard.

"It was gross," he said about cleaning and tearing up the building's interior.

The new restaurant, which is expected to open this spring, will be called En Su Boca, an upscale San Francisco-style taqueria. He's bringing in San Francisco chef Eric Stangarone to help develop the menu.

The process of converting the eyesore began several weeks ago.

Stamper said he decided to tackle the space because it was a good location for a restaurant — as well as a service to the community.

"Look around. You've got a baseball stadium (and a) popular movie theater right up the road" and several established restaurants, he said, referring to The Diamond, Movieland at Boulevard Square, Buz & Ned's and Stronghill Dining Co.

"I see (En Su Boca) as the kind of place people can sit outside on a summer night, have a margarita and watch the fireworks."

Transforming the building is a difficult, labor-intensive process, but Stamper said he's encouraged by what he's finding under the detritus of the bookstore: the shell of the original gas station.

The building was a gas station in the 1950s and '60s before converting to a porn shop in the 1970s. It was sold last year.

"It's a really solid place," Stamper said.

The 1,300-square-foot building is small, but he hopes to knock out a back wall and add a few hundred square feet. He also plans to incorporate the bay door to open up to outside seating.

He think most people eventually will forget what the space used to be. But that's not happening yet.

"At least once a day somebody stops by looking for the porn shop," Stamper said.

Photo and story courtesy of The Richmond Times-Dispatch

Snow in The Fan - 1964

Could have been taken last night, huh? Well, except for the cars...Great shot of snow falling in The Fan from the 1964 RPI (VCU) Cobblestone yearbook. Can anyone figure out what street this is?

Photo courtesy of VCU Libraries

Before and After: 14 & 16 North Laurel Street

I figured after a few negative VCU posts it's time for something a little more positive. Today we see 14 and 16 N. Laurel Street (across from Monroe Park) back in 1975 and today. Both houses are still intact today, are used by VCU for offices (School of World Studies and Office of General Counsel), and in much better shape outside than they were 37 years ago.

March 1975:

January 2012:

Top photo courtesy of VCU Libraries

Jon Stewart at a Dead Kennedys show in Richmond?

The interwebs are all abuzz the last 24 hours with this supposed pic of Jon Stewart from The Daily Show in the pit at a Dead Kennedys show in Richmond on July 23rd, 1982 (center, behind the 3 guys with their arms interlocked):

The full lineup that night: Dead Kennedys, Void (Washington DC), White Cross (Richmond) and Front Line (Norfolk). The show was at Casablanca (later Rockitz, now Empire). Quite a show but just slightly before my time. Old timers in Richmond are skeptical this is really Jon Stewart, I'll post an update if a definitive answer emerges.

VCU demolition update - Before and After

Wow, I've had a real lack of posts here this month, huh? I've been busy, but I'll try and pick up the pace around here...

Time for some updates on the "progress" of VCU's old buildings. First up, the old Common Groundz coffee shop building at 734-736 West Broad Sreet. This 1889 building is now officially gone. I first wrote about this building here, and followed up with another post here.

Before:

Today:

Next up are the row houses at 102 (built in 1900), 104 (built in 1900) and 106 (built in 1910) North Linden Street. Gone as well. I wrote about them here last summer.

Before:

Today:

Last is the Baptist Student Union at 1000-1002 Floyd Ave, built in 1905. You guessed it, gone. Written about here last Summer as well.

Before:

Today:

I didn't take a picture of the former VCU Education Annex building (1954) at 109 North Harrison Street, but you can see in the background of the photo above where it used to stand (on the left).

For now, the VCU Meeting Center at 101 North Harrison Street is being saved. It was built in 1906, and has a fairly storied past. But will it really be saved? The VCU six year capital plan calls for another classroom building on Floyd, right next to the one being built this year. See the map on page 25 of the linked PDF that shows another new VCU classroom building on the exact spot where this over 100 year old former church sits today:

Vintage Triangle Adult Book Store

The former Triangle Book Store at 1001 West Boulevard is getting a makeover. In case you haven't driven by since they started renovations, there's some fantastic signage on the old gas station underneath the awful vinyl siding. I don't know what I love more, the great "Movies" banner on the front, or the unnecessary apostrophe in "Book's" on the side. Anyone know how long Triangle was there for?

The building will soon become a taquería called En Su Boca, which means "in your mouth." They're months from opening, and judging by the new owners' sense of humor I like the place already. :-)

Click the photos below for the high resolution images.

Here's what it's looked like for at least the last 20 years: