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Page 3
The Middle Years: 1922-1982
Although it seemed a lucrative spot, over the next 60 years businesses came went in the 5 storerooms. There were clothing stores, variety shops, restaurants, an Army Navy Store (which remains) an insurance company, a dance hall, a martial arts school, auto parts stores, warehouses--some years rooms were empty. However, the upper floors always remained apartments for a cross-section of Morgantown residents. Often the person who ran a store on the 1st floor lived upstairs with their family.
| Looking eastward up Pleasant Street at the Brick Row building, circa 1936. Photo thanks to Punk Rock Larry |
Emil's Tavern (at 121, the lower room), opened and closed in 1951, was the first abortive attempt at a night spot in the building. At some point the storefront windows were bricked-in, and the Art-Deco facades were removed from the current Army Navy Store and Adventurer's Edge. In 1967, the Blue and Gold Bar opened but quickly went under, yet it began a series of watering holes (‘70s joints like Jean and John's Tavern, Bob's Tavern, The Golden Nugget, Le Rendevous, and The Fox Trap Lounge) in the building. In 1974, the Sportsman's Bar opened in the stage room, and remained until 1978. Another bar, Cool Runnings, took over in 1980 followed by Meteo's in 1981. The interior of the building was modified numerous times.