Harlem Restaurant
1953 aerial photo of Walker's Auditorium and Walker Courts in East Waco after the 1953 tornado.
Known Name(s)
Harlem Restaurant
Address
123 Bridge Waco, TX
Establishment Type(s)
Restaurant
Physical Status
Demolished
Description
Original Harlem Grill location: originially a two-story rectangular-plan commercial block building; was reduced to a one-story building by the 1953 tornado.
Walker's Auditorium: One-story false parapeted gable front wood-frame building with side-gabled rectangular block motel at rear of parcel.
Detailed History
In 1906, Herbert Walker was born to John and Mariah Walker in Bosqueville, just 11 miles northwest of Waco, the fourth child out of seven siblings. By 1928, Herbert moved to Waco, and in 1932, he started a shoeshine business at 123 Bridge Ave, and within two years expanded his business to include a taxi service. Herbert married Julia Burleson in 1933, and they had one child, Charlotte Marie, in 1945.
In 1939, Herbert changed his business from a taxi stand shoeshine to a restaurant named Harlem Grill. Around this time, the Bridge Avenue area developed a rough reputation with a rash of break-ins, fires, and stolen cars, including thefts at the cafe and Herbert even had his car stolen from in front of the grill.
In 1946, Herbert changed the restaurant’s name from Harlem Grill to Walker’s Cafe. The same year, Herbert opened a new business at 1001 Clifton Street called Walker’s Auditorium that catered to Blacks. The night club advertised that it served all popular brands of beer and fine food, had nightly dancing with an orchestra on Saturdays and Sundays, and the club catered to private parties. It had elegant furnishings, a good-sized dance floor, pool tables, and mirrored bar. By the mid-1950s, he added overnight lodging called Walker Courts, a recreation center in 1960, and Walker’s Bar-B-Que by 1965.
Walker’s Auditorium was the only establishment of its kind open to Blacks in the Waco area, so it became the place to go for entertainment, including Chitlin’ Circuit music performances by B. B. King, James Brown, Ike and Tina Turner, and Etta James. The auditorium hosted parties, balls, dances, meetings, and fundraisers. By the 1960s, the clientele became more mixed with Baylor students and white Wacoans.
As a successful businessman, Herbert did not forget where he came from as he paid for Santa Claus's service in 1950 to visit the students at the Bosqueville School, where every child received a present. The auditorium hosted a fundraiser for the March of Dimes in 1953. He also served on the NAACP campaign advisory committee in 1956 for a membership drive.
In 1977, the venue was under different management, and by the early 2000s, nothing remained on the site. Walker passed away in 1980 at the age of 73, and is buried in the Bosqueville Cemetery. He was survived by his wife Julie and daughter Charlotte.
City Directories: CD 1932 p429: Bridge Av 123 Walker Herbert shoe shiner; CD 1934 p429: Bridge Av 123 Walker Herbert taxi and shoe shiner; CD 1936 p439: Bridge Av 123 Walker Herbert taxi & shoe shiner; CD 1938 p462: Bridge Av 123 Walker Herbert taxi & shoe shiner; CD 1939 p561: beer Harlem Grill 123 Bridge av; CD 1939 p182: Harlem Grill (Herbert Walker) beer 128 Bridge av; CD 1939 p456: Bridge av 123 Harlem Grill beer, 123 1/2 Walker Herbert billiards; CD 1943 p165: Harlem Grill (Prezilla Walker) restr 123 Bridge; CD 1943 p406: Bridge Av 123 Harlem Grill restr; CD 1943 p536: restaurants Harlem Grill 123 Bridge av; CD 1946 p510: Bridge av 123 Walker's Cafe restr, 123 1/2 Osie Boxing Club; CD 1951 p502: Walker Herbert (Julia; Walker's Auditorium) h709 Hubert; CD 1954 p511: Walker Herbert (Jewel; Walker's Auditorium) h709 Hubert; CD 1954 p40: night clubs Walker's Auditorium (for colored), 1001 Clifton rd, Tel 3-9976; CD 1955 p555: Walker Herbert (Julia; Walker Courts; Walker's Auditorium) h709 Hubert; CD 1955 p556: Walker's Auditorium, Herbert Walker Owner, Serving All Popular Brands of Beer, Dancing Nightly for Colored, orchestra Saturday and Sunday, Fine Food, We Cater to Private Parties, 1001 Clifton Rd, Tel 3-9976; CD 1956 p92: night clubs Walker's Auditorium (For Colored), 1001 Clifton rd, Tel 3-9976; CD 1958 p616: Walker Herbert (Julia; Walkers Auditorium) h708 Hubert;
CD 1958 p618: Walker's Auditorium (Herbert Walker) night club 1001 Clifton rd; CD 1959 p582: Walker Herbert (Julia; Walker's Auditorium) h709 Hubert; CD 1959 p584: Walker's Auditorium (Herbert Walker) night club 1001 Clifton rd; CD 1960 p579: Walker Herbert (Julia; Walker's Auditorium; Recreation Center) h709 Hubert; CD 1960 p581: Walker's Auditorium (Herbert Walker) Dancing Nightly for Colored, Orchestra Saturday and Sunday, Fine Food and Beer, We Cater to Private Parties, 1001 Clifton rd, Tel PLaza 3-9949; CD 1961 p593: Walker Herbert (Julia; Walker's Auditorium) h709 Hubert; CD 1961 p596: Walker's Auditorium (Herbert Walker) night club 1001 Clifton rd; CD 1962 p610: Walker Herbert (Julia; Walker's Auditorium) h709 Hubert; CD 1962 p612: Walker's Auditorium (Herbert Walker) night club 1001 Clifton rd; CD 1963 p142: Bridge St 123 Montanio Johnnie beer PL4-0211; CD 1963 p622: Walker Herbert (Julia) (Walker's Auditorium) h709 Hubert St; CD 1963 p623: Walker's Auditorium x; CD 1964 p664: Walker Herbert (Julia) (Walker's Auditorium) h709 Hubert st; CD 1964 p664: Walker's Auditorium (Herbert Walker) 1001 Clifton Rd; CD 1965 p718: Walker Herbert (Julia) (Walker's Auditorium) h709 Hubert St (o) PL3-5884; CD 1965 p718: Walker's Auditorium (Herbert Walker) 1001 Clifton Rd PL3-9402; Walker's Bar-B-Que (Herbert Walker) 1001 Clifton Rd PL3-9392; CD 1966 p789: Walker Herbert (Julia) (Walker's Auditorium) h709 Hubert St (o) PL3-5884; CD 1966 p791: Walker's Auditorium (Herbert Walker) 1001 Clifton Rd SW9-0941; Walker's Bar-B-Que (Herbert Walker) 1001 Clifton Rd SW9-0941; CD 1966 p154: Clifton rd 1001 Walker's Bar-b-que SW9-0941; Walker's Auditorium beer SW9-0942; CD 1967 p708: Walker Herbert (Julia) (Walker's Auditorium) h708 Hubert Dr; CD 1967 p710: Walker's Auditorium (Herbert Walker) beer 1001 Clifton Rd; Walkers Bar-B-Que Joe Butler mgr 1001 Clifton Rd; CD 1968 p773: Walker Herbert (Julia) (Walker's Auditorium) h1812 Hicks Dr (B); CD 1968 p775: Walker's Auditorium (Herbert Walker) beer 1001 Clifton Rd; Walkers Bar-B-Que Joe Butler mgr 1001 Clifton rd; CD 1968 p61: beer Walker's Auditorium 1001 Clifton Rd; CD 1968 p116: restaurants Walkers Bar-B-Que 1001 Clifton Rd; CD 1969 p701: Walker Herbert (Julia) (Walkers Auditorium) h1812 Hicks Dr (B); CD 1969 p702: Walker's Auditorium (Herbert Walker) beer 1001 Clifton Rd; CD 1971 p734: Walker Herbert (Julia) (Walkers Auditorium) h1812 Hicks Dr (B); CD 1971 p735: Walker's Auditorium (Herbert Walker) beer 1001 Clifton Rd; Walkers Bar-B-Que (Herbert Walker) 1001 Clifton Rd;
