Joe Blacknails
Known Name(s)
Joe Blacknails
Address
407 1/2 S. Blount St Raleigh, NC
Establishment Type(s)
Tavern
Detailed History
Joe Blacknail's tavern This tavern is listed in the 1939 & 1940 Green Books at 407 ½ Blount Street, Raleigh, but the City Directories do not list any dining facilities at this location. The 1914 Sanborn map shows a restaurant at 413 South Blount Street, perhaps that was it? By the 1950 Sanborn map, even that restaurant is gone. Additionally, a Blacknall's Café (c) is listed in both the 1938 and 1939 City Directories at 218 East Cabarrus Street, around the corner from 407 South Blount Street. By the 1940 City Directory, Joe Blacknall is listed as a restauranteur, but only the address of his residence is listed (225 East Cabarrus Street). The 1941 City Directory indicates he no longer has a job, and the 1942 City Directory no longer lists him at all. I have mapped the tavern at the East Cabarrus Street site – which appears on the 1950 Sanborn map as rented rooms, likely part of the eventual 231 DeLuxe Hotel – until further research indicates that the Blount Street address is correct. In any event, both of these locations are currently devoid of 20th century commercial structures. —Andrew S. Edmonds
