Grant's Restaurant
Known Name(s)
Grant's Restaurant
Address
2108 Jefferson Ave. Newport News, VA
Establishment Type(s)
Restaurant
Physical Status
Extant
Description
The 1955 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map indicates that this is a 14 foot wide, one-story, cinder block restaurant with concrete flooring.
Detailed History
On March 19, 2026, the Commonwealth's Board of Historic Resources approved this site for designation on the Virginia Landmarks Register. From the Virginia Department of Historic Resources website: "Since the 1920s, 2108 Jefferson Avenue - currently the site of Pearlie's Restaurant - in the East end community of the City of Newport news has been home to a variety of restaurants owned and operated by African Americans, including African American women. In 1962 the present Commercial-style building, constructed ca. 1951, was listed as Grant's restaurant in Virginia's "Negro Motorist Green Book," a guide to hotels, restaurants, service stations, and other businesses that welcomed Black travelers during Jim Crow. 2108 Jefferson Avenue was listed in the "Green Book" as The Tavern restaurant from 1939 to 1950. The building is the only documented "Green Book" resource in Newport News that has remained under the same use as its "Green Book" (sic) 2108 Jefferson Avenue was designated a landmark under "The Negro Traveler's Green Book in Virginia Multiple Property Documentation Form (MPD)", which the Board of Historic Resources also approved during its meeting on March 19."
