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Historic Name: |
Enfield
Grocery Store-Niles Graham |
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Architect | Builder: |
Hugo
Kuehne |
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Year: |
1916 |
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Style: |
Tudor
Revival |
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Areas of Significance: |
Art,
Architecture |
City: |
Austin |
The Tavern, with its distinctive architecture was built in
1916, even before Lamar Boulevard was created. It was designed
as a grocery store on then, Ruiz Street which was, at the
time, on the outskirts of this town of 30,000.
R. Niles Grahm hired Hugo Kuehne who brought the building
plans from Europe and modeled it after a German Public House.
The Enfiield Grocery Store operated in the building until
1929, when the store moved next door so a steak restaurant
could be installed. The best steaks in Austin were sold for
fifty cents, but legend has it that a popular and secretive
brothel operated upstairs.
When prohibition ended in 1933, the Tavern was instantly
born. As a restaurant and bar, few Austin gathering places
hold as many significant life memories for soldiers, students,
legislators, presidents, and our town's general citizenry.
Peter Mansbendel was commissioned in 1934 to create the
ornate carvings that line the eaves and entrance sign of the
historic building even to this day.
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