The corner building, with the corner entrance, was built as a grocery store in 1876, the same year that AB intoduced "Budweiser" to the world. The second floor was built as an apartment for the grocer and their family.
The brick building to the west of the corner building was built that same year, by the same family, as a four family residential property. The two structures shared a brick wall and foundation, but were two separate structures and addresses.
From April 1876 to October 1876, a father and his sons made the bricks by hand and built the structures, finishing the buildings just in time to end up on the Compton & Dry map. They also built a small, two-story house on the back of the property, and a collection of utility buildings along the east edge of the lot, which are no longer there. Sadly, the father died just weeks after completing the building, leaving the properties and the grocery business to his wife.
Sometime between 1876 and 1890, an addition was put up on the back of the grocery store, along 11th Street. Maybe this was for a workshop for one of the sons. It is still there, and you can see where the original brick structure stopped and the "new" one begins.
The widow of the builder went on to run the grocery store and lived there with much of the family living in the residential buildings. This family continued to own the buildings, and pass them down through generations of daughters, unil 1965.
Woody's and Lynch Street Regulars
Within a decade of the original family selling the property, it seems the grocery building became a series of bars. We know of Woody's and The Lynch Street Regulars. If you remember any others, please share your memories. By report, the bar during this era was set up much like Square One in Lafayette Square, with tables along the south and west windows, facing Lynch and facing 11th, and the bar built along the east wall.
Lynch Street Bistro
Around 1990, in a massive overhaul, the two buildings along Lynch Street were combined to create The Lynch Street Bistro. The three story residential property was opened up into two 30' x30' spaces. The second floor consumed the third floor, and became a vaulted space. Gracious archways were opened up in the brick walls of the grocery building on both the first and second floors to connect the two structures, and add significant dining and event spaces to the bar. A sculptural staircase was added at the front of the old grocery store space to dramatically connect the first and second floor dining rooms.
The basements were also connected, with narrow, utilitarian openings in the foundation walls, to create a large kitchen prep space spanning the entirety of the basements. The Lynch Street entrances to the residential building were turned into windows, and a back door to the old grocery along 11th was bricked up. The two buildings became one large restaurant and bar, with extensive kitchen facilities both on the first floor and in the basement.
During the Lynch Street Bistro era, the patio was constructed and the outdoor bar replaced the old structures. It was a big operation for over 15 years.
1970s? Woody's
1980s? Lynch Street Regulars
1991-2007 Lynch Street Bistro
2007-2014 Sage
2014 Mama Gusto's
2015-2016 Fleur de Lilies
2017-2018 Lynch Street Tavern
2019 Oaked
2022 Boo Coo
Lark (on Deck)
