305 W. ROSEMARY ST.
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- Sun, 11/29/2020 - 2:48pm by SteveR
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This property was once the site of the "Temple House," which was razed in 1959.
1959 (via CHW)
Sold by A. J. Lloyd in Feb 1912 to J. C. Lloyd; then by J. C. Lloyd in July 1950 to Efthimios Mariakakis.
Mariakakis sold the property in October 1958 to Blue Light Restaurants, Inc. (yes, the Blue Light of Durham fame). It was then sold in September 1959 to Oh-Boy Drive Inn of Chapel Hill. The restaurant opened in 1960. "Oh Boy" was a play on the last name of "Boy," referring to the Durhamites Carl Boy and his sons Sam, Carl Jr., and James.
1960 (via Chapel Hill Historical Society)
It can be assumed that the restaurant was segregated, as most if not all white owned establishments in Chapel Hill were until after 1964. An ad from The Chapel Hill Weekly, February 8, 1960:
November 1964 (photo by Roland Giduz, via UNC)
Interior, November 1964 (photo by Roland Giduz, via UNC)
1966 ad
Blue Light merged to become Sam's Quik Stop and it owned the property until December 1988. It sold the property in April 1992 to Double-Up, Inc. Around the same time it became Pantana Bob's, which it still is today (2020).
Pantana Bob's, view north, 2019 (via Google Streetview)
Pantana Bob's, view west, 2019 (via Google Streetview)
The building still maintains some architectural features from its early days, notably the metal roofing. It has a locally important mural on its southern and western walls titled "Paint by Numbers," which was created in 2003 by Michael Brown.
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An excerpt from Chapel Hill Town board minutes from April 13, 1964:
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