936 Gervais Street
Designed by Charles C. Wilson for Lillie Fagan, the proprietor of the Jerome Hotel, in 1902, this two-story masonry structure replaced an earlier wood frame building. Its first tenant was J.B. Herriot, a grocer and butcher who ran his meat market on the premise. When he died in 1915, the store's capital, including four mules, were auctioned at the site. Architecturally compelling buildings like this one, which now operates as Pearlz Oyster Bar, offer unique settings for entertainment within an historic context. Sensitive rehabilitation here and throughout the district has resulted in higher property values and increased income from prosperous businesses such as restaurants, boutiques, and galleries.
