New details on demolition, partial collapse of century-old downtown Suffolk building
SUFFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — If the walls of 374 East Washington Street in Suffolk could talk, they would probably share stories about the difficult desegregation era in the south and how much Black residents in Suffolk enjoyed their visits to one of the few upscale restaurants in the region.
The Horseshoe Cafe, opened by a Japanese man, served Yok and other southern favorites.
“I think the Horseshoe was historical and very valuable to the African-American community,” said Charles Brown, who arrived in Suffolk as a math teacher in the late 1960s. “This is where most of all the African-Americans that live in the city and the surrounding places, and cities will come on Saturdays and Friday afternoons or Sunday afternoons. They walk up and down East Washington Street and eat at the Horseshoe. The Horseshoe was a very classy place to come and dine in a first-class restaurant.”
Brown, 78, would later serve two decades on the Suffolk City Council, and in 2021, he sold the former home of the Horseshoe Cafe to Norfolk-based developer C.J. Upton.
Upton said that, for months, he worked with city planners and his engineers to bring 16 new apartments and commercial space to the 104-year-old building. The plans took a turn Sunday night when the fire department was called to the building.
10 On Your Side obtained scanner traffic from first responders.
“We do have a collapse inside and outside on the street.”
“Looks like the entire back of the building was completely torn down and it was just the front fascia that collapsed into the federal [style] building.”
Upton knew the city had started demolition of the former restaurant site, but said he didn’t know to what extent a contractor had demolished the interior of the building.
“Well, I was actually shocked about it,” Upton said.
Regina Mobley: Did you authorize the demolition of your building?
C.J. Upton: I did not. As a matter of fact, I had a plan from the city to begin my own demolition process to shore the building up and get it, you know, ready to turn into 16-unit apartments with storefronts on the bottom. That’s what the goal was here. So people make mistakes and I get that. I made mistakes and the city made mistakes as well. I think this mistake is to be looked into. I have a team of people that will look into the mistakes that were made here.”
City spokesperson Jennifer Moore sent 10 On Your Side a statement that said the city did begin the demo process after attempts to work with the owner to repair were not successful.
Apartment buildings on each side of the former restaurant were condemned Monday. Upton also owns one of those apartment buildings.
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