According to newspaper articles of the day, the building now home to the Celtic Ray was constructed in 1924 by the Chadwick Brothers, fishermen from North Carolina who became prominent Punta Gorda businessmen. Originally constructed as an office and storage facility, it had a gas station on its perimeter corner. Earl Farr was an early tenant as was D. S. Smoak, who became one of Punta Gorda's early mayors. The Texaco station serviced cars crossing the first bridge over the harbor ending at Nesbit.
However, Kevin Doyle, owner of the Ray, says the building dates back even earlier - to the 1890s. And there is evidence of wooden buildings along that area of Marion Avenue that supports the existence of an earlier structure possibly one of the cigar factories that was here at that time.
Years later the building was converted to restaurant/bar space under various owners including for a time, according to locals, Mel Allard. Through the 1950s into the 1970s the place was known as the Trailer Bar serving the municipal trailer park located across the street. For a time it was also the Sandbar Sandwich Cove and prior to Kevin Doyle's venture, the Parrothead Cafe.
In 1996, Doyle converted the rundown establishment to an Irish pub, first occupying the one building that had been the Trailer Bar and filling station. Then later, after hurricane Charley in 2004, Doyle purchased the entire structure and remodeled the larger building styling it like a Dublin pub with alcove.
After some bumpy periods especially during the housing crisis when Doyle lost the place or awhile, the Ray was back and Doyle has been expanding ever since adding a new kitchen and large outdoor beer garden. More recently he has sealed over the open balcony space to create a full second floor for more restaurant seating and function rooms.
Published originally in the Charlotte Sun as Now and Then column
No comments:
Post a Comment