S&W Cafeteria facts for kids

S&W Cafeteria

Industry	Restaurant chain
Founded	1920
Defunct	1990s
Headquarters	Charlotte, North Carolina
Key people	Frank Odell Sherrill, founder
Products	Southern food

S&W Cafeteria was a popular chain of restaurants. It started in Charlotte, North Carolina. These restaurants served food in a cafeteria style. This meant you picked up your food from a line. S&W Cafeteria was known for its tasty and affordable Southern-style food. You could find their restaurants all over the Southeastern United States. They had locations from Washington, D.C. all the way to Atlanta, Georgia.

History of S&W Cafeteria

S&W Cafeteria was started in 1920. Two friends, Frank Odell Sherrill and Fred Weber, created the company. They had served together in World War I. The very first S&W restaurant was in downtown Charlotte. It was at 100 W. Trade Street.

Growing Across the South

By 1934, S&W Cafeteria had grown a lot. They opened their first restaurant in Washington, D.C.. They also had locations in many other cities. These included Atlanta, Georgia; Asheville, Charlotte, and Raleigh, North Carolina. You could also find them in Chattanooga and Knoxville, Tennessee. And they were in Roanoke, Virginia. Later, in the 1950s, more locations opened. These were in Greensboro, North Carolina and Lynchburg, Virginia. Many of these early restaurants were designed by a famous architect named Martin Evans Boyer.

Fancy Downtown Spots

The first S&W Cafeterias were in busy downtown areas. They were often near theaters and shopping spots. These early restaurants looked very fancy. They were designed in the Art Deco style. Many local business and political meetings happened there.

During the 1960s and 1970s, things changed. New shopping centers opened outside of downtowns. So, S&W Cafeteria started closing its downtown locations. They opened new restaurants in the suburbs. In 1964, there were 16 S&W locations. Into the 1990s, many older people loved S&W. They enjoyed the home-style meals and low prices.

Important Changes for Everyone

In the 1960s, there was a big movement for equal rights. Frank Sherrill, the owner, was asked to let all people eat at S&W. This meant serving everyone, no matter their race. Some people wrote letters supporting this change. Others wanted things to stay the same. In June 1963, S&W Cafeteria opened its doors to all customers. This was an important step towards fairness.

S&W Cafeteria Locations

S&W Cafeteria had many locations. Each one had its own story.

Washington, D.C. Restaurants

The first S&W in Washington, D.C. opened in 1934. It was a very large restaurant. It was a regular stop for politicians from the South. During World War II, this cafeteria served up to 9,000 meals every day! It closed in 1964.

Later, S&W opened restaurants in the D.C. suburbs. These included Seven Corners Shopping Center (1956) and Landmark Shopping Center (1964). In 1961, a rule at the Seven Corners location was changed. Before, an African official was not allowed to eat there. The U.S. government stepped in. After that, the restaurant served everyone. The Seven Corners location closed in 1976. Many older customers were upset because they relied on it for affordable meals. It reopened in 1980 in nearby Falls Church. This new restaurant was large and could seat 400 people. The Falls Church location stayed open into the 1990s. The Landmark location was very fancy. It had huge murals and crystal lights. It closed in 1986.

Asheville, North Carolina Location

S And W Cafeteria
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
S&W Cafeteria, Asheville
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Location	Patton Ave., Asheville, North Carolina
Area	0 acres (0 ha)
Built	1929
Architect	Ellington, Douglas D.
Architectural style	Art Deco
NRHP reference No.	77000993
Added to NRHP	March 28, 1977

The S&W Cafeteria in downtown Asheville opened in 1929. It was at 60 Patton Avenue. This building is famous for its Art Deco style. It was designed by architect Douglas Ellington. The restaurant closed in 1974. The building itself was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. This means it's an important historic place. In 2007, the building was bought and fixed up. It became a new restaurant and coffee shop. That restaurant closed in 2011.

Charlotte, North Carolina Restaurants

The very first S&W in Charlotte was at 100 W. Trade Street. It operated from 1920 until 1970. The building was later torn down. S&W also had three suburban locations in Charlotte. These were at Park Road Shopping Center (opened 1958), Charlottetown Mall (opened 1959), and Freedom Village Mall (1960s). All of these suburban locations closed in the early 1980s.

Greenville, South Carolina Location

An S&W Cafeteria opened in Greenville, South Carolina in 1970. It was located at the Bell Tower Mall. This restaurant closed in 1979.

Knoxville, Tennessee Location

The downtown S&W in Knoxville, Tennessee opened in 1936. It was at 516-518 South Gay Street. This location stayed open until the early 1980s. It is a two-story building. It has a beautiful Art Deco design. The outside is made of shiny terra cotta. The inside was very fancy. This area is now part of a historic district.

In 2009, the S&W building on Gay Street was renovated. It reopened as the S&W Grand Cafe. However, it closed its doors again in January 2011.

Roanoke, Virginia Restaurants

The first S&W in Roanoke, Virginia was at 412 S. Jefferson Street. It closed in 1964. The downtown location then moved to 16 Church Avenue, SW. This new spot used to be a bus station. It was a two-story building with Art Deco style. It even served breakfast! This location closed in the 1970s. Today, this building is a marketplace with shops and restaurants.

Richmond, Virginia Locations

There were also two S&W Cafeteria locations in Richmond, Virginia. One was at Willow Lawn Shopping Center. The other was at Southside Plaza. Both of these restaurants closed in the early 1980s.

Images for kids

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  S&W Cafeteria, Asheville