Pensacola in Escambia County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

H & O Café

— Eastside Neighborhood Black History Trail —

Photographed by Mark Hilton, July 11, 2021

1. H & O Café Marker

Inscription. Originally the site of a dry goods store owned by Tierce Lee, a wealthy black businessman listed in the Dunn and Bradstreet reports, and his brother Shef, the building was bought by their brother Hamp and his wife Ola in 1944 and converted to the H & O Café (using their intials [sic] for the name). The Grier family purchased the building in 1947 and has owned and operated the cafe for more than sixty years, earning acclaim for their traditional southern style food. The H&O became an informal place for the African American community to gather and organize during the Civil Rights era and has been visited and patronized by many local and national celebrities and politicos.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1944.

Location. 30° 25.492′ N, 87° 12.823′ W. Marker is in Pensacola, Florida, in Escambia County. It is at the intersection of East Gonzalez Street and North Hayne Street, on the right when traveling east on East Gonzalez Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal

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address: 301 E Gonzalez St, Pensacola FL 32503, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on the Florida Panhandle.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: John Lee Pickens’ Medical Office (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); John Sunday (about 700 feet away); General Francisco De Miranda (approx. 0.3 miles away); General Daniel "Chappie" James, Jr. Memorial Park (approx. 0.4 miles away); Living in Eastside (approx. 0.4 miles away); “Thou Shalt Not Quit” (approx. 0.4 miles away); History in Place (approx. 0.4 miles away); Original Site of Pensacola Junior College (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all

H & O Café and the Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, July 11, 2021

2. H & O Café and the Marker

markers in Pensacola.

Also see . . . Pensapedia, the Pensacola encyclopedia article on the H&O Café. (Submitted on July 11, 2021, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 11, 2021. It was originally submitted on July 11, 2021, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 1,051 times since then and 47 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 11, 2021, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.