Winchester, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Ruth's Tea Room

Crossing Social And Racial Boundaries

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, December 18, 2025

1. Ruth's Tea Room Marker

Inscription.

Ruth's Tea Room. Crossing Social And Racial Boundaries. Named for its original owner, Ruth E. P. Jackson, Ruth's Tea Room was a one-of-a-kind institution operating in Winchester for 80 years. It opened in 1925 and was managed by Ruth until her death in 1953. Ruth's husband Boyd, ran the restaurant until he died in 1983, leaving their daughter Vivienne in charge until it closed in 2005. Vivienne was still in high school when she took over for her mother in the kitchen., Despite being an African-American owned and operated business, it served people of all races, incomes, and social groups. It was one of the only places that would stay open serving food late into the early morning hours. Parents knew that their children were safe at the restaurant and Vivienne enforced good manners., Race was not a big issue at Ruth's Tea Room. Vivienne Jackson recalls her mother applying for a liquor license back when Virginia required separate entrances for black and white customers. Since the building already had two entrances, the permit was issued. Jackson sat people in different sections "but that didn't mean they stayed there.", The restaurant was the type of place that served people from all walks of life and they got along together, Jackson said. "If they didn't, they were barred.", (Source: The Winchester Star article by Laura McFarland dated October 24, 2013 in advance of a Ruth's Tea Room reunion held on Oct. 26, 2013), (captions) , Ruth Jackson, original owner of Ruth's Tea Room. Courtesy of Stewart Bell, Jr Archives, Handley Regional Library, Winchester, VA. Circa 1930, Vivienne Jackson, last owner of Ruth's Tea Room. Photo by Ginger Perry Courtesy of The Winchester Star, Winchester, VA 2013, View of Ruth's Tea Room and adjoining community store at corner of E. Cecil St. and S. Kent St. Buildings demolished in 2008 to make room for new housing. The City and developer swapped properties so that site could become a neighborhood park. Oil painting by Jane Caspar, 1968

Named for its original owner, Ruth E. P. Jackson, Ruth's Tea Room was a one-of-a-kind institution operating in Winchester for 80 years. It opened in 1925 and was managed by Ruth until her death in 1953. Ruth's husband Boyd, ran the restaurant until he died in 1983, leaving their daughter Vivienne in charge until it closed in 2005. Vivienne was still in high school when she took over for her mother in the kitchen.

Despite being an African-American owned and operated business, it served people of all races, incomes, and social groups. It was one of the only places that would stay open serving food late into the early morning hours. Parents knew that their children were safe at the restaurant and Vivienne enforced good manners.

Race was not a big issue at Ruth's Tea Room. Vivienne Jackson recalls her mother applying for a liquor license back when Virginia required separate entrances for black and white customers. Since the building already had two entrances, the permit was issued. Jackson sat people in different sections "but that didn't mean they stayed there."

The restaurant was the type of place that served people from all walks of life and they got along together, Jackson said. "If they didn't, they were barred."

(Source: The Winchester Star article by Laura McFarland dated October 24,

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

2013 in advance of a Ruth's Tea Room reunion held on Oct. 26, 2013)

(captions)
Ruth Jackson, original owner of Ruth's Tea Room. Courtesy of Stewart Bell, Jr Archives, Handley Regional Library, Winchester, VA. Circa 1930

Vivienne Jackson, last owner of Ruth's Tea Room. Photo by Ginger Perry Courtesy of The Winchester Star, Winchester, VA 2013

View of Ruth's Tea Room and adjoining community store at corner of E. Cecil St. and S. Kent St. Buildings demolished in 2008 to make room for new housing. The City and developer swapped properties so that site could become a neighborhood park. Oil painting by Jane Caspar, 1968

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Industry & Commerce • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1925.

Location. 39° 10.798′ N, 78° 9.853′ W. Marker is in Winchester, Virginia. It is at the intersection of East Cecil Street and South Kent Street, on the left when traveling east on East Cecil Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 126 E Cecil St, Winchester VA 22601, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

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: Patsy Cline: Country Music Singer (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Dr. Madison S. Briscoe (about 500 feet away); The Preachers Led the Way with Joyous Hymns

Paid Advertisement

(about 600 feet away); Centenary Reformed Church (about 600 feet away); Cannon Ball House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Early 19th Century Stone Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); Photos of Old Town Winchester (approx. 0.2 miles away); Hill's Keep (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Winchester.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 19, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 19, 2025, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 86 times since then and 47 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on December 19, 2025, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.