Walking Directions: Continue on Congress and stop in front of the building that has the Dizzy Chicken sign. This is the sole remaining original building left from pre-Urban Renewal times.
The Story
In the late 1960s and early 70s the Black neighborhood on CongressStreet was bulldozed as part of the Urban Renewal campaigns that were going on across the country at the time. The sole remaining building from that era is currently home of the restaurant “Dizzy Chicken.” This building was previously home to “The Burgas Inn” and prior to that “The Hilltop Inn.” The Burgas Inn was listed in the 1949 Green Book under the name “Bill Vodney” who was the proprietor.
“The Negro Motorist Green Book: An International Travel Guide” was a popular and useful guide for middle class Black Americans in the 40s, 50s and 60s. It listed hotels, restaurants and stop overs that were considered “safe” for Black travelers during the Jim Crow era.
The 2018 movie “The Green Book” captured the realities for Black entertainers and travelers during this era.
West Side Heritage Tour 