City Directories and History: 1906 – W.C. Hamilton, Mrs. Ida Hamilton, Fetna Hamilton, John Hamilton, 1908 – W.A. Bigham, 1917 – J.W. Taylor, 1922/23 – G.H. Baker, 1946 – Peter Pappas, 1963 – Vacant, 1975 – NA
The Herald reported on Oct. 2, 1918 – “The loyalty of the Greeks in Rock Hill has been shown by Peter A. Pappas, popular proprietor of the Royal Cafe and Liberty Loan Chair for our foreign friends residing in the City. He has secured subscription of $15,000. from Rock Hill Greeks.”
Rock Hill’s late 19th and early 20th century business community was a highly diversified group of ethnic and racial mixture. These families had thriving businesses along West Main, West Black, Trade and South Trade streets as well as beyond. Several of the families of Greek descent lived along West Main Street. Unfortunately, intentional or not, minority businessmen and those of Armenian, Greek and Jewish decent were dramatically affected by the decisions being made by politicians to improve Rock Hill’s downtown. But by doing so, the area was drastically changed and the economic viability of these minority families forever altered as in many cases, their homes and businesses were razed in the move for progress. This was the case of the Pappas family who owned several businesses along North Trade Street including the Royal Cafe.
The residential area on both side of West Main Street, between at Wilson Street extending out approximately four blocks was often called the Brooklyn area of Rock Hill.
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