New restaurant named for Orlando civil rights activist opens downtown
The Monroe is named for Dr. William ‘Monroe’ Wells
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The interior of the Monroe during its grand opening in downtown Orlando (Copyright 2021 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.)
ORLANDO, Fla. – The Monroe restaurant, named after an Orlando civil rights leader, held its grand opening in downtown Orlando’s Creative Village on Tuesday.
The restaurant opened inside the Julian Apartments complex along North Terry Avenue, just north of the Parramore neighborhood.
The Monroe is the fourth restaurant from the Good Salt Group which also runs the Osprey Tavern, Seito Sushi and Reyes Mezcaleria.
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Right across from the Amway Center at 511 W South Street is a place of historical significance. It’s the Wells’Built Museum of African American History and Culture, formerly a hotel during the segregation era that now houses memorabilia of Orlando’s African-American community, African art and artifacts, and Civil Rights Movement displays.
Built in 1921 by Dr. William M. Wells, a prominent African-American physician, the hotel provided lodging to African Americans during a period when they were denied accommodations at other Central Florida hotels. Many musicians who performed at the South Street Casino, which was next door and was also built by Wells, stayed at the hotel, including Ray Charles, B.B. King, Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald. Other artists, activists and athletes, including Jackie Robinson, also visited there. In February 2000, the Wells’ Built Hotel was added to the U.S. National Register of Histori