The Square Table: Before and After
Decatur Metro | August 26, 2009The passing of Square Table owner, Speros Millas, inspired Asst. City Manager Lyn Menne to go back and find the “before and after” pics of the “Square Table”, which is now “Eurasia“. Here they are…
Wow. What a difference a steep-shingled roof makes, huh?
Lyn promises more “Before and Afters” coming soon to The Decatur Minute blog.
Great shot. One of the first things my wife and I did when we moved to Winnona Park in 1997 was ride our bikes up to the Square Table Diner for a Saturday breakfast.
Good times. Decatur square was a far different place then.
Too bad Eurasia didn’t keep that “Square Table Diner” sign as Iberian Pig is being encouraged to do with “Smith’s Shoes” (http://www.decaturmetro.com/2009/08/22/save-smiths-shoes-sign/).
I love a good passive aggressive comment.
2 points for you sir or madam!
DM: Don’t take it personally. Not seeking points (but I may be entitled to a foul shot). I like the “Smith’s Shoes” sign (more) myself. Just intended to point out that what we see as worth preserving and what we see as not worth preserving is sometimes based on a personal (often eclectic) aesthetic and can seem arbitrary to others. Hand-painted sign on brick is attractive; prefab sign in front of asphalt shingles – not so much. However, as a representation of a long-term community business that may have helped prevent even greater “decay” of downtown Decatur, the Square Table sign could be seen as a significant piece of that block’s history. Twenty years from now, that “eurasia” (or “Starbuck’s” or whatever) sign may look just as tacky. It would be great to have a photographic history / inventory of the commercial buildings, retail spaces, and their uses (and signage) that those of us so inclined could enjoy. DDDA?
What would have been awesome is if someone had saved that Square Table sign, and displayed it somewhere on the inside wall of a Decatur business.
I love the picture of the Square Table sign because I almost feel as if I could walk around the corner to the Grog Shop! Yeah, yeah, yeah, Brick Store is all cool with their fancy beers and Taco Mac is a (almost) real sports bar and we have all these hip, happening restaurants now but sometimes I just miss the early 90’s decay that was Decatur!
The Grog Shop!! What a blast from the past! I remember going in there for cheap draft beer during Concerts on the Square, back when bands would set up on the plaza instead of the bandstand.
I’ll make sure and post the Grog Shop/Iberian Pig before and afters next. We’ve tried to do a street by street photo inventory of downtown Decatur about every five years so we have a great collection.
The building looks way better now. That roof looks very 70s.
Just noticed yesterday that the old Square Table roof looks a lot like the buildings at Church and Sycamore that house Johnny’s Pizza, the medical supply shop, convenience store, etc.
I’m sure there is a nice looking 1920’s commercial building somewhere underneath there.
Someone needs to get ahold of those buildings and restore them and get rid of those 1970’s modernizations. And then there’s that facade on the Trust Building ….