The Old Majestic

The History

The Majestic Café is as old as the George Washington Masonic Memorial and as new as the 21st century.

The original Majestic Café was founded by John Gadonas in 1932 at 622 King Street. He opened the New Majestic Café here at 911 King Street in 1949.

Mr. John, as he was called, altered the building to enlarge the space, added an Art Deco façade, and outfitted the New Majestic Café with the latest restaurant equipment and furnishings.

The Gadonas family closed the restaurant in 1978, but kept the building, hoping to reopen someday.

That hope became a reality when a group of local investors refurbished and reopened the Majestic Café in 2001.

In 2007 it is once again reincarnated under the creators of Restaurant Eve and begins a new journey into the future as...The Majestic.

Original:

The Art Deco façade is original to The Majestic.

Two outside neon signs that were the building’s signature were rebuilt, including one running 25 feet to the rooftop. A third sign, carried over from the original Majestic in 1932, remains in perfect working order and hangs once again inside the front window.

The service kitchen visible from the dining room is where all cooking happens while the restaurant is open. A prep kitchen was added in the basement. Digging out that area completely by hand.

The phone booth is from the original Majestic, and has been in perfect condition all these years. The phone is a restoration, and may be used to make local phone calls for only 25 cents.

The terrazzo floor is largely original, a team of expert craftsmen matched and repaired the original, then extended it throughout the expanded dining area.

The tin ceiling on the sides of the dining room reproduces the tin design of the original Majestic.

The booths and banquets are similar to the original Majestic Café. The chairs are a 1945 Austrian design from Thonet, the company that developed the bent wood concept.

The bar incorporates Art Deco light fixtures from the original Majestic.