LITTLE ACORN RESTAURANT
The Little Acorn restaurant was started in 1940 by Robert Roycroft. Like many of the eating establishments that lined Rigsbee Ave. and Morgan St., the Little Acorn catered to businesses in and patrons of the warehouse district, but it appears to have had far wider appeal as well. Per a 1951 writeup, the Little Acorn
"[was] one the most modernly equipped establishments of its kind in Durham. ... Private dining rooms [were] maintained for parties and banquets. They specialize[d] in pit-cooked barbecue, brunswick stew, Southern-style fried chicken, and sea foods [sic]." 
(Courtesy The Herald-Sun Newspaper)
(Courtesy The Herald-Sun Newspaper)
A glimpse of the Little Acorn behind a car-carrier that lost a car, looking southeast, 07.29.69.
(Courtesy The Herald-Sun Newspaper)
It appears that the Little Acorn closed in the 1970s, although I don't have an exact date. It appears to have been torn down by the 1980s and replaced with a very bland single-story commercial structure.
Looking east-northeast, 06.08.08
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12 comments:
Was the building replaced or was it just extensively renovated? It looks to be a similar size and shape, but the grading looks less sloped.
Anon
I looked at this for quite awhile, because I thought it might be possible that it was just blasted with an 80s gun. But it appears from comparing old aerials to new that this building is further north than the original, so I concluded that it was a teardown and replace
I remember eating at a "Little Acorn" restaurant on Hillendale Rd., near Carver St., in the 70's and 80's. I wonder if they just moved from downtown to the 'burbs? I'll check the City Directories when I get to work today and see if the same people owned the Hillendale Rd. establishment.
I think the business moved, with out the original owners, out to Guess Road. That building, vacant now still exists.
The Roycrofts still live in Durham.
lwn
Now that I'm at work and have done a little research... The Royster's "The Little Acorn" last shows up in the city directory in 1971. There is no restaurant listings for any "acorn restaurant" until 1977, when "The Acorn Restaurant" is listed at 3311 Guess Rd. (Not Hillendale as I typed earlier - coffee hadn't kicked in yet!) with the Roysters as owners.
Also from 1972-1976, 706 Rigsbee is listed as 'vacant' or has no listing at all. In 1977 is listed as "Durham Cablevision". I stopped looking at the 1980 directory, so I don't know when it may have next changed businesses. I also can't tell from the City Directories if the Durham Cablevision building is the same as the Little Acorn building.
As stated previously in the comments on another post, I currently live in the home owned by Robert Roycroft while he ran the Little Acorn.
I have done a bit of research myself, and I learned that per the 1971 Directory, Robert is listed as 'retired', and in 1973 his wife Virginia is listed as 'widow Robt. W.'
I also see in my notes that the Little Acorn was sold in 1970 to Wilbur P. Davis, Jr.
I'd love to find out more about the story of Robert and Virginia, hopefully some readers of this blog could either add to my knowledge or put me in touch with their family.
- Jack
a. librarian
Thanks so much for your additional research - I really appreciate it.
JHE3
Thanks for the additional info (again) about the Roycrofts - there was a bit more personal info about Robert (including his home address) in the source I took the restaurant description from. Shoot me an email, and I'll send it to you.
GK
Earl Roycroft, whose father started the business, still lives on Randolph Road in Durham. He should be able to give you lots of information about the Little Acorn.
GK
Robert Wallace Roycroft died on 30 Jan, 1972 at age 53 and was buried at Woodlawn Memorial Park. His death certificate lists his occupation as "Owner/Operator Little Acorn Resturant".
The Little Acorn was owned by Robert and his wife Virginia as well as Robert's brother Joe and his wife Nellie.
Robert's son Earl opened the Acorn Family Restaurant on Guess Rd. He still ives in Durham.
I am one of Earl's 3 sons.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane...
@ Randy...I'm Kim Williams. My father ran The Acorn with you father Roy. I have many fond memories of the restaurant and you boys.
I remember going there with my parents in the 1960's -prior to being a teen. As a kid, I was fascinated by the lava lamp on a shelf on the back wall. Seems like it was orange.
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