Sterling Restaurant

The Sterling started life on the corner of Capitol & Washington Streets in 1931

Sterling Restaurant




It would move behind the Diamond on Washington Street next to the Firestone Store



Sterling Restaurant

I ate many meals here as a boy.

Around this same time Andy Raptis also opened a little place across from the Virginian Theater....


Sterling Restaurant

1940








Raptis

Andy Raptis & Grandson breaking ground on Capitol Street for the new restaurant.



Sterling Restaurant

Artist  Bernie Wiepper  installing the "Bull In The Pen" on the new Sterling Restaurant

When the Diamond expanded for the second time, it took the old Sterling property for their mens department.  Andy Raptis then decided to build an all new restaurant at 507 Capitol Street in 1962.  He hired Charleston artist Bernie Wiepper to construct a huge head of a bull of gold color.  The restaurant opened in 1963 and did very well in this location for a time. 

Sterling Restaurant

Andy Raptis breaks ground on his new restaurant on Capitol Street



 Sterling

Sterling








Sterling

Oddly enough, the same year the new Sterling opened, it's longtime owner Andy Raptis died in a fall from the roof.  Some people say the Sterling was never the same after that.




Sterling Restaurant

The building today