Sterling Restaurant

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

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

I ate many meals here as a boy.

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

1940

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

Andy Raptis breaks ground on his new restaurant on Capitol Street

 

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.

The building today