700-704 NINTH ST.

700-702 Ninth Street was among the earliest commercial masonry structures built in West Durham, located at the corner of Hillsboro (later Perry) and Ninth, where the streetcar turned from Ninth Street towards Broad. It was built between 1907 and 1913. In 1926, it housed Brewers Drug Store in 700 and the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company (the A&P) in 702. By 1930, the building was expanded to the north with a similar-in-appearance additional bay, 704 Ninth St. The A&P moved into this section. 702 was soon occupied by Kam's Barber Shop and Nellene Beauty Shop.

By the late 1930s:
700: Brewers Drug Store, Textile Workers' Union Am Local No. 246 (2nd Floor)
702: Nellene Beauty Shop, Hall's Barber Shop
704: Ser-V-All Food Store

By the 1940-1950s
700: Brewers Drug Store,
702: Nellene Beauty Shop, Gus' Barber Shop
704: Lesco Homes district sales office, Home Builders and Realty Co., Swain Bros Stationers


(Courtesy Durham County Library / North Carolina Collection)

By 1965

700: Ivy 's Florist
702: Nellene Beauty Shop, Bell's Barber Shop
704: Carolina Textile Products

By 1970

700: The Shoe Inn
702: Nellene Beauty Shop, Ninth St. Barber Shop
704: Textile Remnants Inc.



By 1985:

700: Campus Florist
702: A New Reflection Beauty Shop, Ninth St. Barber Shop
704: Bernard's Formal Wear.

By 1990:

700: Campus Florist
702: The Play House, King's Barber Shop,
704: Vacant


Today, after the unfortunate removal of the box cornice from 700-702, the buildings house Ninth Street Florist, The Playhouse, and Wavelengths Salon.


Looking northeast, 04.05.09


Find this spot on a Google Map.


36.00786,-78.922016