We are on a road trip to go love on our NorCal grandchildren (and their parents) so our time is limited. That said, we need to eat so a detour was in order and I picked Gilroy (a place we have never detoured to... what a mistake).
Almost instantly, upon entering town, we were greeted by the Old City Hall (1905) building. Wow!
Designed by architect Samuel Newsom, with help from architectural firm of Wolfe and McKenzie of San Jose, the lower level is made of grey stone with the second story of white brick topped with terra cotta coping and a red tile roof. The rustic stone exterior is reminiscent of the earlier Richardsonian Romanesque-era and some of the original architecture found at nearby Stanford University. There is a double golden oak stair in the entry of the building.
The City Hall served as a courthouse, the mayor's office, a jail, a clerk office, the first library, and the fire department. The entire building screams, "Come back to Gilroy and learn the history!"
Important to us, on this day, was the fact that it housed a delightful restaurant.
I had the Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps with the best onion rings ever. We were both very happy with our dining choice.
Evidence of what this building once was was evident.
In addition to all it had going for it, Old City Hall Restaurant, had the coolest bathroom stalls ever. They really used the old jail cells in a very unique, and memorable way.
Here's a brief video which invites you to, "Come explore Gilroy’s charming Historic Downtown District, which features an eclectic mix of shops, restaurants, and other local businesses that artfully blend the old with the new." We'll be back when we have more time. Fun find!
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1 comments:
What an interesting city hall. The first picture almost looks like the bottom half is carved out of sand.
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