Baptist Alley and preservation

[L Verge]

Be careful, Mr. Garrett, you look somewhat like the vagrants that used to panhandle near the restaurant years ago. I remember being there with a group of friends in the early-90s. One asked for a doggy-bag to take home her leftovers. Once outside, we were approached by one of the panhandlers begging for money. She innocently handed him her bag of food and had it thrown on the ground. He wanted nothing to do with nourishment; I suspect he wanted more liquid refreshment.

As for trying to see what is on the upper floors, that has always been a well-kept secret. Back in the days when it was a Chinese grocery store, we suspected that there was either an opium den or a numbers racket going on up there. One day, Betty and I dared each other to make a run for the door and up the stairs. We both chickened out.