140 University Ave in 2015, home of Opa Restaurant and other businesses. Photo by Ian Sears for Palo Alto Pulse.
140 University Avenue in Palo Alto, also known as Fraternal Hall (and Native Sons Hall), is one of many buildings in Palo Alto registered with the National Register of Historic Places. While today it is home to a restaurant and other businesses, it has had many different purposes and tenants throughout its long history.
Here are a few highlights of this beautiful building
1898- Fraternal Hall is completed
1906- massive earthquake causes Fraternal Hall to lose its cornice and second story wall
Fraternal Hall in 1906, showing damage from the earthquake. Photo courtesy of Palo Alto Stanford Heritage.
1918- University A.M.E. Zion Church, Palo Alto’s oldest black church, begins using Fraternal Hall for worship services before moving to 819 Ramona St, then to its current location at 3549 Middlefield Road.
1923- first home of the Palo Alto Elks Club, which moved to the University Pharmacy Building on University and High Streets before building its own lodge in the 1940s.
140 University was home to rowdy Miyake Restaurant for about 25 years. Photo courtesy of Yelp.
1987-2012- location of Miyake Restaurant, famous for ‘sake bombs,’ loud and drunken patrons.
2012-2015- several different bars and restaurants open and close in rapid succession
Spring 2015- Greek restaurant Opa opens its sixth eatery at 140 University.
From a church, to an Elk’s Club lodge, to a place for fun and good food, this building has endured as a Palo Alto gathering place for many years due to its charming design and central location.
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