HistoryLink Tours

415 Lenora Street

At the site of this vacant lot on November 24, 1967, Louie Carras and his partners opened a 350-patron Greek restaurant/nightclub called the Trojan Horse. That first night featured a lounge quintet called the Trojans, and over time many acts were brought in. Local stars including the John Lewis Combo, Rusty Draper, Bonnie Guitar, and the Brothers Four were booked, and around 1971, management began importing hit-makers such as Lou Rawls, Jimmie Rodgers, O. C. Smith, the Shirelles, the Platters, and the Ramsey Lewis Trio. An arson fire in 1975 shuttered the Trojan Horse, but it re-emerged in 1979 as Astor Park, a fine room where icons Ray Charles and B. B. King performed. Astor Park brought in promising new acts such as Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and U2, and was a proving ground for a generation of local post-New Wave rock bands.

Walk up to 4th Avenue and turn right. Our next stop is up the block.