Opened earlier this year, Jake’s refers to owner Jake Eckman. He and his wife, Connie, relocated from New Jersey to adapt the R. L. Dibrell House as The II Georges Inn. Their newest venture downtown offers upscale unpretentious dining, featuring American food and spirits including microbrews. With emphasis on fresh, healthy ingredients, the restaurant seeks out area produce and other local fare.

Some portion of this commercial row may date from 1875. Around 1920, these storefronts underwent a facelift in the Georgian Revival/Craftsman style, perhaps reflecting the architectural talents of J. Bryant Heart.

Late in the 19th century, #209 was owned by prominent local African-Americans, the Beavers/Motley family. Early in its history, #215 was owned by Pickett Scott, a successful African-American businessman who established himself in Danville during Reconstruction. During the 1930s, toward the end of the property’s association with Scott’s heirs, a portion of these buildings also was used as an African-American funeral home. Scott’s heirs conveyed the property to Jacob Silverman, a menswear retailer. One of his descendants, Keith Silverman, currently owns the block. Since the early 20th century, the storefronts have been used as billiard parlors, rooming houses, barber and beauty shops and restaurants.

In 2009, the buildings were added to the Tobacco Warehouse District because they occupied lot 115 of the New Town subdivision first incorporated into Danville in 1833. Much of New Town’s footprint, just east of Danville’s original 1795 town plat of 41 lots along Main Street, conforms to the TWD industrial core, bounded by Patton and Lynn Streets, the railroad and the Dan River. After the Civil War, New Town emerged as the commercial/industrial heart of Danville’s robust tobacco district.