Located down the street from me in the old Riggs Bank building is one of my favorite casual restaurants,
Gordon Biersch ( I love their garlic fries and burgers!).
I love the repurposing of the old bank lobby into a restaurant (they kept all of the old features such as bank slip stands, etc) and the faux painted marble columns with corinthian capitals and beautifully coffered ceiling never cease to amaze me.
Designed by Arthur Heaton and James Hill in 1891, the Richardsonian Romanesque styled building now houses a Courtyard Marriot and retains a lot of the beautiful old details. Do you have any cool old repurposed buildings like this in your neighborhood?
Located down the street from me in the old Riggs Bank building is one of my favorite casual restaurants, Gordon Biersch ( I love their garlic fries and burgers!). 
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At the end of my lane in Taipei is the old American Ambassador's residence, a beautiful large, white building, which is now an art movie theater, gift shop (for cool, up-to-date items), and coffee shop/restaurant.
--Road to Parnassus
For a brief moment I thought James J. Hill, not James G. Hill, becuase his house was also Richardsonian Romanesque! Love a good ceiling, much better than the modern "textured" stuff. Yikes.
Parnassus, are you talking about the spot cinema place? That is amazing you mention it because I remember someone telling me it was left in disrepair for quite some time before being reborn, no?
Ann, Yes, that is the house--small world, isn't it? If I can find a sunny day I'll try to take a few pics and post them on Road to Parnassus. It really is an attractive building. (Architect Design, sorry to hijack your comments!)
Parnassus, no, I'm thrilled! Such a small world that Ann knew the house in question!
There are a number of exceptional restaurants in Memphis that are located in former houses of varying architectural styles from the 1830s to the 1990s. I'd say it is a local tradition. But I cannot think of a better venue than a former bank. (And garlic fries and burgers sound delicious!!!).
Classicist -they're simply fries with TONS of fresh garlic on them (literally) and fresh parsley -but they're out of this world! I've tried to duplicate them at home but I just can't get them right.
I remember when that actually was a Riggs bank!
Great, in one week you've managed to give me a case of Palazzo envy, followed by andiron envy, and now this, stylish restaurant and garlic fry envy.
Great looking place
fresh garlic, not sauteed? minced?
Those fries really were addictive!
Yes we do! I live across from the old R.J. Reynolds estate--Reynolda. The original house is now an American art museum, and the self sufficient farm buildings are one of a kind shops. The grounds are open to the public. The Gray estate, Graylyn is right across the street and is a spectacular conference center with more spectacular grounds. You should stay there when you go to HP.
Best,
Liz
i live in savannah, georgia, the queen of repurposed buildings. :) so yeah, a ton!the latest is the new SCAD museum. a former railway station. now with hot pink ceiling. here are my party pics from the film festival party. it has a huge outdoor screen, and a hot pink ceiling in the lobby and 3-D wallpaper:
http://magpiepie.blogspot.com/2011/11/from-film-festival-party-at-scad-museum.html
The idea of eating fries and burgers beneath that
extraordinary ceiling, well, that put a smile on my
face. Do you think McDonalds will get the message
and do a complete re-design?
Absolutely obsessed with ornate ceilings dahhling.. this was perfection!
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