University of Virginia Library

Poe's Place Lives Up To Its Dark And Intriguing Name

As you come upon its Georgetown
front on the corner, it looks as though
someone just pulled down a garage door
on main street and painted it black. Each
of the five windows frames one of the
gold-leaf letters that form the name of
the club's eponymous author. Through
the large wooden door on the right, you
enter into a dimly lit, black and red
pub-scene.

Inside, the somber works of Edgar
Allen Poe appropriately provide an

excellent motif for design. The black
ceiling gives the vague impression of
infinity as it pours down over the red
velvet print wall-paper. Wrought iron
candle-holders and hand-made. Spanish
"dungeon lights" bear the electric candles that
provide the only strained relief from total
darkness.

Perched atop one dungeon light is the
infamous raven of Poe's most-quoted work.
Soon to be added are two original paintings
depicting scenes from two of Poe's short
stories: "The Fall of the House of Usher" and
"Mask of the Red Death." The owners are also
looking for a skull to be used in a
representation of the image from "The Skull
and the Golden Bug."

As you come in, the bar is shaped like an
elongated horse shoe, open at the back of the
room. You can either sit at tables lined up
along the wall to your right or stand at the bar.
Downstairs, on Wednesday, Friday and
Saturday nights, there's a band and a limited
dancing room.

Antiquated Liquor Laws

For the most part, however, the
wood-paneled room is filled with tables and a
small bar. There is also a cover charge of $1.00
to get downstairs and hear the band. "The
Ghost House," which could be characterized as
a pop-rock group, has been the regular
performer at 'Poe's' since the summer.

It seems that 'Poe's' is also a victim of
Virginia's antiquated liquor laws. Having the
youngest proprietors of Charlottesville's night
clubs, 'Poe's' is subject to frequent visits from
local A.B.C. Board and narcotics agents. But the
owners are quick to point out that no arrests
have been made on the premises and they still
have their liquor license. I.D.'s are scrupulously
inspected not only to keep out people under 18
years of age, but also to be sure that those not
yet 21 are served only 3.2 beer. If you've 21,
your hand is stamped. And the waitress, Suzie,
normally a good-natured sort, becomes quite
stern at under-aged requests for a more-potent
liquor.

As stereotypes, the 'Poe's' owners are as
different as day and night. Chuck Davis, a
Virginia graduate and the "silent partner" at
'Poe's', is an insurance salesman during the day.
Al Bonnewell, who graduated from VCU, sports
long hair and an enviable handlebar moustache.
G. Robert Jones, with his impish, John Lennon
grin, finds himself somewhere in the middle. All
three men are originally from Norfolk. Messrs.
Bonnewell and Jones are both musicians and
Army graduates.

Their diversity is reflected in their
customers. 'Poe's' patrons include salesmen,
bankers, hospital personnel, fraternity men,
married couples, coeds, "yippies," "freaks" and
regular old college students. Their patronage is
what Al Bonnewell likes to call "a cross-section
of really nice people."

Most Famous Student

It is surprising that nobody else around
Charlottesville has built on the name of the
University's most famous student - Edgar
Allen Poe. It is also a bit odd that, although G.
Robert Jones and Al Bonnewell are both
English majors, Chuck Davis came up with the
name, Messrs. Jones and Bonnewell resisted at
first, but soon gave in to Davis' stroke of
genius. Now they consider themselves minor
experts on Mr. Poe, thanks to research done for
their new club. Al Bonnewell also likes to think
of Mr. Poe as a typical Virginia student.
Although he did not elaborate too much, we
must assume this is because of Poe's great
capacity for drink and mischief, genius and
study.

Run At A Loss

Money, as always, played a part in their
decision to open a night-club. But, as G. Robert
Jones said, "I'm still driving a Sprite instead of
a Ferrari." This does not mean that they would
continue to run the place at a loss; but that
they are willing to give up higher incomes for
the pleasure they glean from running 'Poe's.'