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Warehouse No. 1 Restaurant, situated at the foot of Olive
Street, overlooks the picturesque Ouachita River which has
been described by National Geographic Magazine as one of the
ten most beautiful rivers in America. This
building, located in Monroe's historic district has
witnessed almost 100 years of Monroe's 200 year old
heritage. It has withstood many threats of high waters
from floods and remains sound. The
corrugated tin exterior warehouse was used for storing heavy
bales of cotton loaded from steamboats plying the Ouachita
and other rivers from Camden, Arkansas to New Orleans,
Louisiana. After the steamboat era gave way to the
railroad era, it was used to store heavy wholesale groceries
and hardware. It
is now supporting its lightest load - people. During
its restoration, the one principal guideline was to preserve
the integrity of the building and to retain as many of the
original features as possible. "Less is
more" was the theme. Old, original floors remain,
exterior walls are the same and massive beams and supports
are left exposed. Many colorful names were suggested
for the new restaurant. In keeping with the philosophy
of retaining as much of the original character of the
building as possible, the name decided upon was already over
the entrance door - Warehouse No. 1 and the address - One
Olive Street. Nothing in the sign was altered to make
it a restaurant. Other names used within the restaurant
were suggested from the nature of the building and
location. Satin-smooth twigs found at the water's edge
attested to the presence of beavers. Hence the name -
Beaver Bar. |