Historic Crawford Grill No. 2 Listed in the National Register

The Crawford Grill No. 2, a former jazz club at 2141 Wylie Avenue in the Middle Hill District, has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
 
Constructed in 1917 as the Sochatoff Building, the entire first floor housed a famous jazz club from 1945 to 2003. The club was established by African American businessman William Augustus “Gus” Greenlee and later flourished under the ownership of Greenlee’s partner, Joe Robinson, and later, his son, William “Buzzy” Robinson.
 
The building was designed by architect William Arthur Thomas, with an 18-foot first floor presumably for an unrealized movie theater, and two floors of apartments above. Thomas’ professional work included houses, apartments, and commercial and institutional buildings built primarily in Pittsburgh's East End neighborhoods.
 
The building is significant under two National Register criteria for Performing Arts because of its association with the Crawford Grill No. 2 jazz club, and as the most significant extant building of associated development by William “Gus” Greenlee. The nomination was prepared by Jeff Slack, AICP, of Time & Place LLC, and we congratulate him for the successful listing.
 
Crawford Grill is mentioned in two August Wilson plays, Fences and King Hedley II, as noted in our publication, August Wilson: Pittsburgh Places in His Life and Plays, which is available in the PHLF Store.