930 History

THE 930 BLUES CAFE PRESERVES THE LEGACY OF MISSISSIPPI DELTA BLUES ON HISTORIC CONGRESS STREET, ONE OF JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI'S EARLIEST RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS, IN THE SHADOW OF THE STATE CAPITOL. THE TWO-STORY STRUCTURE, BUILT IN 1903 AS A RESIDENCE, FITS COMFORTABLE AMONG OTHER GRACIOUS VICTORIAN HOMES, INCLUDING THE WRITER EUDORA WELTY'S BIRTHPLACE JUST DOWN THE STREET.	BLACK POTS, ONCE USED IN HIS COMMUNITY HOG KILLINGS, AND HIS BOYHOOD WATER PUMP GREET YOU AS YOU MAKE YOUR WAY ONTO THE ORIGINAL PINE PORCH AND INTO THE FIRST FLOOR HOME-STYLE RESTAURANT. EASE ON UP THE STAIRS WHERE DELTA HIGHWAY SIGNS DIRECT YOU TO THE BLUES CLUB, FEATURING LIVE BLUES EVERY NIGHT (EXCEPT SUNDAY), FROM 9:30 P.M. ON. IF YOU COME EARLIER, PLAY THE 196O's JUKE BOX, JAMPACKED WITH BLUES OLDIES, AND LOOK AROUND AT THE PHOTOGRAPHS AND ORIGINAL DELTA FARM ARTIFACTS-WASHBOARDS, COTTON SCALES AND WEIGHTS, AND CROSS CUT SAWS. OR PULL UP A STOOL AT THE OLD CYPRESS BAR.
THE OWNER OF THE 930 BLUES CAFE IS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN WHO KNOWS THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA. HE GREW UP NEAR HIGHWAY 61 IN SUNFLOWER COUNTY ON A DELTA FARM THAT HIS FAMILY HAS OWNED AND FARMED SINCE THE EARLY PART OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY. HERE AT HIS BLUES CAFE HE HAS PAINSTAKINGLY RECREATED A DELTA ATMOSPHERE WITH ARTIFACTS FROM HIS FAMILY FARM AND A ARRAY OF PHOTOGRAPHS OF CONTEMPORARY DELTA SCENES. YOU'LL KNOW YOU'RE IN THE RIGHT PLACE WHEN YOU DISCOVER DIRT-DOBBER NEST STUCK TO THE CEILING! EVEN THE FLOORING IS THE FINEST OF LONG-LEAF SOUTHERN PINE, BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE FROM AN OLD CHURCH THAT HAD BEEN TORN DOWN.	ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAYS THE 930 BLUES CAFE FEATURES AND INTERNATIONAL BLUES ARTIST. STROLL OUT BACK TO THE THREE DECKS TO EAT OR DRINK TO THE PIPED IN MUSIC AND RELAX IN GRANDMA'S BACKYARD SETTING. OR YOU CAN JUST EVEN HANG OUT ON THE SECOND FLOOR BALCONY. BEFORE YOU LEAVE DON'T FORGET TO ORDER T-SHIRTS, MUGS AND OTHER 930 BLUES CAFE MEMORABILIA. PLEASE COME BACK AGAIN AND AGAIN TO THE 930 BLUES CAFE. A SPECIAL PLACE, WHERE THE MAGIC OF MISSISSIPPI DELTA BLUES IS NOT ONLY ALIVE; IT'S GETTING BETTER ALL THE TIME!