I definitely love Herndon’s interesting past history and the Wilkins Store on the corner of Elden and Spring Streets. Magnas T. Wilkins opened the Wilkins and Brothers Herndon Bargain Store back in 1897.
The below photograph shows the front of the Wilkins Building from across Elden Street.
Over the years, in no particular order, the building has seen many uses from a grocery store/drug store, sporting goods store, army surplus store, Western Auto Store, butcher shop and a tavern in the 1940’s.
Current History of the Wilkins Store
In the 1990’s, Doug and Pam Roach opened an antique store in the upper level of the building. They cleverly called their store Roaches in the Attic.
Then in 1997, Jimmy Cirrito thought the ground floor in the Wilkins building would make an ideal place for a bar. So, Jimmy’s Old Town Tavern, became the ground floor restaurant in that same year.
Jimmy’s Old Town Tavern sells not only drinks but also sandwiches, pub food, surf-n-turf and other menu items.
They also have open mic nights, a trivia team, etc.
The area in front of Jimmy’s Old Town Tavern is a very busy street corner in Herndon.
To safely cross, always use the crossing system.
Ending Remarks on the Wilkins Store
The Wilkins building has a past and present history of providing a central location for many different types of businesses in downtown Herndon.
Bonus Eldon Street Feature
If you look down and across the street from Jimmy Old Town Tavern, you will notice 760 Eldon Street which was once the home of the Ice House Café.
This building was built in the 1950’s and originally held a drug store. A doctor’s office was located on the second floor along with some apartments.
For a short time in the 1960’s, the location was that of the Pink Pussycat a topless bar.
Then the building held the iconic Ice House Café until January 1, 2019.
At that time, Alice Dai, the proprietor, closed the Ice House Café after 40 years of service.
A notice still hangs in the front window regarding the Ice House’s closing.
Resource Sites: Community Corner, Patch.com, Herndon Historical Society, article by Barbara Glakas, and The Many Faces of Herndon by Carol Bruce.
