Poro Tea Room

Culled from: Drury, John. Dining in Chicago, New York: The John Day Company, 1931, p. 253.

Note: The Newberry Library holds the personal papers of author John Drury.

PORO TEA ROOM, 4415 South Parkway

Where the wealthier class of colored people dine and lunch. Very elegant and refined and located on the first floor of the Poro Beauty College, founded many years ago by Annie M. Malone, said to be one of the richest colored women in the country. This college occupies the imposing gray stone mansion in South Parkway built by the late John R. Thompson, who established the chain of one-arm restaurants. The food is of the best quality and the menu contains a few Southern specialties. Miss MacMurray is hostess. This tea room is patronized frequently for afternoon tea by groups of sightseeing students from Northwestern University and the University of Chicago. Open for luncheon, afternoon tea and dinner.