I’m featuring a few of my favorite posts while I’m recovering from surgery. This post on Hazel’s Cafe was on of my most highly read posts. I think it’s timeless and hope that you’ll enjoy reading it once again. The address is 1166 Demere Road, the place is Hazel’s Cafe. Once situated in the thriving African American “South End” section of St. Simons Island. Hazel’s Cafe now sits as a reminder of what once was. The facade is faded, the windows a bit cloudy with age, but oh, if these walls could only talk…..there would be stories to tell!
Hazel Floyd and her husband, Thomas, opened the cafe in the late 1940’s. Thomas served in World War II and settled on the island with his wife after returning from battle.
The rest is history. I spent an hour with owner, Fred Marris who bought the property, including Hazel’s home next door to the cafe, in 1994. His plans for the property did not come to fruition, but he is dedicated to keeping both buildings preserved.
Inside Hazel’s Cafe it feels as though you are entering into another time. The original cash register sits on a stand by the front door, it’s drawer open as though waiting for the cashier to complete a transaction and close it.
The original bar still stands with a vintage “Budweiser” sign thay lights up when plugged in.
Photographs portraying the history of St. Simons Island, Sea Island and Brunswick are carefully hung on the walls and the old piano, once played for patrons enjoyment remains toward the back of the cafe.
Hazel and Thomas Floyd ran the cafe until 1978. The final health department inspection still hangs on the kitchen wall.
Fred shared stories about the cafe with me including the fact that Hazel would go crabbing all day when the season was in full swing. She would then come back to the cafe, pick through her catch and create fresh deviled crab for the special that night. She caught a 100+ at a time, my mouth watered at the thought of how delicious they must have been. The remains of the outdoor smoker sits shrouded in weeds, a reminder of barbecue and other meats served at the cafe.
The memories linger, the history lives on. Long time residents remember when South End was a bustling place with Wilma’s Dinner Theater located just across the street from Hazel’s Cafe and the neighborhood was a place to gather, share great food and entertainment.
31 Responses
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Hazel’s Cafe, Circa 1947, St. Simons Island | Vanishing South Georgia Photographs by Brian Brown Says:
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Connie McGhee Says:
What a beautiful tribute to a truly beautiful couple. You touched on many aspects of their active life. How I wish someone could share pictures of their homelife in the little green house! Having co-owned & operated a family business with my husband, I know that the majority of your life seems to be centered at the business location!
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Melissa Says:
I would love to have seen the inside of their home and to know more about that. There is so much rich history on this island. I’m uncovering it and exploring one step at a time! Glad you liked the post!
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Tina Says:
GREAT piece!! Loved it! Thanks for sharing!
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Melissa Says:
Thanks Tina! I’m so happy you liked the post. It’s so much fun discovering this island and sharing it with my readers.
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pat Says:
Thank you for this article, I really enjoyed it: I love st. simons and go to epworth by the sea and really enjoy that Thanks again:
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Melissa Says:
I’m so happy you enjoyed reading about Hazel’s Cafe. This island is rich with history that I so enjoy sharing!
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Hillary Says:
Thanks so much for this piece. I have be coming to the island for 30+ of my 45yrs. Hazel’s was closed before I got there, and I’ve always enjoyed seeing it on my bike rides…. I dearly hope it survives. A great deal of thanks is owed to Mr. Marris for his commitment to preservation. Clearly the artists, photographers, residents and tourists all appreciate this great building.
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Gladys Harvey Says:
I am the niece of Thomas and Hazel Floyd. I spent all of my summers there in this home and café. They had no children of their own but took care of all of their nieces and nephews. I am now 61 years of age and the good and fun memories of this place will be with me forever. Many thanks for preserving this rich history.
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Melissa Says:
Thank you for your comment Gladys! I’d love to meet you sometime if you’re in the area. The rich history of Coastal Georgia is one of my prime interests! Great to connect!
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Marisa Franca @ All Our Way Says:
Thank you for telling us about. My husband and I spend our time on Brown which is a short way from there. We’ve walked and driven past the diner countless times. How we wish they could do something with it. So much is lost because of development sprawl. When we return in September it’ll be nice knowing the facts about Hazel’s Cafe.
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Tricia Pini Says:
Thanks Melissa
I am enjoying your site so much.
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Harold Michael Harvey Says:
Great story. Thanks for sharing it again.
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Ann Payne Price Says:
A group of us artists had the privilege of having lunch inside the cafe about four years ago. Stepping back in time. I have painted the cafe three times. Loved your message because almost everyone knows where Hazel’s is but don’t know the history at all.
Hope you are not having too much pain.
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Melissa Says:
Thanks Ann! I’m doing very well. Glad you enjoyed the post!
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Diane Says:
So glad to find your post on Hazel’s Cafe. As a winter visitor, I have often wondered the history behind it. I hope it continues to be preserved as a noble reminder of this island’s history.
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Melissa Says:
Thank you Diane. I’m glad you enjoyed the post!
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Janice Britton Says:
Were they related to Thomas Floyd, a slave that came to GA on The Wanderer? Do you know where they are buried? Have you spoken to any of their relatives? Thanks so much!
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Melissa Says:
I have only spoken with the current owner of the property but I’m sure more information is available. Thanks for your comment
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josiah Says:
Hi Janice, I believe they are buried on St.Simons, but I don’t really remember. I can easily find out. I grew up there. I was very young when Hazel’s closed, but remember it & Wilma’s very well; among many other thriving businesses in the community. I would think that it would make sense that there is a direct family relation. Though a significant percentage of those enslaved on the Wanderer went to Savannah&the Carolinas for auction; many did end up right here on St.Simons & Sapelo, where my family is from. And though I’m younger Ms. Gladys, I’m sure you probably knew my parents; who would have been about 10yrs your senior, but were very well known on the island; especially my father who spent a lot of time there; at Ms. WillieMae’s, Ms. Bessie’s, & other wonderful places/businesses in the community. I’m truly glad that the owners did preserve the cafe. So many places were not preserved, or were torn down. The stories those walls could tell would be amazing. The islands thrived when it came to community because it was just the former slaves mostly who had to build their own lives. When my parents, grandparents, great-grandparents were growing up all of those islands, sapelo, st. simons, cumberland, hilton head, ect..were mostly inhabited by blacks as they worked to build a life for themselves. When Special Field Order 15 was rescinded by then President Johnson, President Lincoln’s successor, many of the former slave owners&their descendants returned to the islands to reclaim their lands from those very ppl they had enslaved, but many of those former slaves used their labor as leverage to gain independence, to eventually purchase the very land they were enslaved on; along with their own freedom. There were many struggles suffered though for many to get to that point. Hazel’s Cafe is a powerful example of a people using what little resources they had to build something powerful, beautiful, & independent; despite the many many challenges & threats they faced. I think the true history is in learning how many ppl would lose their land due to taxes, mischief by those in power, & other means. Yes; some family descendants would sell their land, but many many families also lost their land in a number of other ways as well. I just feel truly honored that it is preserved. Thank you to those that saw that it is a symbol to be remembered and learned from. And should be preserved.
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gordy carmichael seaman Says:
Mr. & Mrs. Floyd were wonderful folks. My dad introduced them to me many years ago. hopefully, this wonderful monument to them will be preserved.
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Marie Says:
The name of the owner is Fred M a r r s.
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Sheila Hamrick Says:
Oh this is wonderful!!! Thanks Brian got to it from your site. That was living pretty high in the cotton for black or white during that point in time!
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Jackie Kindler Says:
I’ve often wondered about that little building. So glad to finally hear the story.
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Ronald Broome Says:
We were there this morning and the place is still hanging in their. Thanks for the article, having the history to go along with a photograph is awesome. I like your page, it’s needed work.
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Melissa Says:
Thank you! So glad you enjoyed the article!
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Ronald Broome Says:
That would be “there”. Damned autofill.
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Fred Marrs Says:
Yes the Floyd’s are buried at Union Memorial Cemetery on Demere Rd. near the Ga. Power Building.
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Gene Says:
Enjoyed article, does Fred Marrs or Fred Harris own the properties now?
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Maillot Sporting Gijon Says:
Hi there to every single one, it’s genuinely a
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Stuart Gardner Says:
Thank you so much for this very fascinating article! I thoroughly enjoyed it. I wouldn’t have found this if you hadn’t mentioned Wilma’s Dinner Theater in it; I was looking for information on that old place and happily, Google sent me to you. I performed in a play at Wilma’s in 1985, I think, The Owl and the Pussycat, and I’d be grateful if anyone seeing this might direct me to any information or recollections about the old dinner theater or about Wilma herself.
Again, thanks for a wonderful history!
