Pearlie's Restaurant named state historic landmark

Newport News eatery documented in 'Negro Traveler's Green Book' receives historic designation

Mar. 29, 2026 at 6:49pm

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a vintage diner counter with stools, repeated in a tight grid pattern, conceptually representing the historic significance and community spirit of Pearlie's Restaurant.A vibrant pop art celebration of Pearlie's Restaurant's historic legacy as a beloved community gathering place in Newport News.Suffolk Today

Pearlie's Restaurant, a Black-owned business in Newport News, Virginia that has operated on Jefferson Avenue for nearly a century, has been named a state historic landmark. The restaurant was also documented in the 'Negro Traveler's Green Book', a guide for Black travelers during the segregation era.

Why it matters

The historic recognition of Pearlie's Restaurant highlights the importance of preserving and celebrating the history of Black-owned businesses and communities in Virginia, especially those that persisted through the challenges of segregation. The 'Green Book' listing further underscores the significance of the site as a safe haven for African American travelers during a difficult time.

The details

The current Pearlie's Restaurant building dates back to the early 1950s, but the location has housed Black-owned businesses, including restaurants, a market, and a barber shop, since the 1920s. The restaurant's namesake and original owner, Pearlie B. Rice, passed away in 1999, and the business later closed. In 2007, Mikel and Evelyn Azeem purchased and renovated the property, retaining its historic character while improving the functionality of the building.

  • Pearlie's Restaurant has operated on Jefferson Avenue in Newport News for nearly a century.
  • The current building was constructed in the early 1950s, replacing an earlier structure from the 1920s.
  • Pearlie B. Rice, the restaurant's original owner, passed away in 1999.
  • Mikel and Evelyn Azeem purchased and renovated Pearlie's in 2007.
  • The Virginia Board of Historic Resources approved the historic landmark designation in March 2026.

The players

Pearlie's Restaurant

A Black-owned restaurant that has operated on Jefferson Avenue in Newport News, Virginia for nearly a century, and was recently named a state historic landmark.

Pearlie B. Rice

The original owner of Pearlie's Restaurant, who passed away in 1999.

Mikel and Evelyn Azeem

The husband and wife who purchased and renovated Pearlie's Restaurant in 2007.

Commonwealth Preservation Group

The company hired by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources to complete a survey of 'Green Book'-listed sites in the state, including Pearlie's Restaurant.

Virginia Department of Historic Resources

The state agency that approved the historic landmark designation for Pearlie's Restaurant.

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What they’re saying

“It's due to his brilliance that we even bought this building. I did not want to buy it because when I stepped into it, all I could say was, 'This is a dump,'”

— Evelyn Azeem, Co-owner of Pearlie's Restaurant

“We'll be back and we'll open that door.”

— Evelyn Azeem, Co-owner of Pearlie's Restaurant

What’s next

Pearlie's Restaurant is currently closed while co-owner Evelyn Azeem recovers from knee surgery, but she has vowed to reopen the historic eatery.

The takeaway

The historic designation of Pearlie's Restaurant underscores the importance of preserving and celebrating the legacies of Black-owned businesses and communities in Virginia, especially those that persisted through the challenges of segregation. The restaurant's inclusion in the 'Negro Traveler's Green Book' further highlights its significance as a safe haven for African American travelers during a difficult era.