Advertisement for Benny's from Throttle, 1981.I moved to Richmond in the late summer of 1982 and lived at what was then called VCU's "New Residence Center" at 711 W. Main St. in Richmond. The dormitory is now called the "Gladding Residence Center." It was one block away from Benny's, a small club located at 611 W. Main St. that often had punk rock (and other) bands play. I remember they had "Private Idaho" french fries. I only went in Benny's a few times to see bands but I am sure the first band I saw in Richmond was in there - a punk band from Philadelphia whose name escapes me. That was probably in August of 1982. The image above is from Throttle, vol.1, number 5, Sept.-Oct. 1981 - held in Special Collections and Archives, VCU Libraries. The ad. lists some of Richmond's best 1980s bands. I did a quick check on Google and found this link to a video of Beex at Benny's in 1982..
Today a friend pointed out the images below to me - also held by Special Collections and Archives. These were negatives we had to scan to get the black and white positives - all taken by Foster Studios on June 17, 1948. They show Earl's Grill which also stood at 611 W. Main St - the location of Benny's some 33 years later.
VCU had the building demolished in the 1990s to make way for their Engineering Building.
Earl's Grill at 611 W. Main St., 1948.
Closer view.
Interior looking towards the back - the stage in Benny's was at the very back wall.
Interior view looking towards W. Main St. and Monroe Park.
Close-up view of the bar.Benny's also had a bar in the same location.
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Linked over here from the Oregon Hill site. Thanks for the memories! Benny's was in its heyday when I was in middle school on into high school, and I'd ride my bike over from Byrd Park and try and slick-talk my way into shows even though I was very obviously fourteen years old. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't -- I can remember standing up in those high-backed booths, trying to see Beex over the crowd.
Man, does this bring back memories. I was at a great show at Benny's one night and went outside afterward to find my 67 VW Beetle competely accordioned, a drunk 16 year old girl had run the light doing 80 & crashed into a row of parked cars. I was upset, but nowhere near as upset as the guy who had parked his BRAND NEW Lamborghini behind me!!!
Hahaha, Anne... I was a bouncer at Benny's. sorry for the times I didn't let you in.
*****
Benny's ... good times. I remember an inch or so of urine in the bathroom there towards the end, before we closed it down. It was PUNK as FAWK!
My favorite was the 'rock-a-benny's' rockabilly night.
I've never seen these images before!! I have an old Earl's menu in my dusty old "Benny's" stuff. The bar and booths were the same as in these pics.
If you recall, we also had "Rats on a stick" on the menu!!!
Thanks for posting these images.
Peace,
Benny
Benny,
You owe me a couple week's pay.
lol
Hilarious, Zed!! Was it me, or the guy I sold Benny's to?
wow.. found this site trying to remember the name of another club on West Grace. Benny's was the first punk club I ever went to--what great memories--I want to say it was a Prevaricators show, but could be wrong.
ray i think you'll dig this:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=106558053433
and watch the video i just made benny at the bottom of the page.
woode
www.woodewood.com
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