THE HEART OF THE CITY

BRIGHT SPOT RESTAURANT

          62 King Street East

CURRENT STATUS (1999)
Present Owner:  Elias Robis, Hamilton
Present Use:  Finger's Bar and Grill
Heritage Status: Listed on the City's Inventory of Buildings of Architectural and / or Historical Interest
Locally Significant Date: High Victorian  

BUILDING INFORMATION
Date Built: 1875-1876 (fourth storey and new facade added to pre-185- building)
Original Owner: Edward Magill, silversmith
Original Use:  Wholesale drygoods business 
Subsequent Uses: Buntin & Gilles, wholesale stationers (1890-1906); china store; billiards room; various restaurants
Previous Building on Site: Three-storey structure incorporated into present building

ARCHITECTURE
Size: Four-storeys
Design and Styled: High Victorian
Architect, Builder: Unknown
Construction Materials: Brick masonry with stone front  
Architectural Integrity: Moderate (stone masonry intact; upper facade altered by removal of cornice and window caps)
Architectural Features: Finely crafted stone ashlar facade with continuous sill courses beneath the third and fourth storey windows; originally featured an ornamental cornice and window caps (probably of sheet-metal construction)

The Bright Spot Restaurant, located at 62 King Street East, opened in 1931 and remained in the same location for 20 years. The restaurant was sold in 1951 to Samuel Papernick, owner of the White Grill Restaurant. The location is currently occupied by Finger's Bar and Grill.

REFERENCES:
Clipping File - Hamilton - Restaurants - Bright Spot. Special Collections, HPL.
LACAC Research File.  Planning Department, City Hall.