OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
THE HISTORIC NORTHWEST
Rohi's Readery is located in West Palm Beach's Historic Northwest Neighborhood — an area known for its rich history of Black culture, music, and resilience. Located in the Styx Promenade on 7th Street, Rohi's Readery sits directly across from the historic Sunset Lounge, next to Heart & Soul Park.
The Historic Northwest traces its roots to the 1890s, when Black workers from Florida, Georgia, and the Bahamas arrived in Palm Beach seeking work opportunities. Their first settlement, called the “Styx,” had a population of over 2,000. Between 1894, when the Town of Palm Beach was established, and 1912, when Styx residents were evicted from Palm Beach, most Black workers and their families relocated to the mainland – in what is now known as the Historic Northwest.
The Styx at Sunset Avenue and County Road, ca. 1903
With close community ties anchored by churches, the segregated neighborhood quickly became the city’s center of Black society. By 1915, the Northwest thrived as a cultural hub with its own businesses, schools, doctors, institutions, community leaders, and entertainment. Perhaps the most notable is the iconic Sunset Lounge. Opened in 1933, this cultural gem was the main entertainment hub for the Black community, with even wealthy, white Palm Beachers visiting often. Party-goers would dance the night away to the tunes of famous Black musicians like Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, James Brown, Sam Cooke and Fats Waller.
Duke Ellington performing at the Sunset Lounge, circa 1940's
Photographer unkown
"Everyone dressed up to go there, it was so glamorous. It meant everything to us."
— Thelma Starks,
Owner of the Sunset Lounge
Despite hardships brought by hurricanes, the Depression, segregation, and disinvestment, the Northwest’s legacy endured. In 1982 – alongside West Palm Beach’s first Black mayor, Eva Mack, and other community members – Elizabeth Munnings formed a group called “Save Our Neighborhood,” which resulted in the Northwest Neighborhood being the first historic district listed in the City in 1993. This was crucial in protecting the neighborhood from building demolitions and displacement of its residents. Today, ongoing preservation and revitalization efforts honor its rich history while building a vibrant future. Rohi’s Readery is honored to call the Historic Northwest home and to join its legacy as one of the businesses in the Styx Promenade.
The Sunset Cocktail Lounge & Ballroom, circa 1984
LEARN MORE FROM ANTHROPOLOGIST DR. ALISHA R. WINN, Ph.D
Art After Dark | What's the Story? | Sunset Lounge | Northwest District | West Palm Beach
OUR LOCATION
VISIT US
ADDRESS
630 7th St
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
HOURS
Monday - Friday: 12 pm – 5 pm
Open weekends for special events only.