(Bakersfield, Ca.) — On Saturday, the community gathered not just to celebrate the grand reopening of a historic downtown building, but to reflect on the journey that brought us here. The Woolworth Building, home to the last standing Woolworth lunch counter in the United States, reopened its doors with music, memory, and a message: the past may have been divided, but the future is ours to share.
Once a symbol of exclusion, Woolworth’s lunch counters are infamous for denying service to Black patrons during segregation. Though Bakersfield’s location didn’t make national headlines like Greensboro, North Carolina it was still part of that broader reality. For Black residents, these places weren’t just lunch counters—they were reminders of where they were not welcome. That’s what makes this moment so powerful.
“This building is our love letter to Bakersfield. That’s not just a phrase—it truly is how we feel,” said co-owner Emily Waite, who reopened the building with her husband Sherod. “We were both born and raised here, went to school here, raised our three boys here. Bakersfield has given us so much, and this project is our way of giving something back—especially to downtown.”
The building has been carefully restored, with original features like the terrazzo floors, signage, and lunch counter intact. But its purpose has changed. What was once a segregated space is now open to all, home to a Luncheonette, Reverb Coffee, and a downstairs event venue.
“Our hope is that this space becomes a vibrant place for creativity, connection, and community,” Emily said. “A meaningful life is one where you give back to the place you call home. That’s what we hope people do here.”…