Inside the historic Dunbar Hotel — now The Dunbar restaurant — the lobby once again hums with the chatter and laughter of guests.
From the 1930s through the 1950s, The Dunbar, 732 NW Fourth St., was the only hotel in Gainesville that welcomed Black travelers. Today, the space is home to a Black‑owned restaurant led by siblings Jessica Johnson and Shelton Seraphin, along with their uncle, Widlyn Rodney Germain. The trio also own Germain’s, a nearby fried chicken restaurant.
The family is originally from West Palm Beach. Seraphin moved to Gainesville eight years ago, working in photography, branding and graphic design before coming up with the idea for Germain’s. His sister Jessica followed soon after to study interior architecture at the University of Florida. Other family members later made the move as well…